The EA Sports FAI Schools North Leinster Finals were played at the JJB in Dundalk on Wednesday, 13 May: Meath won four of the five regional finals as 19 schoolsfrom Louth, Meath, Westmeath and Longford battled it out in five sections in a bid to reach the Leinster Finals which are scheduled for next Wednesday, 20 May in the impressive MDL grounds in Navan:
Winners were Moynalty (Section A Boys), Athboy (Section B Boys) Dunboyne (C Boys), Dunboyne (B Girls) and Drumlish Co: Longford (Section A Girls)
Section A Schools:
Moynalty NS (Meath)
Bellurgan (Louth)
Tagmahon (Westmeath)
Abbeylara (Longford)
The Section A Boys (Small Schools) was won by Moynalty from Co: Meath: The first group game was an exciting affair with Moynalty and Bellurgan from Co: Louth drawing 4/4 in an excellent game of football: Tagmahon from Co: Westmeath beat Abbeylara from Co: Longford in the next game before both sides were beaten by Moynalty and Bellurgan meaning the group winners was decided by goal difference: It was Moynalty who advanced by a solitary goal after winning 12/0 in their final game! It was heartbreak for Bellurgan but elation for Sarah Curran and her Moynalty boys:
Section A Girls Schools:
St: Mary’s, Drumlish, Longford
Kenstown, Meath
Ballincargy, Westmeath
Lordship, Louth
The Section A Girls (Small Schools) also went down to the wire and St: Marys from Drumlish in Co: Longord advanced on goal difference ahead of Kentstown from Co: Meath: The sides drew 2/2 in their game against each other and Drumlish's greater goal difference proved to be crucial after big wins against Lordship of Co: Louth and Westmeath side Ballinacargy:
Section B Schools:
Athboy, Meath
Scoil Eoin Baiste, Louth
Raherney, Westmeath
Melview, Longford
On pitch 3 the Section B Boys (Medium Schools) was won by Athboy from Meath after three impressive victories from Barry McGann's boys against Scoil Eoin Baiste from Louth, Westmeath's Raharney and Melview from Longford:
Section B Girls Schools:
Dunboyne, Meath
St: Joseph’s NS, Dundalk, Louth
Newtownforbes, Longford
Gaelscoil, Mullingar, Westmeath
Another nail biting finale occurred in Section B Girls (Large Schools) when Dunboyne from Meath overcame Louth side St: Joseph's from Dundalk by 6/3 to the delight of Dunboyne manager Donal Scanlon and his players: The game was a group decider after the two sides had got the better of Longford's Newtownforbes and Gaelscoil Mullingar:
Section C Schools:
Dunboyne, Meath
St: Colemans, Mullingar, Westmeath
St: Joseph’s NS, Dundalk, Louth
Only three teams competed for the Section C Boys (Large Schools) and amazingly Dunboyne completed the double as the Brendan Keogh's boys joined the school's girls team as section winners: St: Joseph's from Dundalk lost out to both Dunboyne and St: Colemans from Mullingar and Dunboyne defeated St: Colemans 5/1 in the deciding group game:
