Fantastic finish to Connacht Futsal showdown

Thursday, November 17, 2016

 

IT SLIGO was the place to be this afternoon as Summerhill College, Sligo (Boys) and Claregalway College (Girls) were crowned Connacht Futsal Champions for 2016.

 

The nine talented schools that progressed through their County events to the prestigious Connacht Finals were St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh (Mayo), Abbey Community College (Roscommon), Summerhill College (Sligo), St. Joseph’s College, the bish (Galway) and St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton (Leitrim) from the boys division. Equally the girls were well represented by the impressive Davitt College, Castlebar (Mayo), St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton (Leitrim), who were enjoying dual representation, Claregalway College (Galway), Mercy Convent (Roscommon) and host County starlets St. Attracta’s Community School (Sligo) in an epic encounter.

 

There were so many fantastic games played as the courts came to life at midday with the girls and boys action run simultaneously

 

It was a fiercely entertaining battle in the boys division as Summerhill College cruised to a four game victory, scoring 14 goals, conceding just six. They defeated St. Clare’s 4-2, the bish 2-1, St. Louis 4-1 and Abbey 4-2 in the final game of the group.

 

But it was the runners up spot that proved the most difficult to call as both St. Joseph’s College and St. Clare’s CS couldn’t be divided. Ultimately it was the Leitrim lads that made it through to the final to face host County Summerhill College. Pat Tuohy’s charges defeated the St. Clare’s crew 4-1 in the final to capture the elusive title as they progress to the next stage of competition, the National Finals on December 8.

 

The girls section was a nail-biting showcase as many of the score-lines were tight with only a small margin deciding their faith. The opening match ended with a share of the spoils for Sligo’s St. Attracta’s and Manorhamilton’s St. Clares as it finished 3-3. The Convent were an impressive outfit but went down 0-2 to the experienced Davitt College who have won this competition previously.

 

Claregalway edged their opening game of the competition with a 2-0 victory over Davitt College. St. Attracta’s defeated Mercy Convent 2-1, drew 0-0 with Claregalway and defeated Davitt 1-0 in their run out. St. Clare’s were just a point behind the runners up St. Attracta’s and thus missed out on a spot in the final.

 

It was another stern test for both teams as their previous encounter ended scoreless. However the new kids on the block, Claregalway found some form in the final as they rocketed the ball into the Sligo net to scenes of jubilation and they eventually held out for a much deserved victory, 1-0 to the Galway side.  

 

Summerhill College, Sligo & Claregalway College will now progress to the National Finals which will take place in Waterford IT Sports Arena on December 8. We wish all participating schools the very best of luck.

 

List of participating Schools:

 

BOYS

Galway | St. Joseph’s College (the Bish)

Leitrim | St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton

Mayo | St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh

Roscommon | Abbey Community College

Sligo | Summerhill College

 

Winner:                 Summerhill College, Sligo

Runner Up:           St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Leitrim

 

GIRLS

Galway | Claregalway College

Leitrim | St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton

Mayo | Davitt College, Castlebar

Roscommon | Mercy Convent

Sligo | St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry

 

Winner:                 Claregalway College

Runner Up:           St. Attracta’s Community School

 

POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS FUTSAL DATES

Provincial Finals:

Ulster:                                    Tuesday, November 15                      AURA Leisure Centre, Letterkenny

Connacht:                              Thursday, November 17                     IT Sligo

Munster:                               Tuesday, November 22                      Waterford IT Sports Arena

Leinster:                                Wednesday, November 23                Gormanston College, Meath

National Final:                     Thursday, December 8                       Waterford IT Sports Arena

 

2015 NATIONAL FINALS ROLL OF HONOUR:

Post Primary Schools – Girls

WINNERS:                                             Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana, Donegal (ULSTER)

RUNNERS UP:                                      Coláiste Dún Íascaigh, Cahir, Tipperary (MUNSTER)

THIRD:                                                   Ursuline College, Sligo (CONNACHT)

FOURTH:                                               Malahide Community School, Dublin (LEINSTER)

Post Primary Schools - Boys

WINNERS:                                             St. Patrick’s College, Cavan (ULSTER)

RUNNERS UP:                                      Dublin Oak Academy, Bray, Wicklow (LEINSTER)

THIRD:                                                   Ashton School, Cork (MUNSTER)

FOURTH:                                               Coláiste Mhuire, Ballymote, Sligo (CONNACHT)

WHAT IS FUTSAL | Futsal is an indoor version of association football. It is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines; walls or boards are not used.

Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation football.  The rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.