EA Sports FAI Schools 5-a-side
National Finals
160 children took part in the EA Sports FAI Schools 5 A Side National Finals in Leah Victoria Park in Tullamore yesterday (Wednesday, 28 May): This was the culmination of three months of County and Regional competitions with eventual Provincial winners progressing to the National stage:
More than 1,100 schools from all over Ireland participated in this the biggest and best competition in the 2008 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: The competition emphasized the fun element with everyone a winner on the day: Player’s received an EA Sports goodie bag, medal and full soccer kit for their participation in this, the FAI School’s, season finale:
Two schools from Inishowen dominated the “A” Schools division with Cloontagh NS picking up the “A” Schools title in dramatic style while Greencastle NS took the Girls “A” Schools section in convincing fashion:
Cloontagh NS drew 2 – 2 in their first match with St: Broghan’s NS in Offaly: The second was a convincing 3 – 1 win against Broadford NS in Limerick while their third fixture saw them draw 4 – 4 with Meelickmore of Claremorris: Top of the table were joint leaders Cloontagh NS and Broadford NS having 4 points each: In the event of two teams being tied on points, the result of the game between the two sides would be the deciding factor: Consequently, Cloontagh NS were crowned All Ireland Champions by the tightest of margins:
There was some consolation for Broadford NS in Limerick as James O’Brien was named as Player of the Tournament in the “A” Schools section:
Greencastle NS in Inishowen had 2 superb wins against St: Mary’s NS in Carrigaline and Bohola NS in Mayo and a draw against St: Patrick’s NS, Ballinamuck, to capture the prestigious title: In fact, Greencastle were one of three teams present that contested last year’s All Ireland Final with the school finishing third in 2007:
In Greencastle’s first fixture in the group, they were up against St: Patrick’s NS, Ballinamuck: The Inishowen girls started extremely well and at a frantic pace: They took the girls from Longford by surprise and grabbed an early goal courtesy of Sarah Jane McDonald: They continued to play well and created numerous chances to increase their lead by the Ballinamuck goalkeeper, Laura Whelan was very impressive between the posts: Ballinamuck never gave up in search of that equalizer: Their perseverance paid off: With only two minutes remaining, the ball broke to Ellie Columb at the edge of the Inishowen box and she fired the ball to the back of the net to ensure a draw for the Leinster ladies: It was disappointment for Inishowen, but relief for Ballinamuck:
In Greencastle’s second match of the afternoon, it saw they drawn against St: Mary’s NS Carrigaline in Cork: Greencastle opened their account when a good ball was played from Kathy McLaughlin in midfield to Gemma McGuinness up front: Gemma then slipped the ball through to Sarah Jane McDonald to crash the ball to the net: With three minutes to go the Inishowen girls scored their second when Gemma McGuinness won the bal deep in her own half and sprinted up the field going past the last defender before striking the ball to the bottom corner to secure victory for the Ulster force:
In Inishowen’s last match of the day saw them up Bohola NS: Gemma McGuinness scored twice in the 4th and 6th minute but a lapse in concentration in defence let Bohola NS get an early goal back: Minutes later they equalized thus eroding McGuinness fine performances: With three minutes to half time Greencastle’s Kathy McLaughlin played a through ball to Gemma McGuinness who made no mistake to secure her hat/trick and a 3/2 lead at half time: Half way through the second half, Gemma McGuinness scored her 4th goal to settle the matter:
Ballinamuck’s second game in the group was against Bohola NS in Mayo and their final game was against St: Mary’s NS from Carrigaline in Cork: Both games were played in a similar fashion: They were both hard fought games with little to choose really between the teams: Ballinamuck continued to play some nice attractive football and pass the ball well: The two Masterson girls, Donna and Michele linking up numerous times long with Mandy Cassidy’s hard work at the back and her trademark runs forward: All that was lacking in these matches was a goal: Both games were scoreless draws: Thus ensuring that the Longford school drew all 3 games and had a total of three points: Greencastle in Inishowen were deserving winners on the day but Ballinamuck can be proud of finishing runner up and remaining unbeaten throughout the competition:
Niamh Kelly from Bohola NS in Mayo picked up the Player of the Tournament accolade in the Girls “A” Section:
Scoil Iognaid Ris, An Daingean, Co: Charraí produced a magnificent performance to capture the “B” Schools title:
