Inish schools shine at national finals

The players from the three local primary schools who reached the finals of the EA Sports FAI Schools 5-a-side finals did the peninsula proud last week with more impressive performances. Ulster Champions Scoil Naomh Fhionain Whitecastle, Scoil Colmcille Newtown and Scoil Iosagain Buncrana competed against the cream of Irish schools talent in three of the five sections at the deciders in Tullamore, County Offaly. The finals were the culmination of three months of County and Regional competitions with eventual Provincial winners progressing to the National stage. Almost 1,000 schools from all over Ireland participated in the biggest competition in the 2009 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar. The girls from Whitecastle produced an outstanding performance in their ‘A’ girls group which included reigning All Ireland Champions Powerstown NS. The group proved a close affair with the Inish girls managing to hold the champions to a 1-1 draw in their opening game. Whitecastle had another scoreless draw with Connacht’s Gorthaganny NS while they doubled their points with a 4-1 win against Drumlish. Unfortunately Powerscourt won their other two games to win the tournament but the Inish girls completed the section unbeaten to finish as national runners up. The boys from Scoil Colmcille got off to a dream start in their ‘B’ schools opener when they overcame Munster Champions Scoil Iognaid Ris on a scoreline of 2-1. The Newtown boys were unable to follow up on that strong start and lost their next two games against the Leinster and Connacht Champions to finish a highly credible third in the group. Section C for large schools saw Scoil Iosagain Buncrana up against schools from Waterford, Wexford and last year’s finalists St. Patrick’s NS of Castlebar. This section was highly competitive with St. Declan’s of Waterford producing a tournament winning performance to run out winners against the Buncrana boys.