LEINSTER champions Loreto Secondary School made history on Tuesday last (23 February) by claiming their first national soccer title at the All/Ireland Post Primary Schools Futsal Finals in Ballymun reports Gavin Earley:
The sport was only introduced to the Kilkenny school last year and incredibly they have already tasted provincial and national success in the girls section of a competition that is growing in reputation year on year:
Jenny Clifford was the hero on the day as her brace in the final against Kerry’s Causeway Comprehensive ensured the girl’s trophy at least did not have to travel far from the impressive BRL Umbro Arena at Ballymun’s Trinity Comprehensive:
Traditionally a camogie school, Loreto have teams contesting the All/Ireland senior final and All/Ireland junior semi/final on Saturday and could cap an incredible school year with a remarkable treble:
Manager Barry O’Neill and Paul McGinley led the Loreto girls to their futsal victory on Tuesday and the latter insists soccer will enjoy its moment in the school’s spotlight for the time being:
“This is absolutely unreal and means so much to the school,” said McGinley:
“A lot of people have put a lot of effort into bringing soccer on in the school and after a quiet start last year this is just amazing:
“It is our first piece of silverware in the sport and the school is very proud of the girls:”
Connacht champions Davitt College narrowly missed out on a place in the final on goal difference earlier in the day but stole the show with a stunning performance in their third and fourth place play/off against Cavan’s Bailieborough:
The Mayo school looked to be down and out when they went in at half/time 3/1 down thanks to a Leanne McCabe double and Helen Collins’ strike:
Amazingly though, striker Erina Flannery added a second/half hat/trick to her first/half goal and won the game thanks to her final goal four seconds from the end:
The consolation game in the boys section produced an identical score/line as Scoil Mhuire of Strokestown overcame St Columba’s College from Stranorlar 4/3 to end their day, and season, on a high:
Both teams had lost out earlier in the day to their group’s top two teams, CBS Limerick and St Peter’s College of Dunboyne, who progressed to the showpiece and final game of the day:
The Munster champions had been the only team to take points off their final opponents during the group stages in the very first game of the day and so they went into the final as favourites:
While Jamie Joyce and Zoran Abid were the scorers in the group wins over Scoil Mhuire and St Columbas, Shane Walsh popped up with a brace and Jamie Brommell sealed a 3/1 victory for CBS in the final:
GIRLS FINALISTS
CAUSEWAY COMPREHENSIVE: Megan O’Connor, Rabecca Horgan, Niamh Meehan, Siobhan Donnegan, Alana Mensall, Cliona Costello, Cliona O’Connor, Naomi O’Sullivan, Danielle Robinson, Jenny O’Mahoney, Michelle O’Regan, Grace Costello, Hannah Roche:
LORETO SECONDARY SCHOOL: Laura Murphy, Rosin Green, Laura Green, Danielle Kenny, Sarah Kent, Leah Delaney, Megan Walsh, Ally McCarthy, Jenny Clifford, Aoife Prendergast, Kirsty Maher:
BOYS FINALISTS
ST PETER’S COLLEGE: Adam McDonnell, Dave Fitzgerald, Shane Cummiskey, Mathew Curtis, Conor Finn, Craig Doyle, Andrew Mitham, John Finnerty, Jordan McLoughlin, Shane Weston, Evan Phelan:
CBS LIMERICK: Martin Dinan, Jamie Brommell, Eoin McDonell, Shane Walsh, Shane Cope, Davin Hehir, Gavin Mullins, Michael McNamara, Jamie Joyce, Shane McNamara, Mark Whelan, Zoran Abid:
END