MEATH & KILDARE schools come out on top as Gormanston College hosted the FAI Post Primary Schools Leinster Futsal Finals for the first time yesterday (16 November).
Eureka Secondary School took the Girls Section title on home soil as Confey College became the first school from Kildare to taste provincial success in the competition on Tuesday.
In its third year since expanding to nation level which includes all four provinces, the competition is the fastest growing in schools sports and even has a new state-of-the-art venue this year.
Gormanston College’s indoor facilities are unrivalled and 288 players from 25 schools representing each and every one of the counties in Leinster made it a day to remember at the Meath facility.
The competition was split into two sections, boys and girls, with two groups in each section and group winners progressing to their respective final.
At the end of an entertaining day of skilful futsal it was the girls who took the main stage first, with Eureka taking on Dublin champions St. Finian’s Community College based in Swords.
Both sides went into the final with the 100 per cent records from their groups, with Eureka making it five wins from five games and their Swords rivals winning all four of their games.
A sensational long-range strike from Megan Lynch gave St Finians a vital lead in the showpiece game, but Niamh O’Keefe equalized for the Meath outfit.
The teams could not be separated in normal time and it required a golden goal strike from Catherine Dolan to seal a first Leinster title for Eureka.
It was a heartbreaking blow at the final hurdle for competition debutants St Finians, but for Eureka it was a welcome addition to their already proud record in the 11-a-side game.
“We are very impressed and happy with the girls,” said Eureka coach Leonard Noone after the final.
“The group have shown a great desire and spirit to win this competition and we are delighted.
“It is a great competition and a great addition to our excellent schools record in the 11-a-side-game.”
Moyne Community School and Presentation College, Kilkenny were unfortunate not to qualify further in the girls section with wonderful performances throughout their competitive rounds. Moyne won three of their five and drew one, lost won to come second in their group. This was replicated by Kilkenny’s Presentation College as they suffered the same fate in their group stages. St. Finian’s dominance in the group was one to admire and the cat’s girls can take some pride in their schools achievements as they departed the marvellous Meath venue.
The boys’ final also featured a local side, with St. Peters College of Dunboyne facing off against Confey.
A solitary strike from Brian Whelan ensured the Kildare side added their first Leinster Futsal title to the Dublin Oak Tournament success they enjoyed last year.
Coach Paddy O’Connor is a big fan of the indoor game and admitted his side’s success was a culmination of hard work.
“We try to encourage Futsal in the school and enter the Dublin Oak Tournament in Wicklow every year with the young lads,” said O’Connor.
“We prepared especially for this competition for seven to eight weeks beforehand and have reaped the rewards.
“We introduced Futsal into the school five years ago and we are delighted to be seeing such benefits.”
Confey College’s group stages were very competitive with Larkin Community College and Tullamore College looking good to advance with only two points separating each of the teams from the top spot.
Confey lost 2-1 to Tullamore College in the earlier rounds which gave the other competitors some impetus to improve as the competition was wide open midway through the afternoon. However Confey’s students held their nerve to secure a top of the table position to face defending Champions from Dunboyne.
St. Peter’s group stages was also impressive with Dublin Oak only one point away from drawing level with the Saints tally at 9 while the Wicklow school failed the mark on 8 points.
Wexford CBS also did extremely well featuring two wins, one draw and a defeat as they pressed Dunboyne and Dublin Oak at every opportunity.
Eureka SS, Kells and Confey College will now progress to the All Ireland Finals which will be held on Tuesday, 7 December at Gormanston College. We wish the schools the very best of luck in their endeavours to be crowned All Ireland Champions.
The event which is part of the FAI’s football in schools programme will be co-ordinated by National Development Officer for Schools, Mr. Ian Carry. For further information please contact Ian on 086 043 7686.
(BOYS WINNERS) CONFEY COLLEGE: Andrew Doolin, Conor Murphy, Shane Fitzpatrick, Steven Reynolds, Peter Burke, Dean Malone, Fikayo Agboola, Brian Whelan, Jarick Townsend, Jamie Aherne, Alex Meakin.
(BOYS RUNNERS UP) ST PETERS COLLEGE: Cian O’Dwyer, Eoghan Dunne, Dylan Malone, Conor Keeley, Scott Crawford, Jack Cox, Jack Delaney, David McEntee, Andy O’Connor, Alex O’Reilly, Cian Ryan.
(GIRLS RUNNERS UP) ST FINIANS CC: Toni Knight, Ashling Carey, Megan Wison, Shauna McCarthy, Shauna Bowers, Sophie Moran, Megan Lynch, Zoe McGlade, Elisha Reilly, Jamie Finn, Laura Quinn, Chloe Donlon.
(GIRLS WINNERS) EUREKA SS: Sarah Gilson, Megan Foley, Niamh O’Keefe, Hannah Quinn, Amy Smith, Aoife McKeever, Edith Lynch, Kara O’Rourke, Shianne Suarez, Catherine Dolan, Laura Keoghan.
