Cork Schools rule the roost in Munster
Thursday, November 23, 2017
St. Francis College, Rochestown and Presentation Secondary School, Cork made it double delight for the Rebel County as both were crowned the Futsal Champions of Munster in the respective boy’s and girl’s categories following their victories on the courts in the Waterford IT Sports Arena, Carriganore this afternoon (Thursday, 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
There were 6 schools representing each of the Counties in Munster.
Rice College, Ennis (Clare), St. Francis College, Rochestown (Cork), Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee (Kerry), Ardscoil Ris (Limerick), St. Joseph’s College, Borrisoleigh (Tipperary) and De La Salle College (Waterford) all arrived on the back of victories in their County qualifiers to challenge for provincial glory.
One group consisting of the six teams, played off against each other with the group winners claiming the trophy.
In retrospect, the first game of the day proved to be the most decisive and enthralling as defending Champions, St. Francis College defeated De La Salle College by just the single goal to get their first points on the board.
The Cork crew would not break stride for the next four games including their clash with St. Joseph’s College where the 4-0 victory put them out of reach of the rest of the teams.
De La Salle would finish as runners-up following the combination of their final game which was a win against Mercy Mounthawk and this followed by Rice College’s win over St. Joseph’s.
GIRLS SECTION
The girls section followed the same format, with the 6 schools facing each other once with the team with the highest amount of points being declared the victors.
Rice College, Ennis (Clare), Presentation Secondary School (Cork), Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare (Kerry), Crescent College Comprehensive (Limerick), St. Mary’s SS, Newport (Tipperary) and Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore (Waterford) all qualified from their counties to play off for provincial honours.
In a group where no side wished to give up an inch, five of the first six games ended in scoreless draws as each defence showed great solidarity to keep clean sheets.
However the goals began to flow for Presentation Secondary School who recorded the first win of the day in a thrilling 3-2 encounter with Rice College.
Approaching the final round of games, Cork needed a victory against Crescent College Comprehensive to hold off the strong challenge of reigning Munster starlets Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine who were waiting to pounce on any slip from the Cork side. However none were forthcoming as Presentation managed to see past their rivals and win 2-1 to claim the honours.
St. Francis College, Rochestown, Cork and Presentation Secondary School, Cork will now advance to the National Finals which take place in Waterford IT Sports Arena on December 5. We wish all participating schools the very best of luck.
WINNER
St. Francis College, Rochestown, Cork (BOYS)
Presentation Secondary School, Cork (GIRLS)
RUNNER UP
De La Salle College, Waterford (BOYS)
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, Kerry (GIRLS)
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POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS FUTSAL DATES
Provincial Finals:
Ulster: Tuesday, November 14 AURA Leisure Centre, Letterkenny
Connacht: Wednesday, November 15 IT Sligo
Leinster: Tues & Wed, November 21 & 22 National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown
Munster: Thursday, November 23 Waterford IT Sports Arena
National Final: Tuesday, December 5 Waterford IT Sports Arena
2016 NATIONAL FINALS ROLL OF HONOUR:
Post Primary Schools – Girls
WINNERS: Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny (LEINSTER)
RUNNERS UP: Claregalway College, Galway (CONNACHT)
THIRD: Loreto Community School, Milford (ULSTER)
FOURTH: Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, Kerry (MUNSTER)
Post Primary Schools - Boys
WINNERS: Summerhill College, Sligo (CONNACHT)
RUNNERS UP: St. Francis College, Rochestown, Cork (MUNSTER)
THIRD: Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal (ULSTER)
FOURTH: St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda, Louth (LEINSTER)
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.
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