The curtain finally came down on the very popular EA Sports FAI Schools 5 A Side competition in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore this evening (Wednesday, 27 May):
160 skilful participants took part in the Finals which were the culmination of three months of County and Regional competitions with eventual Provincial winners progressing to the National stage:
Almost 1,000 schools from all over Ireland participated in this the biggest and best competition in the 2009 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: The competition emphasised the fun element with everyone a winner on the day: Player’s received an EA SPORTS goodie bag, commemorative medal and full soccer kit for their participation in this, the FAI Schools season finale:
Two schools from Castlebar in County Mayo were successful this year capturing two out of the five winner’s prizes: Derrywash NS, Castlebar, Mayo collected the Section A spot for small schools in dramatic style while their counterparts St: Patrick’s NS used the experience they gained last year to win Section C for large schools: Just to note the third Castlebar school involved in the day were Breaffy NS: The boys came a well placed second in the B Schools event to mark a special achievement for the Mayo men:
There was a good geographical spread of winners in the other three sections with Gaelscoil Inbhear Mor, Wicklow lifting the Section B title for medium schools:
The girls section certainly did not disappoint with new comers Powerstown NS, Clonmel, Tipperary crowned Girls A Section winners while Bennekerry NS, Carlow won the Girls B Section much to the delight of their travelling supporters:
In the A Section, group runners up Scoil Mhuire of Moynalty impressed early on with a 7/1 demolition of Munster stars Ringaskiddy NS: Surprisingly Derrywash made a nervy start to their day sharing the spoils in a great match against a determined Butlersbridge: The final score a well earned 3/3 draw:
Derrywash went on to record a 4/2 win over Ringaskiddy while their last match of the day was a convincing 4/0 performance to take the title from Leinster’s Scoil Mhuire of Moynalty: Jarlath O’Malley made it double celebrations for the Mayo school as he collected the Player of the Tournament accolade for his section:
In the B Schools division, Scoil Iognaid Ris, An Daingean were back at the National Finals to defend their title which they deservedly won in 2008: However Breaffy NS based in Castlebar and Wicklow’s Gaelscoil Inbhear Mor made little of this as they enjoyed victories over the Munster side:
Breaffy NS had to settle for second place as Gaelscoil Inbhear went on to record three solid victories after great performances against Scoil Cholmcille 4/2, Scoil Iognaid Ris 4/1 and Breaffy 3/2:
Dara O Conchubhair increased the allocation of silverware to the Wicklow School as he was named Player of the Tournament in Section B:
Section C for large schools saw schools from Waterford and Wexford up against last year’s finalists Scoil Iosagain Buncrana and St: Patrick’s NS in Castlebar:
This section was highly competitive with St: Declan’s of Waterford producing a match winning performance to run out 6/2 winners against the Ulster representatives Scoil Iosagain:
St: Joseph’s of Gorey lost out to eventual All Ireland Champions St: Patrick’s NS in a fiercing entertaining encounter which ended 1/3:
The All Ireland Champions managed to score 11 goals in total to claim top prize with the assistance of team Captain and Player of the Tournament Noa Baba:
The Girls A Section was a close affair with Whitecastle managing to keep All Ireland Champions Powerstown NS to a 1/1 draw, a great achievement for the Ulster girls in their opening game: The Northerners had another scoreless draw with Connacht’s Gorthaganny NS while they doubled their points with a 4/1 win against Drumlish:
However it was to be Clonmel’s day as they overcame a skilful Drumlish and Gorthaganny with a 3/2 score/line in both games to clinch the title for 2009:
Eurena Everard continued to celebrate for Powerstown NS as she was selected as Player of the Tournament in their Section:
