Kildare Primary Soccer Boys & Girls 11-a-side League Finals Day Match Reports
Wednesday, October 26 2022 – Kilcullen Community Centre Astroturf Pitch
Boys Division 3: Maynooth ETNS 6 - 2 Scoil Mhuire, Ballymore Eustace
On a very blustery day in Kilcullen, Maynooth Educate Together National School managed to overcome Scoil Mhuire Ballymore to become the Division 3 Kildare Soccer 11 a side soccer Champions. This is the second time in the school’s history that they have taken home this prize.
With a strong wind behind their backs, the Maynooth boys started the match on the front foot forcing Scoil Mhuire, Ballymore to defend deep. The first goal duly arrived when Adam Lowings laid off the ball to Euan Guha, who finish with a half volley into the bottom right.
Maynooth continued to press and doubled their lead when Adam Lowings played a through ball for Euan Guha to finish calmly. Maynooth were fortunate to receive an indirect free for a pass back which lead to a deflected goal which increased the lead to three. The lead was further extended when Sam Chubb set up a foot race between Euan Guha and Adam Foley in the Ballymore goal, with Guha nipping in to flick the ball home to put Maynooth into a commanding 4 nil lead
Ballymore, to their credit, never gave up against such a powerful wind and managed to work an excellent corner routine with a lovely near post finish by Ronan McGlynn high into the net to pull a goal back for them and reduce the arrears to 4-1.
After the break, Ballymore increased the pressure on Maynooth with a series of excellent corner kicks but were caught on the break when Euan Guha finished off a rebound after Sam Chubb had hit a powerful effort which was well saved initially by Adam Foley in the Ballymore goal to make it 5-1 to Maynooth.
Ballymore continued to press and scored a superb free kick from the left wing by Cillian Gilroy. Maynooth withstood the mounting pressure with stellar performances from their back four and, in particular, the heroics from their goalie, Oscar Lehtimaki. The match was put beyond doubt when 4 goal hero Euan Guha showed that hes clearly not just a great finisher as he assisted Sam Chubb by playing him through on goal and he lobbed the goalie to finish the match 6-2 to the delight of Maynooth Educate Together NS and their supporters.
Both teams are to be commended for their efforts to play attractive, attacking football in such difficult conditions. Thanks to their teachers Tom Treacy and Peter Roche respectively who did such a great job in preparing both teams in advance of what was an excellent game.
Maynooth Educate Together NS: Oscar Lehtimaki, Matthew Byrne, Aran Uhlemann, Lee Moran, Tobyn O’ Flaherty, Malcolm Kayitsinga, Adam Lowings, Sam Chubb, Manase Zinc, Euan Guha, Oisín Ashraful. Subs: Sean Cody, James Gibney, Victor Kypraios, Vivaan Verlekar, Fionn Ashraful.
Scoil Mhuire, Ballymore Eustace: Adam Foley, Thomas Evans, Cillian Gilroy, Sean Molloy, Kyle Edwards, Cameron Fitxpatrick, Charlie Murphy, Declan O’Brien, Adam Carroll, Ronan McGlynn, Maddox Meade Subs: Tom Gill, Ryan O’Neill, Hayden Gleeson, Tom Geoghegan, Aaron McEvoy
Boys Division 2: Scoil Bhríde, Kilcullen 4 - 1 Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Athy
With the wind at their backs in the opening half of this game, Kilcullen raced into an early lead after less than 2 minutes when the fleet footed Adam Maher was taken down inside the area for a penalty which was converted by Kilcullen’s very industrious and skilful striker, Bobby Lambe despite the best efforts of Adam Zdybik who got a great hand to his shot but just failed to keep it out of the Athy goal. Zdybik would go on to have a very fine game in goal for Athy as he proved himself to be an excellent goalkeeper. Kilcullen made it 2 nil after 13 minutes when the mercurial Adam Maher was fouled again as he dribbled inside the Athy penalty area. It was Johnny Collins who stepped up this time and made no mistake as he despatched his spot kick low and hard into the bottom corner. Eoghan Doherty struck a great free kick for Kilcullen and was unlucky not to add to their lead.
