The teams gathered from as far as Buncrana and as near as Wexford to compete for national honours in the small sided variation.
Rice College, Westport, Mayo were victorious in the Boys’ competition, making it back to back victories for Mayo following St. Louis CS, Kiltimagh in 2018. They required a play-off game with St. Francis College, Rochestown, Cork after both teams were locked on seven points after three games.
Both sides would face each other in the opening game with the Munster side taking the lead from Eoin Kelly before an own goal would draw the sides level. Conor Reynolds would equalise late on to share the spoils between the sides. The Western side would be more ruthless in their second game against Patrician High School, Carrickmacross with Conor Cannon coming to the fore with a hat trick and an assist in a 6-0 win with Alex Halpin, Andre Ludden and Tom Lambert also netting.
Heading into the final game, both Rice College and St. Francis College knew that a victory in their final game would force a play-off after a last-gasp winner for the Rochestown side against Drogheda team, St. Mary’s Diocesan School. St. Mary’s had taken a 2-0 lead through Paul Galvin and Leon Luzha before a Rob Walker free-kick kickstarted the comeback. Eoin Kelly would equalise before Jamie O’Brien struck the winner with the last strike of the game.
Rice College would have no concern in their final game against St. Mary’s DS. Goals from Halpin, Cannon, Ludden, an OG and Cillian McGing ensuring a 5-0 victory. At the same time, St. Francis enjoyed a 6-3 victory against Patrician High School. Despite a Luke Povall hat trick, Player of the Tournament Jamie O’Brien would net a treble of his own with Noah Sowinski scoring an excellent brace with Eoghan Murphy also adding his name to the scoresheet.
In the five-minute play-off, with tensions on edge, Conor Cannon would rise to the occasion and score twice in the shortened period to give the Westport team the title in a 2-0 victory. St. Mary’s DS, Drogheda would come third ahead of Patrician High School in fourth following a 3-0 victory for the Louth side in the North-East clash in the opening round.
In the Girls’ competition, it was much plainer sailing for Presentation Secondary School, Thurles as they secured the title with a game to spare. Player of the Tournament Grace Flanagan was on fire as she led her side from an early deficit in their opening game to secure their opening three points in a 4-1 win. Eimear Keaney would give St. Clare’s CS, Manorhamilton the lead. A quick short corner routine would click twice as Flanagan would profit from before she would score two excellent strikes to extend the lead.
Flanagan would be the star player when her deflected shot would find its way past Maeve Kenny in the Presentation Secondary School, Wexford goal. Kenny was influential in keeping the score at 1-0 with a number of saves. Thurles would make it maximum points with victory with a 3-1 victory over Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana. Flanagan would score her sixth goal of the day and Ella Coppinger also scoring twice for the Tipperary school.
Presentation Secondary School, Wexford would eventually settle for second place with Emma Cullen being the standout performer with four goals, a brace in their two winning games. The first brace was taken against Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana and Jane Murphy making it 3-0. Despite the defeat to the winners, they would recover and defeat St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton 2-0 with Cullen’s second brace of the day. The Leitrim side would take third over their Donegal rivals with a 5-3 victory. Eimear Keaney netted a hat trick either side of Aine McLaughlin’s double despite Jodie Loughrey scoring twice and Ciara McGee bundling in a corner.
FAI Schools Post Primary First Year Boys’ National Futsal Finals Results
Rice College, Westport, Mayo 2-2 St. Francis College, Rochestown Cork
Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, Monaghan 0-3 St. Mary’s DS, Drogheda, Louth
St. Francis College, Rochestown Cork 3-2 St. Mary’s DS, Drogheda, Louth
Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, Monaghan 0-6 Rice College, Westport, Mayo
Rice College, Westport, Mayo 5-0 St. Mary’s DS, Drogheda, Louth
Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, Monaghan 3-6 St. Francis College, Rochestown, Cork
Boys’ Player of The Tournament: Jamie O’Brien, St. Francis College, Rochestown, Cork
FAI Schools Post Primary First Year Girls’ National Futsal Finals Results
Presentation Secondary School, Wexford 3-0 Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana, Donegal
St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Leitrim 1-4 Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
Presentation Secondary School, Wexford 0-1 Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Leitrim 5-3 Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana, Donegal
Presentation Secondary School, Wexford 2-0 St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Leitrim
Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana, Donegal 1-3 Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
Girls Player of The Tournament: Grace Flanagan, Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary.