EA Sports FAI Schools 5-A-Side
Landmark achievement for Schools in Leinster Finals
Longford made history at the Provincial Finals on Wednesday having qualified two schools to this year’s EA Sports FAI Schools National Finals. This is the first occasion for any school in Longford to progress as far and they will certainly be hoping to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet next week.
St. Patrick’s National School in Ballinamuck captured the Girls A Schools crown by beating some superb schools.
The first match for Ballinamuck was against St. Damian’s from Walkinstown in Dublin. St. Damian's proved to be a very lively and skilful team. As this was the first match, it took the girls from Ballinamuck some time to settle into the game but they eventually got on top and came out winners by three goals to one. The goal scorers were Donna Masterson, Michelle Masterson and Ellie Columb.
The next game was against Bree from Wexford, one of the favourites for the competition. Both schools showed plenty of skill on the ball. The Ballinamuck team really had to dig deep here. Laura Whelan made some fine saves in goal and Mandy Cassidy was very solid in defence. The game ended scoreless at first half ended but in the second half, Ballinamuck's determination paid off. Ellie Columb scored a great individual goal from outside the box to clinch a 1-0 victory.
That left just one match for Ballinamuck, against the North Educate Together School from Kildare. They were a tough physical team and proved very difficult to break down. Once again, it was a tight affair and the first half remained scoreless. Ballinamuck made a few changes after half-time, bringing on three substitutes, Ailish Noonan, Chloe Connell and Danielle Walsh. The fresh legs helped Ballinamuck and they grabbed a late winner with Donna Masterson providing the elusive goal.
SN Naomh Colmcille in Aughnacliffe was triumphant in the B Schools Section. This group was the most closely contested of all sections. After losing their first game to Mucklagh, the Longford side regained the upper hand with victories against Priorswood, Rathvilly and Francis Street. There was a three way tie for top spot with Naomh Colmcille, Rathvilly and Mucklagh sharing the spoils on 6 points each. However Naomh Colmcille captured the title in dramatic style with a superior goal difference. Best for Colmcille were goal keeper Bryan McCormack, Vincent Hourican and Fearghail Sheridan.
St. Broghan’s of Offaly won all 3 matches in their group to secure the A Schools Section. All the more remarkable was the fact that this was their first time to compete in any type of soccer tournament which was a great achievement for the school. Top scorer was Jim Hendy who had great support from colleagues Dale Sheridan, Benny Sherlock and Robbie Farrell.
The Girls B Schools Section was won by Scoil Mhichil Naofa in Athy Co. Kildare, who retained their prestigious title for the second year running. The Kildare outfit defeated Stonepark by the narrowest of margins in their opening encounter while they had 2 – 0 victories against St. Bernadette’s and St. Ciaran’s. The final game of the day resulted in a draw with Riverchapel which proved their toughest match of the campaign.
History was created when Kilkenny CBS won the C Schools Section for the first time ever. CBS played four games against schools from Malahide, Tallaght, Dundalk and Carlow. A great opening 3-0 victory against Malahide was followed by a very close and entertaining game against Holy Family, Carlow which finished 1-1. CBS found their goal scoring touch in the third game beating St. Killian's of Tallaght 5-0.
Needing just a point in the last game to be crowned champions, CBS played St. Joseph's, Dundalk. A Dean Cornally goal was enough to send CBS through to the National Finals.
Eamon O'Reilly netted four goals, Dean Cornally scored three, Eoin McGovern scored twice and Daniel Bolger also found the net for a team competing in the competition for only the second time ever. Overall, it was a superb team performance with CBS goalkeeper Gary Kelly, Eoin McGovern and Eamon O' Reilly particularly prominent.
All five schools progress to the National Finals which will be taking place in the impressive Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on May 28th.
It promises to be a fantastic fun filled day with a “Player of the Tournament” accolade for each section, goodies bags and medals for all participants.
EA Sports will be on hand to entertain spectators with HD Lounges and PODs for that interactive gaming enthusiast.