While many teams would have dropped their heads and become dispirited at conceding such an early 2 goal lead, this Athy side showed they are made of tough stuff and with steely determination and guile they began to work themselves back into the game, having some joy down both flanks. They could consider themselves unlucky not to receive a penalty of their own towards the end of the half when the referee adjudged a foul by a Kilcullen defender to have taken place right on the very perimeter of their penalty area. The resulting free kick whizzed slightly over the bar and so Kilcullen took a 2-0 lead into the half-time break.
Athy started the second half brightly and with the advantage of the wind at their backs, they were putting the Kilcullen defence under a lot of pressure. Well marshalled by Jamie Jacob and Liam Killaly in the centre and ably assisted by full backs Marc Daly and Aidan Fitzgerald with Deon Doyle very sharp behind them in the goal, the Kilcullen defence remained resolute and firm.
Having soaked up a lot of pressure, Kilcullen managed to break away on a counter attack and after some great build up play by powerhouse midfielder, Jack Kelly, Maher and Collins to release the lively Callum Blake down the left into the Athy box, he managed to score at the near post with a great finish to make it 3 nil to Kilcullen after 44 minutes.
Rather than accept defeat, this Athy side drove on again and deservedly pulled a goal back just a couple of minutes later when Alex Lynch expertly tucked away a penalty for his side on 47 minutes. Roared on by a large travelling support, Athy gained great encouragement from this and piled on the pressure on the Kilcullen defence even further. Kilcullen remained calm however and as Athy threw caution to the wind towards the end of the game, their excellent midfielder Johnny Collins broke onto a clearance and dribbled from the halfway line towards the edge of the Athy box. As one of the Athy defenders showed excellent recovery pace and was just about to place a well timed tackle, Collins showed his cuteness by cutting across the defender’s path before very coolly slotting the ball past the onrushing Zdybik into the bottom corner of the Athy net with only a minute left to seal the title for Kilcullen on a 4-1 scoreline and much to the delight of their supporters. Scoil Bhríde, Kilcullen past pupil and current League of Ireland U17 title winner with Shelbourne FC and Ireland U18 international Finn Cowper Gray was on hand to present the cup to their fantastic captain Adam Maher. Finn himself played in this competition in his primary school days and was a member of the Scoil Bhríde team that won the inaugural Division 1 title back in 2017-2018.
Great credit to both teams who are clearly well coached at their clubs and schools as they both play an attractive style of football. Ireland U21 manager, Jim Crawford was also in attendance at this game and was said to be very impressed by both teams. Both management teams of John Molloy, Ronan Elliffe and Tadgh O’Sullivan for Kilcullen & Brendan Carberry and Donnacha Dunne for Athy were extremely proud of their teams who played the game in a keenly contested yet sporting manner.
Scoil Bhríde, Kilcullen: Deon Doyle, Marc Daly, Aidan Fitzgerald, Liam Killaly, Jamie Jacob, Jack Kelly, Eoghan Doherty, Johnny Collins, Bobby Lambe, Adam Maher (C), Callum Blake. Subs: Kayden Fanning, Eddie Dempsey, Corey Connor, Toby Galvin, Daniel Stepniak, Ryan McLarnon, Jayden Sheridan, Adam O’Grady, Adam Byrne, Euan Lawlor.
Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Athy: Adam Zdybik, Tadhg Horan, Cian Maher, Jerry Davis, Fionn Kelly, Harper Foley, Alex Lynch, Ryan Keaveney, Harry Walsh. Subs: Jay Donovan, Jimmy Doyle, Finn Clancy, Troy Stynes, Daniel Quinn.
Boys Division 1: Scoil Bhríde, Kill 4 - 1 St. Mary’s BNS, Maynooth
Scoil Bhríde, Kill and St.Mary’s BNS of Maynooth met in an eagerly anticipated encounter in the final game of the day in the Boys Division 1 final. It was Scoil Bhríde, Kill who enjoyed a strong wind advantage in the opening half and they came flying out of the traps early on and took the lead with a fantastic free-kick from just outside the box after a terrific strike by Finn Ryan which absolutely flew into the roof of Joseph Comiskey’s net in the MAynooth goal after only 5 minutes. The Maynooth boys fought back well after this early setback and were extremely unlucky not to equalise after 12 minutes after a tremendous double save by Scoil Bhríde, Kill keeper Myles Holohan. Kill came straight back down the other end with a lovely volleyed finish by Finn Hickey from just inside the Kill penalty area to give Comiskey no chance in the Maynooth goal as Kill took a 2-0 lead into the half-time break.
