The biggest and best competition in the 2011
Primary School Soccer Calendar
This year’s FAI Schools Meath 5-a-side proved to be a resounding success over six full days at the MDL grounds in Navan: The tournament has been the biggest in Ireland for the past 10 years and this year broke all records with a massive 182 teams from 81 schools taking part: A total of 315 games were played with a remarkable 1,523 goals scored (an average of 4:83 goals per game!)
The 5-a-sided tournament has grown from strength to strength and now in its nineteen years of competition: The tournament 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:
There are five sections, 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 website www:faischoolsleinster:com contains all the scores, photos, reports, from this year’s tournament as well as previous tournaments:
“A” GIRLS SECTION (40 SMALL SCHOOLS ENTERED)
GOLDEN GOAL FOR GAELSCOIL
Gaelscoil na Bóinne (Trim) captured their first ever FAI Schools Meath title but only by the tightest of margins as they ousted another Irish speaking school, Gaelscoil Éanna (Navan) in a thrilling decider of the 40 school section: The Navan school, managed by Máire Ní Ghealbháin, were outstanding throughout the earlier rounds as they beat Cushinstown, Drumconrath, Bohermeen and drew with Cortown: They overcame Moynalvey by 4/1 in the quarters before edging out Kildalkey by 3/2 in their semi final clash: The Trim Gaelscoil knocked out Gaelscoil na Ríthe (Dunshaughlin), who had earlier defeated Yellow Furze in their quarter final:
Kathy Butler’s Trim girls had been very impressive in defeating Culmullen, Navan Educate Together & Carlanstown in earlier rounds: In the final it was Trim, captained by Karley Leavey, who struck first, but mid/way through the second half Gaelscoil Eanna equalized with the game finishing 1/1 in normal time : The golden goal in extra time was required to separate the two Gaelscoils and it was Gaelscoil na Boinne, who were celebrating, after a superb strike from Sorcha Ní Loinisigh sparked wild scenes of celebration: Trim had already won the other Girls’ title when neighbours St: Mary’s had triumphed in the “C” section for large schools:
Gaelscoil na Bóinne: Karley Ní Choinleibhe, Lauren Nic Grolla Choimhide, Niamh Nic Grianna, Rhianna Ni hEochaigh, Loren de Bhaltuin, Ardeen Ni Dhunshain, Kate Ni Dhoinn, Sorcha Ni Loinsigh: Teacher: Kathy Butler:
Gaelscoil Éanna: Lauryn Nic Grioghar, Gibhlis Ni Choileain, Rachel de Paor, Clár Seoighe, Cáit Ni Dhonnchadha, Laoise Nic Dhiarmada, Sianann Ni Riain, Gemma Ni Mhuiri: Teacher: Maire Ni Ghealbhain:
“A” BOYS SECTION (38 SMALL SCHOOLS ENTERED)
Cortown Boys captured their first ever FAI Schools Meath title when they won the highly competitive “A” Section for small schools in which 38 schools took part: However Cortown, runners up last year, were earlier made to battle all the way as they edged out a skilful Kiltale school by 6/5 in a superb quarter final: Boyerstown also proved to be tough opposition in the semi final with Jack O’Keefe’s stunning overhead kick sealing the win by 3/1: Mount Hanover had disposed of Moynalvey and Dunderry in style before eventually succumbing to Cortown: Captain Cormac Lindsay was dominant throughout for Cortown, who were well served on the day by Oisin Smith and Jack O’Keeffe: The final proved to be one sided when the Kells school were in superb form in defeating Mount Hanover by 6/1 :
In the earlier rounds St: Patrick’s of Trim, were thrilled to win all four games in their group, but more because the school had previously never won a single game in four years of competition!
Cortown: James Brady, Myles Clarke, Cormac Lindsay, Hugh Staunton, Matthew Mulrue, Jack O’Keeffe, Neil Woods, Oisin Smith: Teacher: Tony Coogan:
Mount Hanover: Sam Kenny, Joshua Coleman, Alex Brodigan, Sean Maguire, Cian Cunningham, Cian Kavanagh, Padraig Nulty, Luke Toohey: Teacher: Joe Kelly:
“B” BOYS SECTION (49 TEAMS FROM MEDIUM SIZED SCHOOLS)
The biggest section of the week long tournament saw no less than 49 school teams converge at the Navan facility with 24 competing in six groups of four in the morning and 25 entered for the afternoon’s section: After an amazing 76 games in one day, Kilcloon, Stackallen, Gaelscoil na Rithe, Athboy, Robinstown, Kentstown, Gaelscoil Thulach na nOg, Whitecross, Ballivor, Scoil Naomh Eoin, Dangan and Slane advanced to the final 12: After the group stages it was Kilcloon, Dangan, Athboy and Whitecross that advanced to the semi finals: Dangan defeated Athboy 4/2 despite the best efforts of Cian Quinn and Dylan Hand: Kilcloon secured their place in the final with a 5/3 victory over Whitecross: The final was a nailbiting decider with Dangan leading 3/1 before Kilcloon’s never say die attitude saw them level at 3/3 and sending the decider into extra time: The golden goal period came and went and the game had to be decided on penalty kicks: Dangan scored their first two penalties and when Kilcloon missed their second Conor Frayne made no mistake ensuring that Seamus Thorpe’s charges clinched their place in the North Leinster Finals:
Dangan: Christopher O’Kelly, Glenn Kavanagh, Jack Bruton, Conor Frayne, Diarmuid McCabe, Mark Donoghue, Liam Shaw, Ronan Larkin: Teacher: Seamus Thorpe:
