WATERFORD’S MUNSTER FINALISTS DECIDED
REPORT courtesy of Gary Power, Regional Development Officer
Before Easter St: Declan’s NS had qualified for the Munster Finals of the ‘EA Sports FAI Schools 5-a-side competition: Last Tuesday (21 April) they were joined by Scoil Mhuire Tallow, Ballymacarbry NS, Piltown NS and Owning NS:
The EA Sports FAI Schools competition have 5 sections in this Primary schools’ competition – three for boys/mixed and 2 for girls: These are based on size of school giving everybody as fair an opportunity as possible: Following weeks of competition all was ready for the Waterford finals:
SECTION A
Fenor NS, Kill NS, Scoil Mhuire (Tallow) and St: Declan’s (Ardmore) were the finalists in this section: The boys from Tallow came out on top winning two of their matches and drawing the other: It was really tight for the runners up spot but Kill just edged it from St: Declan’s, Ardmore:
SECTION A GIRLS
Scoil Mhuire (Tallow), Bunscoil Gleann Sídheáin (Cappoquin), Newtown Junior School and Owning NS contested this section: Both the Cappoquin and Owning girls defeated the other two schools so their contest would decide the section: Going into the deciding match Owning had had a 1 goal better goal difference so Cappoquin had to win: In a very close match the Owning girls held firm to draw 0/0 and win the section:
SECTION B
Slieverue NS, Kilmacthomas NS, St: Mary’s BNS (Ferrybank) and Ballymacarbry NS were the Section B finalists: Ballymacarbry NS looked very impressive in defeating Slieverue and Ferrybank: However Kilmacthomas also defeated the same two schools and so their meeting would decide the section: Kilmacthomas played really well and led 2/1 but a late goal salvaged a draw for Ballymacarbry: This proved to be sufficient for them as they had a far superior goal difference to Kilmacthomas:
SECTION B GIRLS
Piltown NS has a long and proud tradition in girls’ soccer and had two teams in this contest: St: Ursula’s and St: Mary’s from Dungarvan made up the four: The Piltown girls came out on top and in some style too: Their ‘A’ team won the section with three victories and their ‘B’ squad finished runners up:
SECTION C
This section for large boys’ schools was played before Easter: Nine schools contested the section: These were divided into three groups of three: The three group winners then fought out the ‘winners’ group to decide the Waterford winners: St: Paul’s BNS, St: Declan’s NS and St: Stephen’s won their way to this group: Both St: Declan’s and St: Stephen’s defeated St: Paul’s so the stage was set for the decider between these two great rivals: We weren’t to be disappointed as they fought out a thrilling encounter: St: Declan’s won 3/2 to clinch the title:
MUNSTER FINALS
The 5 Section winners have now qualified to represent the Waterford region in the Munster Finals which will take place in Nenagh on Wednesday 13th May: The parish of Piltown will have schools in the two girls’ sections, a feat which has happened once before: Scoil Mhuire from Tallow and Ballymacarbry will fly the flag for the county in Sections A and B respectively: St: Declan’s, Water Street, will once again contest Section C:
We wish these five schools all the very best as the attempt to overcome the other five County winners in Munster and qualify for the National Finals which will be held in Tullamore on Wednesday 27th May:
THANKS
This year’s Waterford competition went absolutely perfectly: This was due in no small way to the co/operation of all the schools involved: The two FAI Regional development Officers, Gary Power and Michael Looby, did trojan work during the competition including organising the referees who also did a marvellous job: Finally this competition just wouldn’t have run as smoothly as it did without the tremendous support of Johnny Magee and Ferrybank AFC: