Glory for Connacht Schools in Futsal Finals
December 5, 2018
There was double joy for the West of Ireland in the FAI Post-Primary School’s First Year National Futsal Finals as St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh, Mayo (Boys) and St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry, Sligo (Girls) swept up the honours in the Waterford IT Arena.
Battle-hardened by a competitive provincial qualifier, St. Louis CS were quick out of the blocks in the National Finals with an opening round win against Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Kerry. Ronan Clarke was crucial for the Mayo side in their 2-1 win with his influence on the game leading to a much-deserved winning goal. It placed St. Louis at the top of the table after St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar, Donegal and St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda, Louth could only settle for a point a piece in a 1-1 draw.
By virtue of the tiebreaker permutations, St. Louis CS sealed the title after the second round with victory over St. Columba’s College. Conor McGinty had given the Donegal side a first half lead, but that lead was soon diminished and overturned by the exploits of Believe Igharo. The youngster equalised for his school and completed his hat trick late in the game with two quick-fire goals. Elsewhere, Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk got their first points on the board by edging St. Mary’s DS, Drogheda in a nine-goal thriller. Player of the Tournament Odhran Ferris was pivotal for the Kerry school scoring a brace in the 5-4 win. As the Tralee school and St. Columba’s were held by St. Louis on a head-to-head basis, and it was mathematically impossible for St. Mary’s DS to catch their Mayo adversaries, it meant the trophy was destined for the West coast.
Their relaxed demeanour perhaps cost them the full nine points from the day as they fell two goals behind to St. Mary’s DS in the final game. Ronan Clarke was once again a mercurial figure for his side grabbing the equaliser to ensure they would not taste defeat. St. Louis CS nearly stole the victory at the end of the game but were denied by a brilliant save by Drogheda stopper, Oisin Brennan.
Last year, St. Attracta’s CS, Tubbercurry came desperately close to lifting the national trophy but were forced to settle for a runners-up spot. Perhaps motivated by their schoolmates, the Sligo girls entered the WIT Arena with great determination. They dominated in their opening game against Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary. Captaining the side, Jessica Casey put in a stellar goal-scoring performance in the 3-0 win.
The second game followed a similar script with Pixie O’Hara capturing the spotlight with a hat trick against Carndonagh Community School, Donegal. O’Hara was excellent throughout the day and took the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. Colaiste Chiarain, Leixlip kept pace with their Sligo rivals with a 2-1 win over Ursuline Secondary School. Two long range efforts from Ella Malone proved to be the difference for the Kildare side.
Going into the final game, three teams still had an opportunity of claiming the top prize. St. Attracta’s CS entered the game with the knowledge that a point would be sufficient for them to avenge the ghosts of 2017. Colaiste Chiarain needed victory over the Sligo side to pip them to the post whilst Carndonagh Community School were hoping St. Attracta’s CS would falter and force a three-way play-off between the sides.
Carndonagh kept their end of the bargain with victory over Ursuline Secondary School, however St. Attracta’s CS would not be denied and won in great style against their Leinster opposition. Ciara Brennan opened the scoring with a superb scissor-kick and the captain, Jessica Casey, sealed victory with a finish direct from a corner.
Boys’ National Futsal Finals
Winner | St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh, Mayo
Runner-Up | St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar, Donegal
Third Place | Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Kerry
Fourth Place | St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda, Louth
Player of the Tournament | Odhran Ferris (Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Kerry)
Boys Results
St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar 1-1 St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda
Mercy SS, Mounthawk 1-2 St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh
St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar 2-6 St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh
St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda 4-5 Mercy SS, Mounthawk
St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar 4-2 Mercy SS, Mounthawk
St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda 2-2 St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh
MERCY SECONDARY SCHOOL, MOUNTHAWK, TRALEE, KERRY | Oran Murphy, Michael Tansley, Stephen Barret, Elvis Ankomah, Obinna Tswakayi (Captain), Cian O’Gara, Skye Lynch, Odhran Ferris, Niall Collins, Noah Townsend, Mohammed Abdullah, James Dowling
TEACHERS | Eamonn Lally & Kieran Costello
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY SCHOOL, KILTIMAGH, MAYO | Cian Walsh, Seán O’Neill, Callum McNicholas, Robert O’Flaherty, Believe Igharo, Ronan Clarke, Jonathan Houlihan, Nathan Griffin
TEACHERS | Fearghal O’Hara & Paul Regan
ST. COLUMBA’S COLLEGE, STRANORLAR, DONEGAL | Odhran Bonar, Conor McGinty, Jack Long, Oisin Duffy, Shaun McMenamin, Ruairí Callaghan, Seán Martin, Ross Bradley, Adam McCullagh, Daithi McMahon
TEACHERS | Mark Cannon & James Rodgers
ST. MARY'S DIOCESAN SCHOOL, DROGHEDA, LOUTH | Oisin Brennan, Jake Hough, Ryan McBrearty, Dylan Kelly, Altay Guneyer, Lorcan Lynch, Andrew Noone Garland, Jamie Hoey, Maithiu Brien
TEACHERS | Barry Hobbs & Gavin Brett
Girls’ National Futsal Finals
Winner | St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry, Sligo
Runner-Up | Carndonagh Community School, Donegal
Third Place | Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip, Kildare
Fourth Place | Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
Player of the Tournament | Pixie O’Hara (St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry, Sligo)
Results
Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip 0-3 Carndonagh Community School
St. Attracta’s CS, Tubbercurry 3-0 Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles
Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip 2-1 Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles
St. Attracta’s CS, Tubbercurry 3-0 Carndonagh Community School
Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip 0-2 St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry
Carndonagh Community School 2-1 Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles
CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL, INISHOWEN, DONEGAL | Suzie Lafferty, Ailish Doherty, Alanah Brennan, Fiona Doherty, Imogen Diver, Cora McCaul, Ellie Long, Seaneen Crumlish, Aoife McCarron, Clara Gill, Niamh Devlin, Samantha McLaughlin
TEACHERS | Conor Doherty & Anita Hegarty
COLÁISTE CHAIRÁIN, LEIXLIP, KILDARE | Kate Ryan, Sophie O’Hagan, Ava Carey, Ella Malone, Jodie Lawlor, Olivia Grange, Eimear Kenny, Sophie Kelly Buggy, Jessica Howard, Ríon Nallen
TEACHERS | David McCarthy
ST. ATTRACTA’S COMMUNITY SCHOOL, TUBBERCURRY, SLIGO | Lauren Normanly, Cara King, Pixie O’Hara, Jessica Casey, Emilija Kustrariovaite, Orlaith Monaghan, Ciara Brennan, Rebecca Staunton, Aoife Prendergast, Caoimhe Lucey, Ciara Walsh, Emily Cassidy
TEACHERS | Hughie Harvey & Andrew Flynn
URSULINE SECONDAY SCHOOL, THURLES, TIPPERARY | Kayla Treacy, Sarah Bell, Kate Carr, Grace Fitzpatrick Ryan, Miah Bourke, Muireann Treacy, Grace Ryan, Molly Ryan, Kate Bergin, Kate Ferncombe, Emily Keane, Danielle Ryan
TEACHERS | Shane McGlynn & Rachel Spillane
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