Thursday, April 3, 2014
Aviva Health FAI Primary School 5’s Meath Finals
The Meath Finals of the Aviva Health FAI Primary School 5s took place on the All/Weather pitches at the MDL in Navan on Tuesday last (April 1)
Dunboyne’s Cathal Brady (Drogheda Utd) presented trophies on the day to the winners and runners/up of the five sections:
A total of 197 teams from 87 schools had participated in the qualifiers the previous week with 21 teams advancing to the finals:
The five section winner’s progress to The North Leinster Finals on May 6 at the same venue:
This will see the five section winners in each county, Louth, Longford, Meath and Westmeath battling it out to reach the Leinster Finals on May 13:
The All Ireland Finals will again take place in the Aviva Stadium this year on May 28:
SECTION A BOYS FOR SMALL SCHOOLS
Meath Champions Killyon NS
Meath Runners Up Curragha NS
FIRST EVER TITLE FOR KILLYON
Killyon NS, managed by Máire Hegarty, were another Meath school to taste county success for the first time as they advanced to the North Leinster Finals on May 6:
The skilful James Clarke was top scorer on the day for Killyon and inspired his team/mates to win all three games convincingly over Curragha 5/1, Kill/Rathmolyon 6/2 and Castletown by 6/3:
This was Curragha’s best ever finish in the competition with a 5/1 win over Castletown and a 4/3 win over Kill and follows a great run last year:
KILLYON 1: James Clarke 2: Cathal McKeown 3: Cian Brennan 4: Shane Clarke 5: Harry Smyth 6: Jack Hevey 7: Stefan Holyner 8: Denis Darby
CURRAGHA 1: Niall Rooney 2: Adam McKane 3: Adam Quinn 4: Oisín Fay 5: Matthew Webb 6: Aidan McLarnon 7: James Dillon 8: Ben Dillon
SECTION B BOYS FOR MEDIUM SIZED SCHOOLS
Meath Champions Kentstown NS
Meath Runners/Up O’Growney NS Athboy
KENTSTOWN’S FIRST BOYS’ TITLE
Over the years Kentstown NS have had some talented boys teams but none had managed to capture the coveted County title until this year on April Fool’s Day:
This year’s team proved to be far from fools and are strong in all positions: Fiona Mahon’s boys overcame the challenge of Scoil Naomh Eoin (Navan) by 6/1 in their first game before going on to comfortably dispose of the highly fancied Athboy school by 7/2 in the deciding game of the group:
However Athboy, who won the All Ireland title in 2012, didn’t do themselves justice on the day and never recovered from conceding two early goals:
Keeper Dylan Bagnall was outstanding between the posts for Kentstown while the passing from all other players on the panel was key to topping this highly competition section, which began with a massive 49 teams!
KENTSTOWN 1: Dylan Bagnall 2: Sam O’Brien 3: Cathal Hickey 4: Sean Commons 5: Simon Rooney 6: Conor Dunne 7: Luke Holohan 8: Ben Coffey:
ATHBOY 1: Kian O’Neill 2: Marcus Zagrean 3: Christopher McKenna 4: Paul Tuite 5: Conor McGovern 6: Sean Ivers 7: Ryan McNamee 8: Liam Gough
SECTION C BOYS FOR LARGE SCHOOLS
Meath Champions St:Paul’s Navan
Meath Runners/Up Ratoath SNS
First ever County title for St: Paul’s
St: Paul’s were crowned County Champions for the very first time when they topped the group ahead of Ratoath NS, St: Michael’s Trim and St: Colmcille’s Kells:
The Navan school opened their account with a convincing 4/1 win over Kells and followed this up with a 6/1 triumph over last year’s All Ireland Champions, St: Michael’s Trim: In their last game, Adrian McLaughlin’s charges were losing by 3/2 to Ratoath when a wonder/strike from Ardi Nazifi gave St: Paul’s the vital point to clinch the Meath title:
Ratoath meanwhile were most impressive throughout the tournament, considering that all of their players were from fifth class, as the opening round clashed with the school’s Confirmation ceremony!
