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The competition caters for boys and girls in first year which delivers a quality fast paced action packed game focusing on skill, speed and technique.
BOYS SECTION
There were 4 schools representing the Northern regions of Cavan, Donegal, Inishowen and Monaghan.
St. Patrick’s College (Cavan), St. Columba’s College (Donegal), Carndonagh CS (Inishowen), and Patrician High School (Monaghan) all advanced from their regional heats to vie for provincial glory. Each team would play off against each other with the group winners advancing.
Ultimately, it turned out to be the first game which decided the contest as the eventual winners from Inishowen would find themselves 3-1 down to Patrician High School but Carndonagh resurged and scored four goals without reply to run out 5-3 winners.
With their guarantee of a place in the National Finals secured, Carndonagh went into their last game with Donegal rivals St. Columba’s College brimming with confidence. They cruised into a 4-2 lead and were already beginning to celebrate. The celebrations were nearly dimmed when Columba’s mounted a comeback of their own and drew level and came close to stealing victory but the champions were able to hold on.
St. Patrick’s College would finish bottom but gave their all and the Cavan champions will have learned a lot from the experience of reaching this stage.
GIRLS SECTION
The girls section followed the same format, with the 4 schools grouped together and competing for top spot in the group.
Colaiste Dun an Ri (Cavan), Loreto Convent (Donegal), Carndonagh CS (Inishowen) and Coláiste Oiriall (Monaghan) were the quarter that competed for the provincial spoils.
Shortly after their Boys’ team booked their place in the National Finals, the Girls’ from Carndonagh CS increased the numbers of the travelling party as they secured their place as Ulster champions.
In their first game, the Inishowen girls faced Coláiste Oiriall. The Monaghan school boasted a number of players from last year’s SPAR Prinmary 5’s National Finalists, Gaelscoil Ultain. However due to a traffic delay, their goalkeeper had yet to arrive and one of their outfielders was forced to temporarily don the gloves. Carndonagh took advantage of the stand-in’s inexperience between the posts and won 2-0.
It boiled down to the final game as Carndonagh faced their foes from Donegal, Loreto Convent. In a splendid game played at an excitingly high intensity for spectators, Carndonagh showed their class and determination to win 4-2 and erupt joyful scenes.
Colaiste Dun an Ri would finish bottom of the group but did not let that spoil the achievement they had claimed in their first year in entering Schools football competitions to reach this stage.
Carndonagh Community School’s boys and girls will now advance to the National Finals which take place in Waterford IT Sports Arena on December 5. We wish all participating schools the very best of luck.
WINNER Carndonagh Community School, Carndonagh, Inishowen (BOYS)
Carndonagh Community School, Carndonagh, Inishowen (GIRLS)
RUNNER UP Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, Monaghan (BOYS)
Loreto Convent, Letterkenny, Donegal (GIRLS)
THIRD St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar, Donegal (BOYS)
Coláiste Oiriall, Knockaconny, Monaghan (GIRLS)
FOURTH: St. Patrick’s College, Cullies, Cavan (BOYS)
Colaiste Dun An Ri, Kingscourt, Cavan (GIRLS)