List of participating Schools:
Dublin (Boys) Larkin Community College
Dublin (Girls) St. Finian’s Community College, Swords
Wicklow (Boys) Dublin Oak Academy
Wicklow (Girls) Colaiste Chraobh Abhann
Laois (Boys) Mouthrath Community School
Laois (Girls) Scoil Chriost Rí
Kildare (Boys) Confey College
Kildare (Girls) St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin
Kilkenny (Boys) Grennan College, Thomastown
Kilkenny (Girls) Presentation College
Offaly (Boys) Tullamore College
Offaly (Girls) St. Brendan’s Community College, Birr
Meath (Boys) St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne
Meath (Girls) Eureka Secondary School, Kells
Longford (Boys) Moyne Community School
Longford (Girls) Moyne Community School
Westmeath (Boys) Wilson’s Hospital, Multyfarnham
Westmeath (Girls) Wilson’s Hospital, Multyfarnham
Louth (Boys) Dundalk Grammar School
Louth (Girls) Dundalk Grammar School
No qualifiers for Carlow so Wexford have 2 boys & 2 girls teams qualified.
Wexford (Boys) Wexford CBS
Wexford (Boys) Gorey Community School
Wexford (Girls) Ramsgrange, New Ross (No Show)
Wexford (Girls) Gorey Community School
BOYS SECTION
Group 1:
Larkin CC
Dundalk Grammar
Gorey CS
Confey College
Grennan College
Tullamore College
Group 2:
St. Peter’s College
Wilson’s Hospital
Moyne CS
Wexford CBS
Mouthrath CS
Dublin Oak Academy
Boys RESULTS: Group 1
Larkin CC 5-1 Dundalk Grammar
Gorey CS 1-3 Confey College
Grennan College 0-4 Tullamore College
Larkin CC 2-1 Gorey CS
Dundalk Grammar 2-0 Grennan College
12:15 Confey College 1-2 Tullamore College
Larkin CC 4-1 Grennan College
Gorey CS 3-2 Tullamore College
Dundalk Grammar 2-5 Confey College
Larkin CC 2-2 Tullamore College
Confey College 4-0 Grennan College
Dundalk Grammar 0-2 Gorey CS
Larkin CC 1-2 Confey College
Dundalk Grammar 3-3 Tullamore College
Gorey CS 2-2 Grennan College
Boys RESULTS: Group 2
St. Peter’s College 4-2 Wilson Hospital
Moyne CS 1-3 Wexford CBS
Mouthrath CS 1-3 Dublin Oak
St. Peter’s College 2-0 Moyne CS
Wilsons Hospital 1-1 Mouthrath CS
Wexford CBS 0-0 Dublin Oak
St. Peter’s College 2-0 Mountrath CS
Moyne CS 1-2 Dublin Oak
Wilsons Hospital 1-0 Wexford CBS
St. Peter’s College 0-0 Dublin Oak
Wexford CBS 2-0 Mouthrath CS
Wilsons Hospital 2-2 Moyne CS
St. Peter’s College 3-0 Wexford CBS
Wilsons Hospital 0-3 Dublin Oak
Moyne CS 3-0 Mouthrath CS
BOYS FINAL
Confey College 1-0 St. Peter’s College
GIRLS SECTION
Group 1
Dundalk Grammar School
Eureka SS, Kells
St. Brendan’s CC, Birr
Scoil Chriost Ri
Moyne CS
Gorey CS
Group 2
Wilson’s Hospital
St. Finian’s CC, Swords
St. Paul’s SS, Monasterevin
Colaiste Chraobh Abhann
Ramsgrange VC (No Show)
Presentation College
Girls RESULTS: Group 1
Dundalk Grammar 0-3 Eureka
St. Brendan’s CC 1-2 Scoil Chriost Ri
Moyne CS 0-0 Gorey CS
Dundalk Grammar 1-0 St. Brendan’s CC
Eureka 3-1 Moyne CS
Scoil Chriost Ri 0-1 Gorey CS
Dundalk Grammar 0-2 Moyne CS
St. Brendan’s CC 2-0 Gorey CS
Eureka 4-1 Scoil Chriost Ri
Dundalk Grammar 0-2 Gorey CS
Scoil Chriost Ri 0-2 Moyne CS
Eureka 4-1 St. Brendan’s CC
Dundalk Grammar 0-0 Scoil Chriost Ri
Eureka 3-0 Gorey CS
St. Brendan’s CC 0-3 Moyne CS
Girls RESULTS: Group 2
Wilsons Hospital 1-4 St. Finian’s
St. Paul’s SS 0-3 Colaiste Chraobh Abhann
Wilsons Hospital 3-2 St. Paul’s SS
Colaiste Chraobh Abhann 1-1 Presentation College
St. Paul’s SS 0-5 Presentation College
St. Finian’s 2-1 Colaiste Chraobh Abhann
Wilsons Hospital 1-2 Presentation College
St. Finian’s 4-1 St. Paul’s SS
Wilsons Hospital 1-2 Colaiste Chraobh Abhann
St. Finian’s 3-2 Presentation College
GIRLS FINAL
Eureka SS 2-1 St. Finian’s CC (AET)
END