The Gaelscoil had three triumphant wins against Moore NS in Roscommon, Cockhill NS, Inishowen and finally St: Colmcille in Longford to secure the silverware:
Cockhill NS, Inishowen played St: Colmcille of Longford in the opening match of the group: Darragh McDermott and Daniel Doherty scoring the goals after Colmcille had taken the early lead to finish 2 – 1 to the Ulster boys:
Scoil Iognaid Ris beat Moore NS, Roscommon in a pulsating match: The final score 4/1 to the Dingle side:
Cockhill NS faced a very strong Scoil Iognaid Ris side: The Kerry school took the only chance of the first half to lead 1 – 0 at the break: In the second half, Cockhill pushed forward in search of an equalizer but two quick breaks by the Gaelscoil saw them add further goals to leave the final score Cockhill 0 – 3 Scoil Iognaid Ris:
The deciding match saw Scoil Iognaid Ris up against St: Colmcille, Longford: The Munster team made no mistakes and captured the title by winning the final match 3/0:
The Kerry squad saw some excellent performances from their keeper David O’Connor who will have special memories of his heroics, conceding only one goal and saving a penalty: His task was made much easier having his brother Mark there for support: His presence a tower of strength in defence: Barry O’Sullivan, Cathal BAmbury and Mathew Flaherty shared ten goals of true quality while Andrew Flannery and Liam Boland played their hearts out in a remarkable team performance:
Tadhg O’Fathaigh was named Player of the Tournament in the “B” Schools section to double the Munster celebrations:
St: Oliver’s Plunkett NS, Co: Mayo sealed victories over Bruff NS, Limerick, Scoil Mhichil Naofa Athy and St: Mary’s NS, Stranorlar to win the Girls “B” Section title:
In the first match St: Oliver’s opponents were Bruff NS in Limerick: It was a keenly contested encounter with the first chance falling to the Limerick girls but Coady Cullen’s effort went narrowly wide: After 6 minutes the Moysiders were ahead when Sarah Rowe finished a good move involving Fiona Treacy and Niamh Connolly: They scored twice before the break with the goals coming from Sarah Rowe and Fiona Treacy: In the second half excellent defence from Cliona Kelly and goalkeeper Evelyn O’Sullivan kept the Bruff team scoreless leaving the final result 3 - 0:
In the second game Ballina faced a stern test from Scoil Mhicil Naofa from Athy, Co: Kildare: The Kildare school had already beaten the Ulster Champions, St: Mary’s NS, Stranorlar 7 - 4: This was an excellent game with chances for both sides early on: However St: Oliver Plunkett’s went one ahead when Sarah Rowe struck on six minutes: Niamh Connolly then dribbled through the Leinster defence and drilled a low shot to the left corner of the net leaving the half time score 2/0: The Ballina girls started where they left off in the second half when Fiona Treacy scored from a terrific strike from 20 metres: The outstanding Michaela Hubbock from Athy then scored but the Mayo girls went on to win by 4 - 1:
In the final game St Mary’s N:S: from Stranorlar, Co: Donegal had no answer to the speed, skill and determination of the Ballina Champions: Marie Kennedy, Kayleigh Murphy, Danielle Devers and Cliona Kelly all had excellent games giving the Quay a victory by 6 - 2: Up front Fiona Treacy was always a threat; Niamh Connolly worked tirelessly in midfield and Evelyn O’Sullivan made many vital saves:
The Ballina School were the only representatives in Connacht to capture a title yesterday with Ulster and Munster winning 2 titles each:
Sarah Rowe put the finishing touches to a glories day by capturing the Player of the Tournament in the Girls “B” Section: It was a fitting reward for Sarah, who scored 11 goals in the 3 matches:
St: Anthony’s NS, Ballinlough in Cork were victories in the “C” Schools section:
The boys from Cork had a comfortable passage in this year’s section after defeating St: Patrick’s NS, Mayo 3 – 1 in their first match: Cork had the better start to their campaign after scoring early on, the goal coming from Brian Cooney: The Mayo side equalized through Noe Baba after an impressive run down the wing: St: Patrick’s exerted pressure on the Cork defence but Captain Stephen Cronin and Cian Murphy were exceptional in denying their advances: Charlies Bornemann brought off a sting of excellent saves to also deny the opposition: St: Anthony’s applied the foot to the gas and pressed hard to take the lead and they were rewarding with a fine goal just before half time courtesy of a superb pass from Eoghan O’Connell to Brian Cooney who slotted home his second: On the resumption Cork were fortunate to score again from a well taken free which deceived keeper Christopher McCormack: This time it was Eoghan O’Connell who produced a splendid goal for Cork’s third in the game: The Castlebar boys pushed all players forward in an effort to score but were unable to unlock the well disciplined St: Anthony’s side who went on to record a merited 3/1 victory:
