SAFIB Allen McKinstry Cup
Schools Association Football International Board (SAFIB) British Isles & Republic of Ireland
Under 14 Boys’ Tournament
St. Gerald’s College come fourth in SAFIB Allen McKinstry Cup
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
ST. GERALD’S COLLEGE, CASTLEBAR came fourth in the annual SAFIB Allen McKinstry Cup following some mixed fortunes in Newcastle University last week.
As FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup Champions last year, St. Gerald’s College earned their spot in the invitational tournament.
As hosts, England had two representatives line out with Shropshire’s Thomas Telford School and Northampton High School for Boys enjoying home advantage while Northern Ireland had Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College, Belfast participating. The Welsh delegation included Bishopston Comprehensive School based in Swansea with St. John’s RC High School, Dundee lining out alongside the Castlebar outfit.
The three day tournament concluded on Friday morning, May 16 with David Joyce’s side winning one of their three games.
On the opening day, St. Gerald’s College went down 4-2 to eventual winners Thomas Telford in a brilliant challenge for the Irish. Cillian REILLY and Cillian KEATING were on target for the Republic of Ireland representatives and could have drawn level as St. Gerald’s hit the post and the crossbar late on but played well against the Shropshire lads.
In the other two fixtures that evening, Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College Belfast ended one apiece against Northampton Boys. The Belfast side won 6-5 on penalties for a bonus point which would come into effect at the end of the tournament if teams were level on points. While Bishopston Comprehensive defeated St. John’s RC High, Dundee 3-2 in another excellent showpiece.
The penultimate day saw St. Gerald’s College pick up their first points of the campaign when they defeated Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College, Belfast 3-2. Cillian REILLY, Cillian KEATING and Matthew DALY getting on the score-sheet on Match Day Two.
While Thomas Telford played out a scoreless draw against Bishopston Comprehensive. Telford collected a bonus point when they claimed a 7-6 win following the spot kicks. Then Northampton Boys had a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Dundee’s St. John’s RC High.
The Play-Off places on Friday morning saw St. Gerald’s College up against Bishopston Comprehensive for a third / fourth place spot. The Welsh squad were on top for most of the game but the Castlebar school came back into contention in the last five minutes. However, a last minute winner from Bishopston sealed a third place finish for them while St. Gerald’s College had to settle for fourth.
Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College, Belfast finished on a high coming out the right side of a ten goal thriller, defeating St. John’s RC High, Dundee 6-4 to take fifth for the Northern Ireland outfit.
The finale was an all English affair which saw Thomas Telford draw 2-2 with Northampton Boys. Another pulsating penalty shoot-out was played out to decide the winner with Telford holding their nerve to win 5-3 on penalties to claim the title.
No doubt it was a great experience for the Castlebar students who were up against some quality opposition from the Home Nations opponents.
PREVIOUS IRISH CHAMPIONS
Since its establishment in 2008, the Republic of Ireland representatives have had some notable successes winning on four previous occasions.
The most recent victory came last season when St. Franics College, Rochestown won the tournament in Cardiff University.
In 2016 St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny claimed glory with Douglas Community School coming runners up that season in the AUL Complex, Dublin.
Oranmore’s Calasanctius College were crowned Champions having captured top spot in Belfast in 2015. Those included in the squad that day were Adam Rooney, Aaron Connolly and Ronan Manning.
Before that, when FAI Schools hosted on home soil in 2012, it was the turn of Ulster crew St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny taking the title as the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh facilitated the tournament.
ST. GERALD’S COLLEGE, CASTLEBAR | Shane Rodgers, Finn Ruane, Patrick Kennedy, Conor Moran, Thomas Francis, Ethan Kelly, Ruairi Mulroy, Cillian Reilly, Matthew Daly, Cillian Keating, Noah Kirby, Oskar Radzio, Keelyn McHale, Eddie Moran, Ruairi Keating, Cillian Donnelly
MANAGEMENT | David Joyce, Sean Curran, Darren Fernandes
RESULTS
SAFIB Allen McKinstry Cup | Cochrane Park, Newcastle University
Wednesday, May 14
Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College Belfast 1-1 Northampton Boys (Belfast won 6-5 pen for bonus pt)
Bishopston Comprehensive 3-2 St. John’s RC High, Dundee
Thomas Telford 4-2 St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar
Thursday, May 15
Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College Belfast 2-3 St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar
Thomas Telford 0-0 Bishopston (Telford won 7-6 pens for bonus pt)
Northampton Boys 5-1 St. John’s RC High, Dundee
Friday, May 16
First Place Play-Off
Thomas Telford 2-2 Northampton Boys (Telford won 5-3 on pens)
Third / Fourth Place Play-Off
Bishopston 1-0 St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar
Fifth / Sixth Place Play-Off
Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College, Belfast 6-4 St. John’s RC High, Dundee
LIST OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
England A | Thomas Telford School, Shropshire
England B | Northampton High School for Boys, Northamptonshire
Northern Ireland | Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, Belfast
Republic of Ireland | St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, County Mayo
Scotland | St John’s RC High School, Dundee
Wales | Bishopston Comprehensive School, Swansea
Allen McKinstry Cup Roll of Honour
|
YEAR |
WINNER |
|
2025 |
Thomas Telford School, England |
|
2024 |
St. Francis College, Rochestown |
|
2023 |
St. Ninian's High School, Glasgow |
|
2022 |
N/A COVID-19 |
|
2021 |
N/A COVID-19 |
|
2020 |
N/A COVID-19 |
|
2019 |
St. Columb's College, Derry |
|
2018 |
St. Thomas More School, England |
|
2017 |
St. Ninian's High School, Glasgow |
|
2016 |
St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny |
|
2015 |
Calasanctius College, Oranmore, Galway |
|
2014 |
Ysgol Cyfun Gymraeg, Plasmawr, Cymru |
|
2013 |
Bannerman High School, Scotland |
|
2012 |
St. Eunan's College, Letterkenny, Donegal |
|
2011 |
St. Columb's College, Derry |
|
2010 |
St. Ambrose High School, Scotland |
|
2009 |
Forest School, Wokingham, England |
|
2008 |
Dumfries Academy, Scotland |
Republic of Ireland Representatives
|
YEAR |
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND REPRESENTATIVES |
|
2025 |
St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar (4) |
|
2024 |
St. Francis College, Rochestown (1) |
|
2023 |
St. Joseph's Patrician College, Galway (2) Marist College, Athlone, Westmeath |
|
2022 |
N/A COVID-19 |
|
2021 |
N/A COVID-19 |
|
2020 |
N/A COVID-19 |
|
2019 |
Patrician High School, Carrickmacross |
|
2018 |
St. Joseph's Patrician College, Galway |
|
2017 |
St. Brendan's College, Killarney, Kerry |
|
2016 |
St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, Douglas Community School, Cork, Dublin Oak Academy, Bray |
|
2015 |
Calasanctius College, Oranmore, Galway (1) |
|
2014 |
St. Brendan's College, Killarney, Kerry (4) |
|
2013 |
Gorey Community School, Wexford |
|
2012 |
St. Eunan's College, Letterkenny, Donegal St. Joseph's Patrician College, Galway |
|
2011 |
St. Joseph's SS, Rochfortbridge, Westmeath |
|
2010 |
Limerick CBS, Sexton Street |
|
2009 |
De La Salle College, Waterford |
|
2008 |
Coláiste Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown, Cork |