After withstanding some early pressure at the start of the second half, Kill managed to break away on a counter-attack after 42 minutes and Ryan McNulty made no mistake as he calmly slotted the ball home despite the best efforts of the onrushing Comiskey in the Maynooth goal to give Kill a 3 nil lead.
Unluckily perhaps for the Maynooth lads, what was a very strong wind advantage in the first half for Kill seemed to die down altogether in the second half. With Maynooth sending bodies forward at every opportunity in an attempt to claw their way back into this tie, they left themselves a bit open at the back and Finn Ryan scored the goal of the game (and day perhaps) after 52 minutes as he unleashed an absolute rocket missile of a shot from outside the box into the top corner of the Kill net giving Kill goalkeeper Myles Holohan no chance.
Maynooth fought valiantly throughout and they deservedly pulled one goal back just before the final whistle when Matthew Tyrell scored a great goal to leave the score at 4 - 1 to Kill as they sealed their first ever title win in the Kildare Primary Soccer leagues. Teachers Pat Gallagher of Kill and Cathal McGeady & Úna Mac Mahon of Maynooth were all really proud of both squads as they put in a monumental effort throughout and played some lovely football in some very tough weather conditions.
Scoil Bhríde, Kill: Myles Holohan, Cillian Malone, Aidan Ryan, Scott O’Leary, Tom Troy, Niall Corrigan, Alex Reddy, Ashton Rowe, Ryan McNulty, Finn Hickey. Subs: Adam Smyth, Andy Gavin, Jude Jordan, Ryan Seala, Michael Gavin, Harry Bennett, Cooper Brown, Euan Malone, Alex Cunningham.
St. Mary’s BNS, Maynooth: Joseph Comiskey, Cathal Corcoran, Matthew Haugh, Luke O’Connor, Adam Glover, Warrick Ben Becker, David Oke, Dan Lyons, Odhran O’Neill, James Clarke. Subs: Mark O’Connor, Noah Howlin, Aidan McKenna, Matthew Tyrrell, Euan McGrath, David Pascarua.
Girls Division 2: Scoil Diarmada, Castledermot 2 - 1 Maynooth ETNS
Scoil Diarmada, Castledermot edged out Maynooth ETNS in a thrilling final in the first game of the day.
Scoil Diarmada opened the scoring in the first half with a great goal from Ava Kavanagh Cleere after a clever throw in. The Castledermot girls were unlucky not to make it two as Kavanagh Cleere hit the post a short while later as Scoil Diarmada enjoyed a strong wind advantage in the first half of this game. The half time whistle blew shortly afterwards to leave the Castledermot girls heading into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.
The second half was end to end as both goalkeepers made some absolutely terrific saves. Maynooth eventually struck for an equaliser when their striker Nerea Ratz Garrido scored a brillant goal with a super strike.
With 10 minutes to go Scoil Diarmada won a corner. A great cross by Ava Kavanagh Cleere found Lilly Anne Keatley who found the net with a delicate flick into the Maynooth goal to regain the lead for the Castledermot girls on a 2-1 scoreline.
Scoil Diarmada’s defence came under serious pressure following this as Maynooth ETNS tried everything to get back into the game once again but the Castldermot girls defended resolutely with Sophia Fruscia and Lena Daszkiewicz clearing everything that came their way. Grace Murphy and Abbie Galvin also put in a tremendous shift for Scoil Diarmada as did all their girls as they managed to seal a first ever title win for Scoil Diarmada in girls soccer on a final score of 2-1. Great credit must go to the Maynooth ETNS girls who played their part in what was an excellent encounter and a great start to the day of finals. James Ruth of Scoil Diarmada, Castledermot and Eon McDomhnaill and Tom Treacy of Maynooth ETNS were immensely proud of their squads who had given it absolutely everything in a thrilling game between the sides.
