North Leinster Finals
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 schools from 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.
