The annual Tipperary First Year Post Primary Schools Futsal Finals took place in the magnificent surrounds of Colaiste Mhuire Co: Ed School in Thurles:
The girls competition was catered for on Thursday last (November 17) while the boys section finished today, Friday (November 18)
On Day One of competition, five girls teams took part with 13 high class matches been contested:
It was very evident from the start that Presentation Secondary School in Thurles would be the team to beat: Within their squad they had Christine Coffey and Sara McKevitt who were members of the victorious U15 Interprovincial Munster Schools team that won the 3 day series last weekend in Athlone:
Rockwell College who were participating for the first time gave a very positive account of themselves:
In the second game of the tournament they gave Presentation Secondary School a scare before the Thurles School ran out 2/0 winners:
After ten intense games in the league format the semi final draw saw Presentation Thurles taking on Nenagh Vocational School and St: Joseph’s Secondary School from Borrisoleigh taking on Rockwell College:
Presentation Thurles overcame Nenagh Vocational School while St: Joseph’s Borrisoleigh came through a nail biting penalty shoot out against Rockwell College:
AND to be expended the Final itself was an entertaining affair but it was Presentation Thurles who claimed victory over a gallant St: Joseph’s team and now move on to represent Tipperary in the First Year Futsal Finals in the girls section in the Nenagh Arena on Tuesday next, November 22:
List of participating Schools:
Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Rockwell College, St: Ailbe’s Tipperary Town, Nenagh Vocational School, St: Joseph’s Secondary School, Borrisoleigh
A total of 9 schools took to the stage in the boys section on Friday morning
This was a very even competition with many close fought games:
Newcomers, Rockwell College began their day with a 2/1 victory over Scoil Ruain Killenaule in Group A:
Group B was turning out to be the toughest of groups with CBS Carrick and Borrisokane Community College looking very strong:
In their opening game in the group against each other it was Borrisokane who came out victors on a score line of 1/0 after a very hard fought game:
St: Joseph’s Borrisoleigh were setting the early pace in Group C after a convincing 3/0 victory over Colaiste Cluain Meala:
Rockwell College came through as winners of Group A after winning their 4 games:
Borrisokane Community College won out Group B claiming 4 victories and scoring 9 goals along the way: An impressive feat for any school
St: Joseph’s won Group C by three points with Colaiste Cluain Meala claiming the best runners up spot:
Thus the semi final draw saw Rockwell taking on Colaiste Cluain Meala and they quickly raced into a 2/0 lead before eventually ending up 4/0 winners:
The second semi final pairing saw Borrisokane Community College overcome St: Joseph’s Borrisoleigh 4/1:
The eventual Final turned out to be an enthralling match with Rockwell College taking an early lead only to be cancelled out shortly after: As the game looked like it was going to a penalty shoot out, Cian Darcy drilled home a winner with only seconds remaining and in doing so ensured that his School, Borrisokane Community College would go on to represent Tipperary in the Munster Finals in the boys section on Wednesday next, November 23 in Nenagh Arena:
Both Presentation Secondary School and Borrisokane Community College will enjoy home advantage but neither team will take this for granted as they come up against a sterling test from their Munster counterparts:
List of participating Schools:
Rockwell College, St: Ailbe’s Tipperary Town, Nenagh Vocational School, St: Joseph’s Borrisoleigh, CBS Carrick, Borrisokane Community College, Colaiste Cluain Meala, Scoil Ruain Killenaule, Colaiste Mhuire
A massive thank you again goes to Colaiste Mhuire Co: Ed for providing their wonderful facility and also to everyone who helped out refereeing the games over the two days:
Report courtesy of David Lenane and James Scott (South and North Tipperary FAI Development Officers)