Picture Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Thursday March 30th, in spite of the damp, dreary weather forecast, turned out to be a great day – weather-wise for football, and the schools who turned up for the Roscommon Finals of the Spar FAI Primary Schools 5s, didn’t disappoint.
By Noel Dervan
They showed skill, endeavour, hunger and passion as they all vied for the four places on offer in the Connaught Finals of the respective SPAR FAI Primary School 5s sections.
In the Boys A Cup, there were 9 schools taking part, split into 3 groups of 3. Group A saw Curraghboy, Cloonfad and Strokestown do battle, with the Curraghboy boys progressing on goal difference only ahead of Cloonfad. In Group B, Wjhitehall narrowly succumbed to the strength and power of both Tarmon and Lisaniskey, before Lisaniskey beat their neighbours to make it through. The final group, Group C saw Creggs – last year’s champions – knock out both Brideswell and Aughrim to complete the “Holy Trinity” of Dowd, Dervan and Connaughton! Unfortunately, for both Creggs and Lisaniskey, on this occasion the men from Curraghboy proved too strong and ran out worthy winners. Well done Curraghboy.
In the Girls’ B Cup, which ran concurrently, there were three teams, Roxboro, St Mary’s Strokestown and last year’s winners, Cornafulla. After three tight, pulsating games, the girls from Strokestown wrestled the crown for themselves, and will represent Roscommon in the Connaught finals in Castlebar on May 4th.
In the Boys’ B Cup, there were four teams; Roxboro, St Joseph’s of Boyle, and Cornafulla A and B teams. While Roxboro and Cornafulla B competed manfully, this group was all about Cornafulla A and Boyle. The result in their game was decisive with the north Roscommon boys winning through.
In the final, and largest competition of the day, the Girls A Cup, eight schools played off in two groups of four. In Group A, Tulsk and Scoil Bhríde Fourmilehouse were outclassed by both Threen and Brideswell, and after a titanic struggle between these two, Brideswell won, remaining on course to retain their title from last year. In Group B, the Dowd brothers were in charge of Creggs and Tarmon, while the “more at home on the camogie pitch” girls of Tisrara NS, Four Roads and the girls from Brusna NS all competed to win the group. In the end, the girls from Creggs made it to the final against Brideswell, but they suffered the same fate as their corresponding boys team, finishing as runners up.
In the Boys C Cup, the Abbey Boys NS were the only entrant and they will also represent Roscommon at the Connaught Finals.
The local organising Committee of the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s wish all the teams the very best of luck in the Connaught. Many thanks to the Roscommon and District Football League for their generous use of their pitches and facilities for our finals. As always, they were in pristine condition.