The biggest and best competition in the 2012
Primary School Soccer Calendar
The An Post FAI Schools Inishowen 5-a-side competition took place last Saturday (April 28) in Trawbreaga Park, Rashenny:
Three sections were being contested, namely the Boys “A” Section, Girls “A” Section and the Boys “B” Section for small and medium schools:
The Inishowen peninsula has a phenomenal record in this competition with many schools reaching the All Ireland series and competing with honours:
Back eleven years ago, Cloontagh NS won the All Ireland “A” Section and followed this up in 2008 with another such victory for the Inishowen School:
Scoil Eoghain located in Moville won the National Cup in 2001 and again in 2010 in the Girls “B” and Girls “A” sections respectively:
Greencastle NS claimed the All Ireland Girls “A” titles in 2002 and 2008 and were third place finishers in 2007:
An impressive four appearances at the National stage can be accredited to Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana but the glory of a gold medal has eluded the school thus far: The School merited a third place finish in 2008 and 2011 and a fourth place podium spot in 2007 and again two years later:
Cockhill NS were All Ireland runners up in 2008 after a spirited performance in the debut in the competition:
Inishowen’s Scoil Naoimh Fhionain collected a silver medal at the 2009 event while Scoil Colmcille, Newtowncunningham were awarded a bronze the same year:
The most recent winners were Carndonagh’s St: Patrick’s NS who captured gold last season and a fourth place finish the previous year to ensure the Ulster side were well represented in the winner’s enclosure:
Kicking off the day’s proceedings in the Boys “A” Section Illies eventually emerged winners recording 2 wins and a draw: They began with a 3/1 victory over the hosts Rashenny before having to settle for a 1/1 draw against Cloontagh:
Illies now faced Craigtown in their final group game knowing that they needed a win to advance to the Ulster Finals:
Craigtown had already recorded two wins against Cloontagh and Rashenny and they knew that a draw would see them qualify: In this crucial last game Illies defeated Craigtown 2/1 in what turned out to be a pulsating encounter that could easily have gone Craigtown’s way:
In the Girls “A” Section the hosts deservedly topped the table with three wins from three:
Rashenny started their campaign with a narrow 2/1 win against Cockhill before coming through by a two/ goal margin in an eight/ goal thriller against local rivals Cloontagh:
The final game saw them paired against a very good Greencastle team that had also won their first two games: In an excellent game of football were skill and commitment were to the fore Rashenny defeated their opponents by 3/1:
The Boys “B” Section was the most closely contested group with the winners being decided on mere goal difference:
Tooban and last year’s National winners Carndonagh both finished on five points with the Burnfoot School securing their place in the Ulster Finals on a superior goal difference:
Both teams had victories against Moville and Muff in the first round of games before meeting in the second set of games where it ended all square, 3/3:
In the final set of games, Carndonagh were up against Muff while Tooban took on Moville:
Already ahead on goal difference Tooban recorded a comprehensive victory while Carndonagh did win against Muff but by a much smaller margin and so the boys from Burnfoot will be Inishowen’s representatives in the Ulster Finals:
Also through to represent the peninsula are Moville in Girls “B” Section and Buncrana in Boys “C” Section:
The Ulster Finals are scheduled for Lakeside on Wednesday, May 23:
Report courtesy of Mr: Martin Robins, competition organise