The spectacular Nenagh Arena hosted both the Boys and Girls Munster First Year Futsal Finals during the week: The boys kicked off on Tuesday last (November 27) while the girls took place on Wednesday (November 28)
144 participants amounting to 12 teams from 6 counties were in the running for Provincial honours: The format for the day’s events was every School played each other in the group stages with the top team been crowned Munster Champions:
BOYS SECTION
St: Josephs’ (Tipperary) and CBS Sexton Street (Limerick) played out an entertaining first game, with CBS Sexton Street in particular playing some fancy futsal, but slightly wasteful in front of goal with the game ended 1 - 1:
Mercy Mounthawk (Kerry) started their day impressively accounting for Rice College (Clare) 3/0, following this up with another 2/0 win against St: Joseph’s (Tipperary):
CBS Sexton Street (Limerick) recorded the best result of the day beating an impressive St: Coleman’s (Cork) 2/1 in a very tight and entraining game: St Coleman’s found their form in their next game against De La Salle (Waterford) scoring twice with reply; this result would ultimately cost De La Salle as they came into the tournament after this first game, defeating CBS Sexton Street 4/3 and Rice College 4/2:
Mercy Monthawk however kept getting the results in tight games drawing 1/1 with St: Colemans and beating CBS Sexton Street 2/0:
Mercy and De La Salle went into the second last game of the day knowing De La Salle must win the game or Mounthawk would be crowned Munster Champions, in an end to end game Mercy Monthawk finally prevailed getting the point that they need to win the trophy:
GIRLS SECTION
Gaelcolaiste Luimnigh (Limerick) started their tournament in very impressive fashion accounting for last year’s Munster Champions Presentation Secondary School, Thurles (Tipperary) 5/2 in a fantastic opening tie:
Christ King Girls’ Secondary School (Cork) had a very good pedigree in this competition and started their day with an emphatic victory over Waterpark (Waterford) 11/0:
Spanish Point (Clare) won their opening game with an excellent game against Mercy Mounthawk (Kerry) that ended 2/1:
In what turned out to be a crucial game Christ King Girls narrowly defeated Gaelcolaiste (Limerick) 2/1, however Christ King didn’t have things all their own way drawing with Mercy Mounthawk and Presentation to set up a tense final game for them and Spanish Point:
However, they held their nerve and scored three goals without reply to win the Munster Finals and bring the trophy back to Cork for the second time in three years:
Thanks to David and Lisa Rooney (Nenagh Arena) for use of their facilities and to all the schools that took part on the day:
Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School, Tralee and Christ King Girls Secondary School, Cork will now represent Munster in the All Ireland Finals which are scheduled to take place in Fransiscan College, Gormanston on Wednesday next, December 5: We wish all the participating teams the very best of luck at their endeavours to be crowned All Ireland Futsal Champions:
List of participating Schools:
Limerick (Boys) CBS Sexton Street, Limerick
Limerick (Girls) Gaelcolaiste Luimnigh
Kerry (Boys) Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Tralee
Kerry (Girls) Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Tralee
Clare (Boys) Rice College, Ennis
Clare (Girls) St: Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point
Cork (Boys) St Colman’s Community College, Midleton
Cork (Girls) Christ the King Girls’ Secondary School
Tipperary (Boys) St: Joseph’s College, Borrisleigh
Tipperary (Girls) Presentation Secondary School, Thurles
Waterford (Boys) De La Salle College, Waterford
Waterford (Girls) Blackwater Community School, Lismore
Report & images courtesy of James Scott, (FAI Development Officer, North Tipperary)