Three Mayo schools involved in FAI national finals
Westport's Scoil Phádraig girls team finished runners-up in the 'C' Cup at the FAI Primary 5s Finals day at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The boys and girls team from Scoil Phádraig, Westport, had to settle for runners-up spots while St. Joseph’s PS, Ballinrobe, put in valiant effort at the FAI Schools Primary 5s National Finals last Wednesday afternoon.
In the Girls ‘B’ Cup, Westport scholars Scoil Phádraig were hoping for a title defence in this section, with half their team making another appearance at national level for Gerard Murphy’s team.
They began their title defence by seeing off the Scoil Naomh Colmcille challenge 2-0 after goals by Sarah Reynolds and Violet O’Malley.
The Westport duo were on the scoresheet once more, along with Franseca Carvana, as they had a slender 3-2 victory over Burnfoot while Marshastown were comfortable winners over the Craigtown girls.
The last two games ended in draws with Scoil Phádraig and Marshalstown ending 3-3, Carcana netting a brace and Reynolds scoring the other goal for the Covies, while Scoil Naomh Colmchille drew two each with the Cork students in a fabulous ending to both games.
The group had to be decided on a five minute play-off game between Scoil Phádraig and Marshaltown NS which saw them deadlocked at 3-3 to force a penalty shootout. The Wexford starlets needed a sudden death penalty to win the contest 4-3 in what was a heartbreaking conclusion for the Westport side who came so close to matching the success story of twelve months ago.
In the ‘B’ Cup, the Scoil Phádraig boys caused an upset as goals Mounir Soufan, David Hajdu (two), and Artem Salantii (two) saw them beat defending champions St. Eunan’s 5-2.
They were unable to follow this up in the second game, however, as Gaelscoil Choinn tSáile showed their class with a fine performance to defeat Scoil Phádraig 7-3. The goals for Scoil Phádraig came through Mounir Soufan (two) and David Hajdu.
A brilliant game in the penultimate decider saw Scoil Phádraig and Kentstown play out a 3-3 draw, with Artem Salantii, Davi Hadju and Ruairi Browne all finding the net, and the two sides had to do battle again in a playoff for runners-up spot as both were level on points and their head-to-head. Scoil Phádraig needed penalties to see past the Meath men as they won out 3-2 on spot kicks.
In the ‘C’ Cup, St. Joseph’s PS, Ballinrobe, were in a tough group and while they finished bottom, they played some excellent football over the three games.
Illistrin NS, Donegal, edged out St Joseph’s 4-3, Cealan O’Brien and Fionn Jennings among the scorers for the Ballinrobe school.
Beaumont BNS, Blackrock, Cork knocked St. Joseph’s confidence further as they saw them off 3-1, Cealan O’Brien netting their sole effort, before they fell to defeat against St. Declan’s NS, Ashbourne, Meath in their final group game.
