Futsal fever hits Tallaght
Star studded performances from St. Josephs College & Moyne Community College ensure silverware
The Post Primary Schools Futsal Finals saw the cream of Irish Schools compete for the coveted title of All Ireland Champions in the National Basketball Arena today (Wednesday, 11 February).
The competition is in its first year nationally after a successful pilot programme last year in South Leinster. It caters for 1st year students both boys and girls.
Each team had progressed through their county finals and provincial stage to reach the pinnacle of the FAI Schools futsal calendar. The competition is very highly regarded with each team eager to take home the accolade of All Ireland Futsal Champions.
The boy’s competition consisted of provincial winners, Monaghan Collegiate School (Ulster), St. Joseph’s College (Connacht), High School Clonmel (Munster) and Wexford CBS (Leinster).
The games commenced with Wexford CBS drawn against Monaghan Collegiate School. The Leinster lads proved their worth as they won 3-1 in a nail biting fixture.
High School Clonmel faced St. Joseph’s College in their first game. The Munster men were on hand to slot 4 past the Connacht school with the latter school scoring a consolation goal before the final whistle was blown, ending 4-1 to Clonmel.
Wexford CBS won 2-0 against High School Clonmel while they suffered a 7-2 defeat to St. Joseph’s in their final game of the preliminary stages.
Monaghan drew 2-2 with High School Clonmel while St. Joseph’s College had an impressive 5-1 win against the Ulster collection.
With three games played, the group leaders were St. Joseph’s College and Wexford CBS sharing the spoils on six points each and thus progressing to the final.
The last game of the afternoon in the boys section did not disappoint the large gathering of spectators.
Wexford CBS were first to make an early impression with a goal in the second minute. It wasn’t long before St. Joseph’s equalised with a low drive to the left of the diving keeper.
The Connacht lads had a good spell of possession and made the most of it with their second goal.
Wexford responded a few minutes later with the game drawing level for a second time in the game. It looked like extra time was dawning.
With seconds remaining St. Joseph’s increased their work rate and applied severe pressure on the Leinster defence. This pressure was rewarded with a splendid goal coming minutes from time for the Connacht school. St. Joseph’s performance was outstanding with some brilliant individual play and excellent execution from their strike partnership up front.
Wexford CBS were dazzling with excellent footwork ensuring marvellous ball control and creativity in ensuring a fantastic finale to a very successful day of futsal. The students should be very pleased with their performance throughout the day and were worthy runners up in the competition.
The girl’s category was made up of Inver College, Carrickmacross (Ulster), St. Flannan’s College, Ennis (Munster), Mercy Convent, Ballina (Connacht) and Moyne Community College, Longford (Leinster).
Moyne CC were in action against Inver College in the first match of the group stages. The Leinster ladies enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win.
Mercy Convent made an impact against St. Flannan’s with a six goal thriller, ending 4-2 to the Connacht girls.
Moyne CC changed their format and this paid dividends as they secured yet another 3-0 victory at the expense of St. Flannan’s College.
Inver College suffered their second defeat of the day when they were beaten 3-1 by a whitty Mercy Convent.
The penultimate game of the group stages ended in deadlock with neither side Moyne CC or Mercy Convent improving on their 1-1 result.
St. Flannan’s won their only game of the afternoon slotting 3 past Ulster winners Inver College.
Moyne Community College shared the points with Mercy Convent at the top of the leader board on 7 points each. Moyne edging it on goal difference as they both progressed to the Final.
The Leinster girls upped the tempo in the first half and made the most of some slack defending in the Connacht half.
Moyne CC secured the silverware 2-0 in the dying minutes to the mammoth cheers of the travelling supporters.
BOYS FIXTURES & RESULTS:
BOYS P W D L F A GD Pts
St. Josephs College 3 2 0 1 13 7 6 6
Wexford C.B.S. 3 2 0 1 7 8 -1 6
High School 3 1 1 1 6 5 1 4
Monaghan Collegiate School 3 0 1 2 4 10 -6 1
Results
11:30 Wexford C.B.S. 3 1 Monaghan Collegiate School
11:55 High School 4 1 St. Josephs College
12:20 Wexford C.B.S. 2 0 High School
12:45 Monaghan Collegiate School 1 5 St. Josephs College
13:10 Wexford C.B.S. 2 7 St. Josephs College
13:35 High School 2 2 Monaghan Collegiate School
FINAL
St Josephs College 0 0 Wexford C.B.S.
Group Winner 3 2 Group Runner-Up
GIRLS FIXTURES & TABLES:
GIRLS P W D L F A GD Pts
Moyne C.C. 3 2 1 0 7 1 6 7
Mercy Convent 3 2 1 0 8 4 4 7
St. Flannan’s College 3 1 0 2 5 7 -2 3
Inver College
3 0 0 3 1 9 -8 0
Results
11:30 Moyne C.C. 3 0 Inver College
11:55 St. Flannan’s College 2 4 Mercy Convent
12:20 Moyne C.C. 3 0 St. Flannan’s College
12:45 Inver College 1 3 Mercy Convent
13:10 Moyne C.C. 1 1 Mercy Convent
13:35 St. Flannan’s College 3 0 Inver College
FINAL
Moyne C.C. 2 0 Mercy Convent
Group Winner Group Runner-Up