Bennekerry only conceded one goal in three games to capture the Girls B Cup: The Carlow crew scored ten times to outplay their opposition and ensure the newcomers went home with the silverware:
Audrey Jo Murphy of Bennekerry was named Player of the Tournament to mark a special day for the Carlow School:
Dan Holman, EA Marketing Director for Ireland and Irish goalkeeping legend Packie Bonner were on hand to present the prizes to everyone that participated:
PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE:
http://www:flickr:com/photos/31505553@N08/sets/72157618861282536/
FIXTURES & RESULTS
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
Ringaskiddy NS, Cork (MUNSTER)
Scoil Mhuire, Moynalty, Meath (LEINSTER)
Butlersbridge NS, Cavan (ULSTER)
Derrywash NS, Mayo (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
Butlersbridge 3/3 Derrywash
Ringaskiddy 1/7 Moynalty
Derrywash 4/2 Ringaskiddy
Butlersbridge 1/3 Moynalty
Butlersbridge 4/5 Ringaskiddy
Derrywash 4/0 Moynalty
Winner: Derrywash NS, Mayo
Runner Up: Scoil Mhuire, Moynalty
Third: Ringaskiddy NS, Cork
Fourth: Butlersbridge NS, Cavan
Player of the Tournament: Jarlath O’Malley, Derrywash NS, Mayo
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Iognaid Ris, An Daingean (MUNSTER)
Gaelscoil Inbhear Mor, Wicklow (LEINSTER)
Scoil Colmcille, Newtowncunningham, Inishowen (ULSTER)
Breaffy NS, Mayo (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
Breaffy 2/3 Gaelscoil Inbhear
Scoil Choilmcille 2/1 Scoil Iognaid Ris
Breaffy 6/1 Scoil Choilmcille
Scoil Inbhear 4/1 Scoil Iognaid Ris
Breaffy 4/0 Scoil Iognaid Ris
Gaelscoil Inbhear 4/2 Scoil Cholmcille
Winner: Gaelscoil Inbhear Mor, Wicklow
Runner Up: Breaffy NS, Castlebar, Mayo
Third: Scoil Colmcille, Newtowncunningham, Inishowen
Fourth: Scoil Iognaid Ris, An Daingean
Player of the Tournament: Dara O’Conchubhair, Gaelscoil Inbhear Mor, Wicklow
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
St: Declan’s NS, Waterford (MUNSTER)
St: Joseph’s NS, Gorey, Wexford (LEINSTER)
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen (ULSTER)
St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Mayo (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
Scoil Iosagain 2/6 St: Declan’s
St: Joseph’s 1/3 St: Patrick’s
Scoil Iosagain 1/6 St: Joseph’s
St: Declan’s 1/3 St: Patrick’s
Scoil Iosagain 3/5 St: Patrick’s
St: Declan’s 2/7 St: Joseph’s
Winner: St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Mayo
Runner Up: St: Joseph’s NS, Gorey, Wexford
Third: St: Declan’s NS, Waterford
Fourth: Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
Player of the Tournament: Noa Baba, St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Mayo
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Powerstown NS, Clonmel (MUNSTER)
St: Mary’s NS, Drumlish, Longford (LEINSTER)
Scoil Naoimh Fhionain, Whitecastle, Inishowen (ULSTER)
Gorthaganny NS, Roscommon (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
Drumlish 0/4 Gorthaganny
Powerstown 1/1 Whitecastle
Drumlish 2/3 Powerstown
Gorthaganny 0/0 Whitecastle
Drumlish 1/4 Whitecastle
Gorthaganny 2/3 Powerstown
Winner: Powerstown NS, Clonmel
Runner Up: Scoil Naoimh Fhionain, Whitecastle, Inishowen
Third: Gorthaganny NS, Roscommon
Fourth: St: Mary’s NS, Drumlish, Longford
Player of the Tournament: Eurena Everard, Powerstown NS, Clonmel
Girls “B” Schools:
TEAMS
St: Mary’s Convent NS, Nenagh (MUNSTER)
Bennekerry NS, Carlow (LEINSTER)
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan (ULSTER)
Scoil Mhuire NS, Clarinbridge, Galway (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
Bennekerry 4/0 Clarinbridge
Nenagh 4/1 Virginia
Bennekerry 2/1 Nenagh
Clarinbridge 4/0 Virginia
Bennekerry 4/0 Virginia
Clarinbridge 2/2 Nenagh
Winner: Bennekerry NS, Carlow
Runner Up: St: Mary’s Convent NS, Nenagh
Third: Scoil Mhuire NS, Clarinbridge, Galway
Fourth: St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan
Player of the Tournament: Audrey Jo Murphy, Bennekerry NS, Carlow
Click on the GALLERY & DOWNLOADS section of the website to view images of the day's events and winners: