2024 Kildare Primary 11 a-side Finals Day
Monday, October 21, 2024
The curtain will come down on another successful Kildare Primary Schools 11-a-side campaign this week.
The competition co-ordinator John MOLLOY has said demand for the competition has peaked with another division added this season in the Boys category with four divisions now installed as well as three in the girls.
We look ahead at the Finals Days which are scheduled for this week.
The Girls Finals Day will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, October 22 while the Boys Finals will kick-off on Thursday, October 24. Both events will take place on the 4G pitches in Kilcullen Community Centre (R56 VH95)
Girls’ Division Three - 12.15pm
Scoil Náisiúnta Colmcill Naofa, Moone vs Donard NS
This game should be a cracker after these two sides played out a closely contested draw in the group stages. Most of these girls play their club football with Moone Celtic and Dunlavin AFC respectively with some club teammates lining out against each other. The Division Three Girls competition has been resurrected this year because of increased entries across Kildare for the first time since 2018 when Moone were our inaugural winners. They then added the Division Two Cup to their list of honours the following year in 2019. Donard NS are first time entrants this year and are enjoying a brilliant debut campaign across both girls and boys, making the finals of both.
Girls’ Division Two - 1.30pm
Scoil Eoin Phoil, Leixlip vs St. Joseph's NS, Kilcock
Another entertaining encounter expected in this battle of North Kildare with these two teams having played out a very closely contested 1-1 draw in their previous encounter in the group stages. Before coming through their respective semi-finals to meet again. Scoil Eoin Phoil of Leixlip were so unfortunate to lose out to Scoil Diarmada, Castledermot on penalties in last year's final so they will be doing all that they can to get over the line this year.
Girls’ Division One - 2.45pm
Scoil Bhríde, Clane vs Scoil Bhríde, Kill
Rounding out the action on Girls Finals Day will be the ladies of Clane and Kill who, like the other finalists, in Division Two and Three before them also played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in their earlier encounter in the group stages. There should be very little to separate these two teams on the day. Clane are first time finalists while Scoil Bhríde, Kill are no strangers to our Finals Day and very narrowly lost out 1-0 to Scoil Uí Riada of Kilcock in last year's decider so they will be hoping to come out the right side of the result this year.
Boys’ Division Four - 11am
St. Laurence's NS, Crookstown vs Donard NS
This one is sure to be a cracker of a game with both these sides having impressed with identical records of 3 wins and a draw so far. That drawn game being an end-to-end cracker of a game played out between them last week in their final group game. St. Laurence’s of Crookstown made their return to the Kildare Primary Soccer 11-a-side Leagues this year for the first time since 2018 under new principal, Sean Gordon and Donard NS are first time entrants under the guidance of their principal, Peter Kelly.
Boys’ Division Three - 12.15pm
Kildare Town ETNS vs Scoil Eoin Phoil, Leixlip
Kildare Town ETNS are first time finalists and have enjoyed an unbeaten campaign thus far. Scoil Eoin Phoil of Leixlip boys will join their girls team in reaching the Finals Day and will be first time finalists. They defeated last year’s beaten finalists Gaelscoil Cill Dara 1-0 in today's (Monday) semi-final encounter to qualify for Thursday’s showdown.
Boys’ Division Two - 1.30pm
Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Athy vs Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock
This game is a clash of the big hitters from South and North Kildare, respectively. Both sides have enjoyed very impressive campaigns so far with 100% records in the group stages. Both teams can score at will. It could be a case of whichever defence comes out on top wins the day here! Scoil Uí Riada unbelievably have yet to concede in the competition so far. Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock last won this title in 2018 and Scoil Phadraig Naofa of Athy were previous finalists in 2022 when they lost out to Scoil Bhríde, Kilcullen so will be doing all within their power to return south as Champions on Thursday afternoon.
Boys’ Division One - 2.45pm
Rathangan BNS vs St. Joseph's NS, Kilcock
Both teams have been tested in their campaigns so far. Rathangan BNS qualified for the semi-finals as runners-up on the goal difference rule in their group having been tied on six points apiece with Scoil Bhríde, Kilcullen and Ballymany of Newbridge. St. Joseph’s NS of Kilcock enjoyed a win, a draw and a defeat in their group campaign in a tight group with Scoil Bhríe, Kill, Scoil na Mainistreach of Celbridge and St. Mary's BNS of Maynooth. They needed to win their final group game to make the semi-final and did so in style beating Maynooth 2-1 to advance over them to the semi-finals on the head to head rule. Both Rathangan and St. Joseph’s Kilcock enjoyed very impressive semi-final victories away from home with Rathangan coming back from 2-0 down at half-time to beat Scoil na Mainistreach of Celbridge 4-3 in a thriller. St. Joseph's enjoyed a well-deserved 3-1 victory away to last year's Champions Scoil Bhríe, of Kilcullen in their semi-final. Rathangan are first time finalists in any division while St. Joseph's NS of Kilcock are aiming to win Division One at their first attempt, having been crowned Champions of Division Two in a battle of Kilcock with Scoil Choca Naofa in a final so high on quality it will live long in the memory of all that were there to witness it.
Best of luck to all teams.
THANKS TO JOHN MOLLOY for his hard work in relation to the successful co-ordination of the Kildare 11-a-side competitions