Scoil Diarmada, Castledermot: Lydia Tanzee, Sophia Fruscia, Annabell Leigh, Amy Corcoran, Kristyn Gaffney, Lena Daszkiewicz, Ciara Kelly, Grace Murphy, Ava Kavanagh Cleere, Abby Galvin, Lilly Anne Keatley. Subs: Jennifer Elliott, Amelia Murphy, Kacie Mooney, Leah Balfe, Amy Healy.
Maynooth ETNS: Abigail Cody, Margo Savkiv, Chloe Moran, Maggie Gaffney, Hannah McCarthy Flynn, Luka Januskaite, Lucy Doherty, Eileen Wellmer, Patrycja Zdyb, Nerea Ratz Garrido, Sarah Dempsey, Subs: Maddie Brennan Traynor, Lucy Delaney, Jessica McDermott
Girls Division 1: Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth 6 - 1 Scoil Bhríde, Kill
A very hard fought contest from the offset. Both teams settled well and played some fantastic football. With a strong wind advantage favouring Gaelscoil Ui Fhiaich they were attacking tirelessly but were met with a very strong Kill defence.
It took some 10 mins before Camille NÍ Choigligh managed to slot home the opening goal of the match for the Maynooth girls.
The second goal followed shortly after with a lovely strike from Sinead Ní Sheighin. With the half time break fast approaching Éabh Ní Eidhneáin scored Gaelscoil Ui Fhiaich's third goal to make it 3-0 at the break.
With the change of ends and the wind now favouring Kill in the second half it was Gaelscoil Ui Fhiaich's turn to withstand some serious pressure on their defensive rearguard. Kill had a few quick attacks early on in the second half but it was the Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich girls yet that broke away and found the net yet again through Lara Nic Mhadóg to give them a commanding 4-0 lead.
Despite being tested regularly, Conney Hennessy was having a terrific game in goal for Scoil Bhríde, Kill and having thwarted the Maynooth girls in their attempts to extend their lead further on many occasions, she could do nothing to stop Teagan De Barra from finishing a lovely team move by Maynooth ETNS with an excellent strike to the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Gaelscoil Ui Fhiaich had a few more chances before the finish and Saoirse Ní Airt rounded off their scoring tally as she became their sixth different goalscorer with their 6th and final goal of the day.
The goal of the match was still to come however and arrived in the dying minutes from the boot of Scoil Bhríde, Kill sharpshooter, Katie Fogarty. A fine player, Katie managed to score 5 goals in one game in the group stages for Kill and she drove her team forward at every opportunity. It was a fantastic shot that gave the Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich keeper no chance.
So Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth take home the title on a 6-1 scoreline in what was a game of very high quality. Teachers Áine Ni Chonghaile of Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich and Pat Gallagher of Scoil Bhríde, Kill were immensely proud of their troops.
These girls are no doubt taking inspiration from Vera Pauw’s senior ladies Irish international side’s recent qualification for next summer’s World Cup. Current Ireland U16 international and Peamount United player, Della Cowper Gray, was very impressed with the standard of play and offered words of praise and encouragement for both sides before presenting the cup to Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich captain Skye Bairéid. Having only just been crowned League of Ireland champions for the third time in a row on Monday night, Shamorock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley was also in attendance at this game and was said to be hugely impressed by the quality of the football on show.
Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maynooth: Teagan de Barra, Emily Ní Chathail, Sadhbh Ní Dhuigeannáin, Éabha Ni Eidhneán, Lucy Ní Bheacháin, Elizabeth Ní Chromruisc, Sinéad Ní Sheighin, Skye Bairéid (c), Alice Ní Mhuirí, Camille Ní Choigligh, Lara Nic Mhadóg Subs: Ellen Ní Dhíomasaigh, Rachel Ní Thuama, Saoirse Ní Airt, Ellie Nic Griffin, Aisling Ní Chuinn.
Scoil Bhríde, Kill: Conney Hennessy, Ciara Smullen, Emer Markey, Aoife Hayes, Amelia Smyth, Katie Fogarty, Ellen Mohan, Ella Fagan, Laila Vaughan, Summer McDonnell, Orlaith Youd. Subs: Isabel Purcell, Ella Bradley, Aoife Keogh, Rosie Molloy, Abbie Lynch, Isabel Devenny, Sophie Walsh, Kayla Byrne, Ciara Mulligan.
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