Kilcloon: Mark Travers, Jack Strickland, Jack Foley, Ross Fitzpatrick, Dessie Fitzgerald, Zac Hinde, Evan Robinson, Cian Doyle: Teacher: Noel O’Hara:
“B” GIRLS SECTION (27 teams from medium schools)
“B” Girls Section for medium schools proved to be very competitive with Dunboyne, St: Joseph’s Navan, Whitecross, Laytown, St: Oliver’s Navan, Kentstown, St: Mary’s Trim and Kilmessan emerging from the 27 entered teams to the quarter finals:
In the first quarter final Dunboyne were edged out by St: Mary’s of Trim: Despite the best efforts of Leanne Daly (who scored 13 goals in the group stages) and Niamh Taylor, Dunboyne could not find a way past Ciara Hanson in the Trim goal with Emma Gaffney’s first half goal proving to be decisive: Kilmessan edged out St: Josephs’s of Navan on penalties in their quarter final after an exciting 2/2 draw after extra time: A solitary goal was enough for Whitecross to overcome Kentstown and St: Oliver’s Navan took the final semi final spot after a comprehensive 9/0 victory over Laytown with hat/tricks from Aisling Duffy, Regina Hand and further goals from Sharon Olonunnio and Sophie Donnelly:
In the semi finals stages St: Mary's Trim once again had to show their resolve to overcome an excellent Kilmessan side: Dervla Fahey had put her side into an early lead but St: Mary’s progressed to the County Final with a superb breakaway goal and the game finished 2/0: Whitecross produced an exciting brand of attacking football to stun St: Oliver’s in the first half of the other semi final to win by 5/0:
In the Final Dervla Fahey again scored the game’s first goal to the delight of the Trim girls but the Whitecross side equalized straight from the kick/off: With three minutes remaining the skilful Roisin Milner scored for St: Mary’s: Whitecross battled hard for a second equalizer but Milner grabbed her second of the game in the last minute to ensure that St: Mary’s managed by Yvonne Slevins, finished victorious by 3/1 and won their first ever soccer title:
St: Marys, Trim: Ciara Hanson, Roisin Milner, Gillian Smith, Hannah Clancy, Emma Gaffney, Hazel Crinion, Maeve Tuite, Dervla Fahey: Teacher: Yvonne Slevin:
Whitecross: Eimear Stanley, Susan Kolawole, Ciara Darby, Katie Dinsmore, Josie Wogan, Claire Keegan, Zoe Shiels, Megan Cooney: Teacher: Nicholas Murphy:
“C” BOYS SECTION (28 teams from Large Schools)
St: Colmcille’s Kells “A” edged out a gallant St: Michael’s Trim “A” by 3/2 in a cracking final in the “C” Boys Section for Large Schools in which 28 teams took part: The Kells school, managed by teacher Ciarán Bird, were convincing winners over St: Seachnall’s by 5/1 in their quarter final and by 4/0 over Dunboyne “C” in their semi final with a brace a/piece from Galligan Edwards and Bennett:
Trim had two tough games before they reached the final: They won their quarter final by the golden goal (scored by Conor Sweeney) against an excellent Dunboyne team: Another tough encounter ensued against Duleek when “Man of the Match”, Scott O’Leary scored a superb hat/trick and keeper Charlie Ennis pulled off some breathtaking saves to win by 3/2:
The Final was undoubtedly the game of the tournament with both teams displaying no shortage of skill throughout: Jonathon Brown (2) & Niall Williams (1) scored for Kells while the Trim side replied with strikes from Gerard Murray and Scott O’Leary:
St: Colmcille’s, Kells: Sean King, Michael Galligan/Edwards, Shane Bennett, Brian Byrne, Niall Williams, Ben Lynch, Jonathon Browne, Jack Mongey: Teacher: Ciaran Bird:
St: Michael’s, Trim: Scott O’Leary, Gerard Duane, Gerard Murray, Charlie Ennis, Michael Cullen, Conor Higgins, Conor Sweeney, Dylan Finnerty: Teacher: Eoin Joyce:
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 FINALS are to be played this year on May 11 in the MDL Grounds, Navan with the Leinster Finals scheduled for the same venue on May 19 and the All Ireland Finals down for decision on June 1 at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore:Fulldetails from www:faischoolsleinster:com
The competition has certainly come a long way since 1992 when the original three Meath schools 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, the players, teachers, referees (from St: Peters College, Dunboyne and Athboy Community College), Navan Red Cross, Robbie Horgan (Assistant Manager of Drogheda United) for presenting trophies on two days, Gerry Gorman of the MDL and the local media:
Paul Holland, co/ordinator for the past 19 years, added “While the tournament continues to regional, provincial and All Ireland stages, our aim has always been to cater for as many school teams as possible: This is only possible due to the tremendous co/operation between teachers, pupils, referees, the FAI, Navan Red Cross and the MDL”:
Mark Scanlon “The Transition Year Students from St: Peter’s Community College, Dunboyne and Athboy Community School did an outstanding job for us this year as referees: As a result the teachers were able to concentrate on managing their own school teams:”
The winners now advance to the North Leinster stages and we wish all five winners every success in developing further in the competition: The event is all about participation and enjoyment: We wish all teams the very best of luck on May 11 in the MDL, Navan:
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