Ribena Toothkind FAI Schools National Primary Finals 2007
A superb hat-trick of wins saw Connacht schools dominate this year's All-Ireland finals of the Ribena sponsored FAI Schools 5-a-side at The Meath & District League Grounds in Navan yesterday.For the second successive year Connacht emerged as the leading province in the biggest soccer competition in Irish schools.Two schools from Galway(Clarinbridge and Boleybeg) along with Roscommon's Boyle NS won three of the five national titles for Connacht, while St.Joseph's Clondalkin (Dublin) and Ballytruckle ( Waterford) won the other two categories.
More than 15,000 boys and girls from all over Ireland have participated in the hugely popular 5-a-side. After three months of competition, the final twenty schools battled it out for National honours in five different sections,three for boys and two for girls.Despite the frequent showers, there was a fantastic atmosphere as busloads of supporters from schools across the country cheered on their teams throughout the day.Schools from as far apart as Kerry to Donegal,from Galway to Dublin,all contributed to a feast of skilful football at the impressive facilities of the Meath venue.
Galway's double success began with the girls from Clarinbridge NS winning their section for small schools in fine style.On their way to becoming National Champions they were emphatic winners in overcoming The Heath (Co.Laois)3-1,Greencastle (Donegal) 2-0 and runners up Ballyheada (Cork)by 3-0. The boys from Boleybeg(Galway) matched the success of the girls when they too won their section for small schools but only after seeing off the challenge of a gallant Clonbonney(Westmeath) side.
In the section for medium-sized schools Boyle NS Co.Roscommon were worthy champions with convincing wins over Abbeyfeale (Limerick) by 4-1,Clonmany (Donegal) by 2-0 and a nailbiting 2-1 victory over runners-up Baylin (Co.Westmeath).The large schools section saw St.Joseph's Clondalkin cruise to an easy 5-2 win over Buncrana (Donegal) followed by a closely fought 4-3 win over Castlebar (Mayo). Their African-born trio,who play with St.Francis FC,were a joy to watch in their final game as they overwhelmed a tired St.Oliver's Killarney (Kerry) by 8-2 .The girls from Ballytruckle Co. Waterford were hugely impressive winners of the section for large schools,winning all three games,4-1 against Athy (Kildare),5-2 against Claremorris (Mayo) and 5-3 versus Kingscourt (Cavan).
Afterwards National Administrator of FAI Schools Ray Scott thanked sponsors Ribena Toothkind,the players,teachers,supporters and referees for providing such a marvellous sporting tournament. Leinster Coordinator Paul Holland also thanked the Regional Development Officers from the FAI who helped out on the day, Tom Mohan,Padraig Nicholson,Barry Ferguson (Shamrock Rovers) and Pat Behan as well as Dave,Ger & Nicole from the grassroots unit of the FAI,who presented an impressive promotion for this year's FAI Summer Soccer Camps.
BOYS 'A’ Schools
Munster: Kill NS, Kill, Co Waterford.
Connacht: Boleybeg NS, Galway
Ulster: Butlersbridge NS, Co Cavan
Leinster: Clonbonny NS, Athlone, Co Westmeath
|
12.00 |
Clonbonny NS |
|
|
Butlersbridge NS |
|
12.35 |
Kill NS |
|
|
Boleybeg NS |
|
13.20 |
Clonbonny NS |
|
|
Boleybeg NS |
|
13.55 |
Kill NS |
|
|
Butlersbridge NS |
|
14.40 |
Clonbonny NS |
|
|
Kill NS |
|
15.15 |
Boleybeg NS |
|
|
Butlersbridge NS |
ALL GAMES TAKE PLACE ON PITCH 1
Girls ‘A’ Schools
Munster: Ballyheada NS, Ballinhassig, Co Cork
Connacht: Clarinbridge NS, Clarinbridge, Co Galway
Ulster: Greencastle NS, Greencastle, Co Donegal
Leinster: The Heath NS, Portlaoise, Co Laois
|
12.00 |
The Heath NS |
|
|
Greencastle NS |
|
12.35 |
Clarinbridge NS |
|
|
Ballyheada NS |
|
13. 20 |
The Heath NS |
|
|
Clarinbridge NS |
|
13.55 |
Ballyheada NS |
|
|
Greencastle NS |
|
14.40 |
The Heath NS |
|
|
Ballyheada NS |
|
15.15 |
Clarinbridge NS |
|
|
Greencastle NS |
‘ BOYS B’ Schools
Munster: St Mary’s NS, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick
Connacht: Boyle NS, Boyle, Co Roscommon
Ulster: Clonmany NS, Clonmany, Co DOnegal
Leinster: St Ciaran’s NS, Baylin, Athlone, Co Westmeath
|
12.00 |
Boyle NS |
|
|
St Mary’s NS |
|
12.35 |
St Ciaran’s NS |
|
|
Clonmany NS |
|
13.20 |
Boyle NS. |
|
|
St Ciaran’s NS |
|
13.55 |
St Mary’s NS |
|
|
Clonmany NS |
|
14.40 |
Boyle NS |
|
|
Clonmany NS |
|
15.15 |
St Ciaran’s NS |
|
|
St Mary’s NS |
Girls ‘B’ Schools
Munster: St Ursula’s Ballytruckle, Waterford
Connacht: Claremorris NS, Claremorris, Co Mayo
Ulster: Kingscourt NS, Kingscourt, Co Cavan
Leinster: Scoil Mhicil Naofa, Athy, Co Kildare
|
12.00 |
Claremorris NS |
|
|
Kingscourt NS |
|
12.35 |
St Ursula’s |
|
|
Scoil Mhicil Naofa |
|
13.20 |
Claremorris NS |
|
|
St Ursula’s |
|
13.55 |
Kingscourt NS |
|
|
Scoil Mhicil Naofa |
|
14.40 |
Claremorris NS |
|
|
Scoil Mhicil Naofa |
|
15.15 |
Kingscourt NS |
|
|
St Ursula’s |
‘ BOYS C’ Schools
Munster: St Oliver’s NS, Killarney, Co Kerry
Connacht: St Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Ulster: Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Co Donegal
Leinster: St Joseph’s BNS, Clondalkin, Dublin
|
12.00 |
St Oliver’s NS |
|
|
St Patrick’s NS |
|
12.35 |
Scoil Iosagain, |
|
|
St Joseph’s BNS |
|
13.20 |
St Oliver’s NS |
|
|
Scoil Iosagain, |
|
13.55 |
St Patrick’s NS |
|
|
St Joseph’s BNS |
|
14.40 |
St Oliver’s NS |
|
|
St Joseph’s BNS |
|
15.15 |
St Patrick’s NS |
|
|
Scoil Iosagain, |