St. Mary’s DS, Drogheda & Presentation SS, Kilkenny secure Leinster Futsal honours
Monday, November 28, 2016
St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda and Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny were crowned Leinster Futsal Champions following their triumphant displays on the courts in Gormanston College last Wednesday afternoon (November 23).
The competition caters for boys and girls in first year which delivers a quality fast paced action packed game focusing on skill, speed and technique.
BOYS SECTION
Given that there were 12 schools to cater for in the boys section, it was divided into two groups of six, with the top team in each group playing off in the final.
Group One saw Tullow Community School (Carlow), Pipers Hill College (Kildare), Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown (Kilkenny), Portlaoise College (Laois), Moyne Community School (Longford) and St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda (Louth) all in the mix.
The Drogheda crew were in sublime form as they won five out of five games, scoring 13 goals and keeping a clean sheet throughout their campaign. With this phenomenal record, they went through to the final to face Group Two winners.
Group Two had Beaufort College, Navan (Meath), Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore (Offaly), Athlone Community College (Westmeath), Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge (Wexford), Coláiste Chill Mhantain, Burkeen (Wicklow) and Clonkeen College, Blackrock (Dublin) all challenging for top spot.
Coláiste Chill Mhantain, Wicklow had a tougher challenge on their hands in this group, coming through with one point to spare, having notched up three wins and two draws in the campaign.
Other teams to do well in the day’s outing were Tullow CS, Pipers Hill College, Beaufort College and Athlone CC, all finishing their afternoon on seven points.
And so it was Wicklow Champions, Colaiste Chill Mhantain up against Louth Champions, St. Mary’s Diocesan School in the final. It was definitely a more tense affair with a solitary goal proving decision. The Drogheda lads held out to win 1-0 and claim the silverware on this occasion.
GIRLS SECTION
The girls section followed the same format, with the 12 schools divided into two groups of six, with the league leaders in each group playing off in the final.
Group One would see Presentation Secondary School, Loughboy (Kilkenny), Borris Vocational School (Carlow), Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Trim (Meath), Athlone Community College (Westmeath), Moyne Community School (Longford) and Caritas College, Ballyfermot (Dublin) all eager to impress.
The Kilkenny ladies were quick to show their flare as they won 4 and drew 1 to claim top of the leader board on 9 points. They scored 18 goals in the five games and only conceded 4. Athlone CC were the only school to take points off them as they drew 1-1 with the Westmeath side.
Presentation SS, Kilkenny awaited the winners from group two as the qualifying stages were ending.
Group Two saw St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin (Kildare), Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise (Laois), Dundalk Grammar School (Louth), St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr (Offaly), St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross (Wexford) and Woodlands Academy, Kilcroney, Bray (Wicklow) showcasing their talents in a bid for progression.
Similarly St. Paul’s SS, Monasterevin finished their outing with 4 wins and 1 draw, notching up 9 points to top the group from St. Brendan’s CS of Offaly. The Kildare side scored 6, only conceding once. A very difficult grouping here as many of the games were only secured by a goal or two in this division. Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise drew with the Kildare girls in the first game of the morning but they found their form following this.
It was a top class final as the Kilkenny ladies were scoring for fun and slotted 4 past a very determined St. Paul’s team who were unfortunate not to score themselves with the amount of chances they created. Presentation SS, Kilkenny were delighted with the title win and a chance for another day out as they progress onwards.
St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda and Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny will now advance to the National Finals which take place in Waterford IT Sports Arena on December 8. We wish all participating schools the very best of luck.
WINNER St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda (BOYS) Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny (GIRLS)
RUNNER UP Coláiste Chill Mhantain, Burkeen, Wicklow (BOYS) St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin (GIRLS)
List of participating Schools:
BOYS | Tullow Community School, Carlow
GIRLS | Borris Vocational School, Carlow
BOYS | Clonkeen College, Blackrock, Dublin
GIRLS | Caritas College, Ballyfermot, Dublin
BOYS | Pipers Hill College, Naas, Kildare
GIRLS | St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin, Kildare
BOYS | Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown, Kilkenny
GIRLS | Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny
BOYS | Portlaoise College, Laois
GIRLS | Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise, Laois
BOYS | Moyne Community School, Longford
GIRLS | Moyne Community School, Longford
BOYS | St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda, Louth
GIRLS | Dundalk Grammar School, Louth
BOYS | Beaufort College, Navan, Meath
GIRLS | Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Trim, Meath
BOYS | Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore, Offaly
GIRLS | St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr, Offaly
BOYS | Athlone Community College, Westmeath
GIRLS | Athlone Community College, Westmeath
BOYS | Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge, Gorey, Wexford
GIRLS | St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross, Wexford
BOYS | Coláiste Chill Mhantain, Wicklow Town
GIRLS | Woodlands Academy, Kilcroney, Bray, Wicklow
END
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS FUTSAL DATES
Provincial Finals:
Ulster: Tuesday, November 15 AURA Leisure Centre, Letterkenny
Connacht: Thursday, November 17 IT Sligo
Munster: Tuesday, November 22 Waterford IT Sports Arena
Leinster: Wednesday, November 23 Gormanston College, Meath
National Final: Thursday, December 8 Waterford IT Sports Arena
2015 NATIONAL FINALS ROLL OF HONOUR:
Post Primary Schools – Girls
WINNERS: Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana, Donegal (ULSTER)
RUNNERS UP: Coláiste Dún Íascaigh, Cahir, Tipperary (MUNSTER)
THIRD: Ursuline College, Sligo (CONNACHT)
FOURTH: Malahide Community School, Dublin (LEINSTER)
Post Primary Schools - Boys
WINNERS: St. Patrick’s College, Cavan (ULSTER)
RUNNERS UP: Dublin Oak Academy, Bray, Wicklow (LEINSTER)
THIRD: Ashton School, Cork (MUNSTER)
FOURTH: Coláiste Mhuire, Ballymote, Sligo (CONNACHT)
What is Futsal | Futsal is an indoor version of association football. It is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines; walls or boards are not used.
Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation football. The rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.