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
Our Lady’s, Milltown, Dublin
Taghmon, Westmeath
St. Broghan’s, Offaly
Marshalstown, Wexford
RESULTS
Our Lady’s 0 – 8 Taghmon
St. Broghan’s 1 – 1 Marshalstown
Our Lady’s 0 – 4 St. Broghan’s
Taghmon 3 – 3 Marshalstown
Our Lady’s 0 – 5 Marshalstown
St. Broghan’s 3 – 1 Taghmon
Winners: St. Broghan’s, Offaly
Barry Sherlock, Tom Galbrath, Jim Hendy, Jack Hendy, Dale Sheridan, Robbie Farrell, Anthony Cunningham, Ronan Maher
Runner Up: Marshalstown, Wexford
Darragh Kehoe, Eoghan Ryan, Sean Burke, Michael Byrne, John Atkinson, Sean Morris, Aaron Kenny, James Farrell
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
St. Damian’s Walkinstown
St. Patrick’s NS, Ballinamuck, Longford
North Educate Together, Kildare
Bree, Wexford
RESULTS
St. Damian’s 1 – 3 Ballinamuck
North Ed. Together 0 – 2 Bree
St. Damian’s 1 – 1 North Ed. Together
Ballinamuck 1 – 0 Bree
St. Damien’s 0 – 4 Bree
North Ed. Together 0 – 1 Ballinamuck
Winners: St. Patrick’s NS, Ballinamuck, Co. Longford
Laura Whelan, Mandy Cassidy, Michelle Masterson, Ellie Columb, Donna Masterson, Ailish Noonan, Chloe Connell, Danielle Walsh
Runner Up: Bree, Co. Wexford
Joanne Wickham, Shona Spratt Murphy, Niamh Rochford, Shannon Somers, Annie Stafford, Caitlin Reck, Kate Byrne, Grainne Byrne
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
St. Francis, Priorswood, Dublin North
Francis Street CBS, Dublin South
Colmcille, Longford
Mucklagh NS, Tullamore
Rathvilly, Carlow
RESULTS
Priorswood 5 – 1 Francis Street
Colmcille 0 – 2 Mucklagh
Rathvilly 4 – 1 Priorswood
Francis St 2 – 7 Mucklagh
Colmcille 6 – 1 Priorswood
Francis St 0 – 4 Rathvilly
Rathvilly 1 – 2 Colmcille
Priorswood 1 – 4 Mucklagh
Colmcille 7 – 1 Francis St
Mucklagh 2 – 4 Rathvilly
Winners: Colmcille, Longford
Bryan McCormack, Cathal Reilly, Vincent Hourican, Fearghal Sheridan, Cormac Hughes, Martin Brady, Andrew Blankley, Nathan Duignan
Runner Up: Mucklagh, Offaly
Jack McNamara, James Guilfoyle, Patrick Dunican, Johnny McEvoy, Patrick Grogan, Ryan Daly, Dean Power, Mark Kinahan
Girls “B” Schools:
TEAMS
St. Ciaran’s, Hartstown, Dublin North
St. Bernadette’s, Quarryvale, Dublin South
Stonepark, Longford
Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Athy, Co. Kildare
Riverchapel, Wexford
RESULTS
St. Ciaran’s 2 – 1 St. Bernadette’s
Stonepark 2 – 3 Scoil Mhichil
Riverchapel 2 – 6 St. Ciaran’s
St. Bernadette’s 0 – 2 Scoil Mhichil
Stonepark 2 – 2 St. Ciaran’s
St. Bernadette’s 1 – 1 Riverchapel
Riverchapel 0 – 2 Stonepark
St. Ciaran’s 0 – 2 Scoil Mhichil
Stonepark 1 – 0 St. Bernadette’s
Scoil Mhichil 1 – 1 Riverchapel
Winners: Scoil Mhichil Naofa, Athy, Co. Kildare
Michaela O’Rourke, Michaela Hubbock, Donna Hickey, Leanne Grey, Maeve Molloy, Claire Moylan, Colleen Leigh, Laura Bowden
Runner Up: St. Ciaran’s, Hartstown
Danielle Pugh, Naoise Bolster, Rachael Mulhall, Lauren Beggs, Megan Leech, Deirdre Comerford, Sarah Hanly, Aoife Fitzpatrick
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
Pope John Paul II, Malahide, Dublin North
St. Killian’s Tallaght, Dublin South
St. Joseph’s, Dundalk, Louth
Kilkenny CBS, Kilkenny
Holy Family, Carlow
RESULTS
Carlow 5 – 4 Dundalk
Kilkenny 3 – 0 Malahide
Tallaght 2 – 8 Carlow
Dundalk 1 – 6 Malahide
Kilkenny 1 – 1 Carlow
Dundalk 2 – 2 Tallaght
Tallaght 0 – 8 Kilkenny
Carlow 2 – 3 Malahide
Kilkenny 1 – 1 Dundalk
Malahide 5 – 0 Tallaght
Winners: Kilkenny CBS, Kilkenny
Dean Cornally, Kieran Banville, Gary Kelly, Evan Cody, Andrew Wall, Eoin McGovern, Eamon O’Reilly, Daniel Bolger
Runner Up: St. John Paul II, Malahide
Dylan McNulty, Brian Heffernan, Sean Nolan, Dylan Cashin, Colm Byrne, Eoin Kirwan, Evan Mooney, Paul McBride
