A journey taken by many current Irish internationals was made by 192 students from 24 primary school teams into the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Wednesday for the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s National Finals.
Six schools left ecstatic following their National title success but more importantly all twenty four left with lifetime memories.
The 24 qualifying schools have come through four months of fun filled nationwide activity. The voyage began with their local County events, Regional and/or Provincial qualifiers to reach this stage of the competition with excitement generated around the local areas.
St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill flew the flag for Ulster with a splendid victory in the SPAR ‘B’ Cup.
Picture: Luke O’Donnell from St Oran’s NS, Cockhill, receives the SPAR ‘B’ Cup Player of the Tournament from Keith Andrews.
SPAR ‘A’ Cup (small schools)
SERIES ONE
SN Colmcille, Baile na Finne 0 Trafrask NS, Beara, Cork 2
Goals from Tom O’Connor and Jack Crowley saw Trafrask NS, Beara, Cork get past SN Colmcille, Baile na Finne, Dún na nGall as they began their bid to claim the SPAR ‘A’ Cup at the Aviva Stadium.
SERIES TWO
SN Colmcille, Baile na Finne 1 Clonlisk NS, Birr, Offaly 5
Clonlisk NS, Birr bounced back in fine style with a clear cut 5-1 win over SN Colmcille, Baile na Finne, Dún na nGall after suffering defeat in their opening SPAR ‘A’ Cup. A brace from Liam O’Riordan and Robert Carney, Fionn Carney and Killian Curtis with a goal apiece got the win for the Birr side.
Sawyer MacAilin replied for SN Colmcille who were still searching for their first points of the competition.
SPAR ‘A’ Girls Cup
SERIES ONE
Crusheen NS, Clare 3 Scoil Mhuire Caiseal, Dún na nGall 0
A Grace Gleeson Hat-trick gave Crusheen NS, Clare the three points in their opening SPAR ‘A’ Girls Cup against Scoil Mhuire Caiseal, Dún na nGall at the Aviva Stadium. Gleeson had her side in front early on with a perfect finish and she went on to complete the Hat-trick in fine style.
SERIES TWO
St Fintan’s NS, Mayglass, Wexford 2 Scoil Mhuire Caiseal 5
Jolie Rankin and Aoibheann Rankin were on the mark for St. Fintans but Scoil Mhuire Caiseal replied with five to take the points. Goals from Clodagh Ni Thiarnoin (2), Rachael Ni Fhril, Gemma Nic Chongail and Emma Nic Reannachain did the trick for the Donegal students.
SERIES THREE
Lisacul NS, Castlerea, Roscommon 1 Scoil Mhuire Caiseal 10
Scoil Mhuire Caiseal, Dún na nGall proved much too strong for Lisacul NS, Castlerea in their final SPAR ‘A’ Girls Cup fixture at the Aviva Stadium. The northern side reached double figures with goals from Clodagh Ní Thiarnoin (4), Emma Nic Reannachain (3), Rachael Ní Fhril (2) and one from Olivia Ní Fhril. While Shauna Corrigan was on target for Lisacul.
SPAR ‘B’ Cup
SERIES ONE
St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Buncrana 3 Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin, Cill Mhantáin 2
A close game ended in favour of St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Buncrana who finally came out on top by the narrowest of margins. Luke O’ Donnell’s Hat-trick was the difference between the sides as after scoring the only goal of the opening half the Donegal man went on to add two more after the break despite Brian MacCahmaoil keeping Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin very much in touch with two fine strikes.
SERIES TWO
Lisnagry NS, Limerick 1 St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Buncrana 4
The second win of the day put St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Buncrana well on track to take the SPAR ‘B’ Cup. Lisnagry NS, Limerick were their victims and goals from Connor McDaid (2), Cahir McDaid and Luke O’Donnell saw the Buncrana side comfortable winners after Conor Conan Ryan had pulled a goal back for Lisnagry NS.
SERIES THREE
Cregmore NS, Claregalway, Galway 1 St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Buncrana 6
A man of the match performance by Luke O’Donnell who grabbed a Hat-trick helped St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Buncrana keep their perfect record and capture the SPAR ‘B’ Cup as they stormed to a 6-1 win over Cregmore NS, Claregalway in their final game at the Aviva Stadium. Cahir McDaid, PJ O’Doherty and Connor McDaid added to O’Donnell’s scorers while Matthew Collins was the Cregmore goal scorer. And a bonus for the Donegal side came later when Luke O’Donnell was named SPAR ‘B’ Cup Player of the Tournament.
SPAR ‘B’ Girls Cup
SERIES ONE
St. Colman’s NS, Mucklagh, Offaly 3 Glenswilly NS 0
Ellen Dolan with a well taken Hat-trick saw St. Colman’s NS, Mucklagh, Offaly comfortably past Glenswilly NS, Donegal in their opening fixture of the SPAR ‘B’ Girls Cup at the Aviva Stadium.
SERIES TWO
Glenswilly NS 2 Faha NS, Kerry 3
Fiana Bradley starred for Faha NS, grabbing two of their goals in an exciting 3-2 win over Glenswilly NS, Donegal in the SPAR ‘B’ Girls Cup at the Aviva Stadium.
Glenswilly led with two early goals from Sarah McGinley and Eva McCauley but Bradley’s fine individual effort pulled a goal back for Faha before the break. Izzy McGrath then had the Kerry girls with a second half equaliser before Bradley struck again with time running out to fire home the winner.
SERIES THREE
Glenswilly NS 1 Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway 0
Darcey Kelly was the Glenswilly NS hero netting the only goal to give the Donegal side the win over Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge in their SPAR ‘B’ Girls Cup at the Aviva Stadium. It was the first points of the day for Glenswilly who had tasted defeat in their two previous games.
SPAR ‘C’ Girls Cup
SERIES ONE
Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana 4 St. Laurence’s NS, Sallins 5
St. Laurence’s NS, Sallins got off to a winning start in the SPAR ‘C’ Girls Cup competition coming out on top over Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana by the odd goal in nine thriller at the Aviva Stadium. Hannah Gaines netted a hat-trick and Megan Egan Byrne added two more while Jodie Loughrey’s hat-trick and Heidi Gill responded for Scoil Íosagáin.
SERIES TWO
Ovens NS, Cork 1 Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana 4
Another Jodie Loughrey hat-trick her second of the day helped Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana to a clear cut 4-1 win over Ovens NS in the SPAR ‘C’ Girls Cup. Heidi Gill added a fourth for the Donegal side while the Ovens goal came from Orlaith Cremin.
SERIES THREE
Scoil Íde, Salthill, Galway 0 Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana 8
Ciara McGee and Jodie Loughrey shared the goals in the final SPAR ‘C’ Girls Cup fixture of the day which saw Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana record a comprehensive 8-0 victory over Scoil Íde, Salthill and take the runners up position. McGee bagged five and Loughrey fired home another hat-trick for the Donegal side who proved a little too strong for their Galway opponents.
