Eureka edged out in thrilling final

The players from Eureka SS Kells put up a brave battle before they lost out to Christ King Girls Secondary School, Cork in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Futsal finals at Gormanston College last week. The day started positively for the Kells school when they defeated Donegal's Moville Community College 2-1 in their opening encounter with goals from the talented pair, Niamh O'Keeffe and Shianne Suarez. There was some consolation for the Ulster side as Nicole McDermott hit back to put some pressure on Eureka. However, the Meath side held firm to secure their win. Eureka's second outing proved to be another triumph when they took on the girls from Christ King and this proved to be a highly entertaining encounter which the Meath side won 4-3 with their goals scored by Suarez, who netted twice on this occasion, Catherine Dolan and O'Keeffe. Again Leonard Noone's side had to withstand some sustained late pressure before they wrapped up their win yet they resisted some determined efforts by the Christ King side to find an equaliser. Eureka's final game in the group stages ended with them drawing 1-1 with Davitt College. Hannah Quinn put Eureka in front before Davitt College snatched an equaliser. The draw was good enough to ensure top spot in their group and a place in the final against Christ King SS. Just as was the case in the group stage the final produced plenty of fireworks and exciting football. Right from kick-off, Eureka were keen to put their stamp on the game and it was Suarez who unleashed a fierce drive with the ball flying narrowly wide. Because of the fast pace of futsal the balance of the game can change quickly and it turned in favour of the Cork school when they took the lead with Megan Dennehy scoring. Eureka continued to press forward in search of an equaliser and Dolan had an effort blocked. Neat one-two passing was the order of the day, but Eureka couldn't find a way through. In the second-half it was Christ King that started well. They had a dangerous, in-swinging corner tipped away by Eureka 'keeper Laura Keagan. Another shot was blocked on the line by Suarez. Soon after it was Eureka's opportunity to counter-attack and they earned a free. Up stepped O'Keeffe who skilfully directed the ball to the corner of the net for a brilliant equaliser. Eureka pushed forward in search of a winner and Dolan had an effort well saved by the Christ King netminder. With no furhter goals it was onto the penalty shoot-out. Suarez and O'Keeffe both found the net from their spot-kicks for Eureka with one of their players missing, but Christ King scored from all three penalties for a dramatic victory. Eureka SS, Kells - Laura Keoghan, Aoife McKeever, Sarah Gilson, Megan Foley, Niamh O'Keeffe, Hannah Quinn, Amy Smith, Edith Lynch, Kara O'Rourke, Shianne Suarez, Catherine Dolan, Amy Gaynor.