Aaron Kelly and Dean Lacey were outstanding in defence with keeper Aaron Davis commanding throughout : Luke Neville and Sean Buchanan worked exceptionally hard in mid/field and scored most of the goals: Colm Ftizpatrick, Oisin McGee and Kya Donegan also played their part in the school’s best ever showing:
ST: PAUL’S 1: Paddy Quinn 2: Michael Barrett 3: Ben Forde 4: Ardi Nazifi 5: Ben Caldwell 6:Adam Hoey 7: Brian O’Hanlon 8: Thomas Barrett
RATOATH SNS 1: Aaron Davies 2: Luke Neville 3: Seán Buchanan 4: Kya Donegan 5: Oisín McGee 6: Aaron Kelly 7: Dean Lacey 8: Colm Fitzpatrick
SECTION A GIRLS FOR SMALL SCHOOLS
Meath Champions Kilcloon
Meath Runners Up Kilmessan
KILCLOON GIRLS CAPTURE SECOND MEATH TITLE
Kilcloon girls captured their second Meath title after topping the group with two wins and a draw:
Captain Ann/Marie Byrne and Ciara Mahon were both was in inspired form, playing three fantastic games for Charlie O Connor’s charges:
Keeper Leah Hartigan pulled off some breathtaking saves while Mia Doherty and Emma Byrne were others to the fore for Kilcloon, who edged out a skillful Yellow Furze team by 3/2 in the crucial game of the group:
Up Kilmessan, managed by Michelle McKeown, had an excellent tournament with Captain Ellen Byrne in magnificent form with sterling performances also from Samantha Chifodya in goals, Ciara Thornton and Emily Walsh:
KILCLOON 1: Ann/Marie Byrne 2: Ciara Mahon 3: Lu Donegan 4: Leah Hartigan 5: Faye Keenan 6: Mia Doherty 7: Emma Byrne
KILMESSAN 1: Ellen Byrne 2: Beau Comiskey 3: Ciara Thornton 4: Emily Walsh 5: Leah Dennnehy 6: Nicole Conlon 7: Samantha Chifodya 8: Hanna Russell
SECTION B GIRLS FOR LARGE SCHOOLS
Meath Champions St:Seachnall’s (Dunshaughlin)
Meath Runners Up Dangan (Summerhill)
The girls from St: Seachnall’s, managed by Jane Shannon, were most impressive as they retained the Section B title for large schools, from last year:
Three straight wins, 3/1 over St: Mary’s Trim, 7/0 against St: Stephen’s Johnstown and a hard fought 3/2 win over Dangan saw the Dunshaughlin school top the group and advance to the North Leinster’s:
Captain Ciara Gorman was inspirational throughout and chipped in with crucial goals while Tara Hetherington was a tower of strength in defence :
Great teamwork from Katie Reilly, Hannah Brady and Mary McDonagh helped edge out a gallant Dangan side, managed by Seamus Thorpe:
Dangan had to win a penalty shootout for the runners/up spot as three teams had finished on the same number of points:
Keeper Keeley Burke was outstanding throughout the day with solid defending from Emma Crowell and Annie Madden, while up front Niamh Ryan scored with some superb strikes:
ST: SEACHNALL’S: 1: Ellie McCarthy 2: Ciara Gorman 3: Jane Larkin 4: Mary McDonagh 5: Tara Hetherington 6: Megan McCarthy 7: Hannah Brady 8: Katie Reilly
DANGAN: 1: Emma Crowell 2: Niamh Ryan 3: Annie Madden 4: Aisling McCabe 5: Lauren McDonnell/Ryan 6: Keeley Burke 7: Lauren Healy 8: Katie Donoghue
Afterwards Paul Holland and Mark Scanlon thanked all who participated and assisted in the Aviva Health FAI Primary School 5’s tournament, Andrew Mullen and Paul Kirwan (FAI Schools), the excellent group of Transition Year students from The Boyne Community School in Trim, The Red Cross and all at the MDL:
Report courtesy of Paul Holland (Meath Co/ordinator)