For the past ten years the MDL grounds in Navan has hosted the the FAI Schools Meath 5-a-side tournament for boys and girls for Primary schools. Last week a record entry of 165 teams from 77 schools across the Royal County took part in the biggest 5-a-side competition in Ireland over five of the six full days at the MDL. There are five sections in this hugely popular tournament, three for boys and two for girls, each based on the number of pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th classes. This means similarly sized schools can compete against each other with separate sections for small, medium and large schools. The tournament, currently sponsored by EA Sports, was originally hosted in various venues across County Meath from 1992-1999 before moving to the MDL for the first time in the year 2000. The Navan venue has also hosted the All-Ireland finals of the competition on six occasions in recent years.
This year's tournament kicked off on Monday last with 36 schools competing in Section A girls (for small schools). After 9 competitive groups the top 16 teams qualified for the first knockout round which eventually saw Enfield, Kentstown, Kilmessan and last year's County Champions Newtown advance to the semi-final stages which will take place at the same venue on 22 April.
Kilmessan’s goalkeeper Joelle Smyth pulled off some memorable saves that helped eliminate a skillful Carlanstown side by 1-0. In defence Susan Chifodya and Caitríona Bolger were outstanding along with the skillful Clodagh McPhelims in midfield.
Meanwhile Newtown had to go all the way to penalties before ousting a gallant Cortown team 3-1 with keeper Aoife Burke excelling throughout. Orlaith Malone, Áine Duff and Martha Bashford were others to the fore for Newtown.
A strong Kentstown side were consistent throughout but had to come back from 2-0 down to eventually overcome newcomers Stackallen by 4-2. Captain Keeva Commons combined with her sister Ruth to pull off a great comeback for Fiona Mahon’s girls.
Meanwhile Enfield were most impressive when ousting a skilful Rathbeggan team by 6-2. Top scorer for Enfield was Sarah Scully who scored a magnificent 13 goals in five games. Keeper Sophie King and defenders Grace Cosgrove and Lauren Murray were others that impressed for Caroline Colleran’s girls.
Tuesday saw 33 schools represented in the highly competitive Section A Boys for small schools. After the first round of matches the eight group winners to emerge were Ardcath, Cortown, Drumconrath, Dunderry, Meath Hill, Moynalty, Nobber and Wilkinstown.
The Quarter Finals produced a high standard of football with the superb Moynalty side overcoming Cortown by 7-0. Moynalty eased their way into the semi-finals with goals coming from Patrick Farrelly, Patrick Byrne, Anthony Nevin and Jamie Maloney. Ardcath, with star performers in Richard O’Sullivan, Andy Cawley and Karl McGuinness, maintained their unbeaten run throughout the day by pipping an unlucky Meath Hill team by the narrowest of margins.
Drumconrath had to pull out all the stops to eliminate local rivals Nobber by 3-1 with strikers Daire Rowe, Cathal Dunne and keeper Robert McEnteggert in superb form while Wilkinstown, the Leinster Champions of 2004, needed extra time to beat arch-rivals Dunderry by 2-1 with the winning goal scored with a cracking strike from Shane Shalvey. Ross Lynn marshalled the defence superbly with Ryan McManus dominating in midfield. The semi-finals will also take place at the MDL on 22nd April at 10.00am.
The biggest section of the week-long tournament saw no less than 48 school teams converge at the Navan facility with 24 competing in six groups of four in the morning and the remainder competing in the afternoon. Last year's winners, Athboy, were the day's top scorers with a tally of 23 goals in 3 wins over Ballivor A, Dangan B and Carnaross.
Carlanstown B qualified after beating Cannistown A and Boyerstown A. The remaining group winners consisted of Kilcloon A, Dangan A, Kentstown A, Lismullen A, Gaelscoil na Ríthe A, Rathbeggan A, Skryne A, Stackallen A and Robinstown.
One of the unlucky teams to lose out on goal difference was the talented Gaelscoil na Bóinne (Trim) school. Heading into the last game the Trim lads looked odds on to qualify as they had an impressive goal difference of +12 after impressive displays from Cillian Mac an Gheairr, Barry O’Brogain and Antaine O’Morain but Jack O’Beirne was the outstanding player on the team as he but he an excellent display scoring 10 goals.
In final game Dunshaughlin's Gaelscoil na Ríthe managed to score 12 goals against Enfield B to conclude with a superior goal difference of +14! Their crucial goals were scored by Tomás Cinseallach and Dónall Ormsby. The 12 group winners now advance to the Meath finals on the 22nd April at 11.00 am.
Section B Girls for large schools had an entry of 21 school teams. In difficult windy conditions it was Athboy, Dunboyne A, Dunboyne B and St. Oliver’s who made the Semi Finals.
Athboy were edged out 2-0 by Dunboyne A and St. Oliver’s won 7-0 against a gallant Dunboyne B team. The Final produced some great football and it was Dunboyne A who started brightest with Afiric O’Malley opening the scoring after two minutes. St. Oliver’s pushed hard for an equalizer in the 2nd half and got caught on the counter attack as Afiric doubled their lead. Shelly Melia added a third to give Dunboyne girls the win thus adding to their first Meath title from 2005.
On Friday the Section C Boys competition for large schools consisted of 27 teams across 6 groups. The Quarter Finals had teams from Laytown, St. Seachnalls Dunshuaghlin, St. Josephs Navan, Dunboyne, St. Olivers Navan, last year’s winners St. Colmcilles from Kells and 2 teams from St. Michaels Trim.
The Semi Finals were very close affairs and both ties were won by a single goal. In the first Semi Final Kells got the better of St. Oliver’s with a late goal and in the second Semi Final Dunboyne A held off a late charge from St. Seachnall’s to win 1-0.
The Final was a repeat of an earlier Group 2 game which finished 1-1 and Donal Barrett’s Kells looked like they were heading for the title for the second year running when Anthony Doherty put them 1 up. Dunboyne equalized quickly through Darragh Boylan and the game ebbed and flowed with Captain Fionn Reilly putting Kells back in front with only a minute to go in the first half but once again Dunboyne equalized straight away with a goal from Adam McDonnell. The second half started evenly but as Kells began to tire Dunboyne took advantage and McDonnell scored again to put them in the driving seat. Two further goals from Conor Finn sealed the title for Brendan Keogh’s Dunboyne team who won by 5 goals to 2. John Finnerty and Shane Comiskey were excellent throughout the day for Dunboyne who now join their Girls team in the North Leinster Finals.
The winners of each of the five sections advance to represent Meath at the North Leinster Finals where they battle it out against their counterparts from Louth, Longford and Westmeath.
The North Leinster’s are to be played again this year at the fabulous facilities of the JJB Soccerdome on 13th May with the Leinster Finals scheduled for the MDL in Navan on the 20th May and the All Ireland Finals down for decision on May 27th at Leah Victoria Park Tullamore AFC. Full details from www.faischoolsleinster.com
The competition has certainly come a long way since 1992 when the original three Meath schools namely, Gaelscoil na Ríthe, Dunshaughlin, St. Michael's Trim and Boyerstown, had to travel to West Dublin to compete in the local qualifiers of the Dublin competition!
Afterwards overall organisers, Paul Holland (FAI Schools Meath Co-ordinator) and Mark Scanlon (FAI Development Officer for Meath) thanked all who ensured the continued sporting success of the 5-a-side competition; the players, teachers, referees (from the Meath Referees Society), Tony Grant, Noel Walsh, Mick Neville, Navan Red Cross, Gerry Gorman & Gerry Moore of the MDL and most importantly our sponsors EA Sports.