St: Anthony’s then played last year’s third place contenders Scoil Iosagain, Inishowen: St: Anthony’s took the lead through Brian Cooney who beat a defender and slipped the ball past the sprawling keeper: The tenacious Cian Murphy scored two further goals when he made a surging run up the right wing to score from a narrow angle: His second was a headed goal from a Brian Cooney cross: Darragh Kiely completed a 4/1 victory when quick thinking Eoghan O’Connell took a throw into the box for Kiely to volley home an unstoppable shot:
Leinster Champions Kilkenny CBS were the Cork school’s final game of the day: This was a blistering performance from the Munster mighty men: Cian Murphy scored the first: Striker Brian Cooney scored an excellent hat trick with the aid of hard work and two great passes from Luke Aston: Charlie White and Darragh Kiely defended heroicly at times while goalkeeper Charlie Bornemann was determined to keep a clean sheet: The won was complete with a goal from Darragh Kiely and then Cian Murphy’s second of the afternoon to wrap up proceedings: Thus securing the silverware in the C Section would travel South to an impressive St: Anthony’s NS in Cork:
Brian Cooney from St: Anthony’s NS secured the Player of the Tournament accolade to mark a special day for the Corkians:
In the other fixtures in the group, St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar gave a great performance and ran out winners against an unlucky Kilkenny CBS: Noe Baba scored twice and Mark Nolan also got his name on the score sheet to win 3/1:
Scoil Iosagain, Inishowen were up against St: Patrick’s Castlebar which proved to be an entertaining goal scoring encounter for the Connacht school: Noe Baba, Mark Howley and Philip Ruddy scored while Kevin Quinn secured a hat trick to win comfortably against a determined Inishowen outfit: St: Patrick’s were well represented with good performances from Christopher McCormack, Caolan Gavin and Cillian McNeela: They were deserved runner’s up in the C Section:
“A” Schools
Teams:
St: Broghan’s NS, Offaly
Broadford NS, Limerick
Cloontagh NS, Inishowen
Meelickmore NS, Claremorris, Mayo
Fixtures:
St: Broghan’s NS 2 – 2 Cloontagh NS
Broadford NS 3 – 2 Meelickmore NS
Broadford NS 1 – 3 Cloontagh NS
Meelickmore NS 4 – 2 St: Broghan’s NS
Meelickmore NS 4 – 4 Cloontagh NS
Broadford NS 9 – 4 St: Broghan’s NS
Winner: Cloontagh NS, Inishowen
Runner Up: Broadford NS, Limerick
Third: Meelickmore NS, Claremorris, Mayo
Fourth: St: Broghan’s NS, Offaly
Player of the Tournament: James O’Brien, Broadford NS, Limerick
Girls “A” Schools
Teams:
St: Patrick’s NS, Ballinamuck, Longford
St: Mary’s NS, Carrigaline, Cork
Bohola NS, Mayo
Greencastle NS, Inishowen
Fixtures:
St: Patrick’s NS 1 – 1 Greencastle NS
Bohola NS 2 - 2 St: Mary’s
St: Mary’s 0 - 2 Greencastle
St: Patrick’s 0 - 0 Bohola NS
Bohola NS 2 - 4 Greencastle NS
St: Patrick’s NS 0 - 0 St: Mary’s
Winner: Greencastle NS, Inishowen
Runner Up: St: Patrick’s NS, Ballinamuck, Longford
Third: Bohola NS, Mayo
Fourth: St: Mary’s NS, Carrigaline, Cork
Player of the Tournament: Niamh Kelly, Bohola NS, Mayo
“B” Schools
Teams:
Colmcille, Longford
Scoil Ris An Daingean, Co: Chiarrai
Cockhill NS, Inishowen
Moore NS, Roscommon
Fixtures:
Colmcille NS 1/2 Cockhill NS
Moore NS 1/4 Scoil Ris NS
Scoil Ris 3/0 Cockhill NS
Moore NS 3/4 Colmcille NS
Moore NS 1/8 Cockhill NS
Scoil Ris NS 3/0 Colmcille NS :
Winner: Scoil Ris An Daingean, Co: Chiarrai
Runner Up: Cockhill NS, Inishowen
Third: Colmcille, Longford
Fourth: Moore NS, Roscommon
Player of the Tournament: Tadhg O’Fathaigh, Scoil Iognaid Ris, An Daingean
Girls “B” Schools
Teams:
Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Athy, Co: Kildare
Bruff NS, Limerick
St: Mary’s NS, Stranorlar, Co: Donegal
St: Oliver Plunkett NS, Ballina, Co: Mayo
Fixtures:
Scoil Mhichil 7 - 4 St: Mary’s
Bruff NS 0 - 3 St: Oliver’s
Bruff NS 1 - 0 St: Mary’s
Scoil Mhichil 1 - 4 St: Oliver’s
St: Oliver’s 6 - 2 St: Mary’s
Bruff NS 1 - 4 Scoil Mhichil
Winner: St: Oliver Plunkett NS, Ballina, Co: Mayo
Runner Up: Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Athy, Co: Kildare
Third: Bruff NS, Limerick
Fourth: St: Mary’s NS, Stranorlar, Co: Donegal
Player of the Tournament: Sarah Rowe, St: Oliver Plunkett NS, Ballina, Co: Mayo
“C” Schools
Teams:
Kilkenny CBS, Kilkenny
St: Anthony’s NS, Cork
Scoil Iosagain, Inishowen
St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Co: Mayo
Fixtures:
Kilkenny CBS 0 - 1 Scoil Iosagain
St: Anthony’s 3 - 1 St: Patrick’s
St: Anthony’s 4 - 1 Scoil Iosagain
Kilkenny CBS 1 - 3 St: Patrick’s
St: Patrick’s 6 - 2 Scoil Iosagain
Kilkenny CBS 0 - 6 St: Anthony’s
Winner: St: Anthony’s NS, Cork
Runner Up: St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Co: Mayo
Third: Scoil Iosagain, Inishowen
Fourth: Kilkenny CBS, Kilkenny
Player of the Tournament: Brian Cooney, St: Anthony’s NS, Cork
SPOT YOURSELF IN THE CROWD:::
