Kentstown NS and St Declan’s NS advance to National finals

The boys from two Meath national schools, Kentstown NS and St Declan's Ashbourne, were crowned Leinster FAI Primary 5s champions at the MDL Grounds Navan last week, writes Paul Holland.

Both schools now advance to the National finals of the five-a-side tournament in the magnificent surroundings of the Aviva Stadium on 29th May.

Kentstown won all three games to top the Boys medium sized schools section while St Declan's Ashbourne emerged victorious in the Boys section for large schools, but only after winning a three-team play-off when each school finished with the same points in the group stages.

The girls from Gaelscoil na Bóinne (Trim) finished runners-up in the section for medium sized schools while the boys from Boyerstown NS finished in fourth place in the small schools section.

As a celebration of their outstanding achievement, each of the four school teams will play at half-time of Drogheda United’s forthcoming games against either Shamrock Rovers on 31st May or St Patrick’s Athletic on 7th June.

St Declan’s started nervously when they lost 0-2 to Bayside (Dublin) in their first group game. St Declan’s made amends in their second game against St Lawrence’s NS Greystones with Cian Doran bagging a brace and goals from Callum Sloane, Aaron Nulty, James Hernandez O'Donoghue and Liam O’Connell securing a 6-1 win.

A hat-trick from Cian Doran in their final group game helped St Declan’s win 5-2 against Gaelscoil Osrai Kilkenny.

Results elsewhere meant there was a three way play off required in this section. The three schools from Ashbourne, Wicklow and Dublin all played again with Declan’s winning their first play off 1-0 against Bayside Dublin which set up a tense play off between St Declan’s and St Laurence’s. The Ashbourne school found themselves 0-1 down with just minutes to spare, but after resilient work from defender Ashton Dillon and some great saves from Danny Crowe, up stepped captain Patrick Toth to put them back level with a brilliant solo goal.

James Hernandez O'Donoghue got the winner in the dying seconds, sparking wild celebrations as Ashbourne were crowned Leinster champions, much to the delight of coaches Gary McKeown and Michael Lydon.

Kentstown boys retained their unbeaten record in the section for medium sized schools to capture their first provincial title and reached the National finals.

First up the Meath and North Leinster champions played the Dublin champions Gaelscoil Colmcille from Coolock. The game was initially very tight between two evenly matched teams until Austin Barry broke the deadlock.

Mossie Gillic then added a second before Daragh McCoy added another just before half time to give Kentstown a 3-0 lead.

In the second half Eoghan Hosie added a fourth goal to leave the score at 4-0. However, Gaelscoil Colmcille weren't giving up and rallied late with three quick fire goals to set up a nerve wracking finish. However, Kentstown hung on to claim a 4-3 win.

Next up were the Kildare and mid-Leinster champions, Scoil Choca Naofa. Scoil Choca Naofa started quicker in the game and had some early chances only to be denied by goalkeeper Jay Lynagh.

These early scares kicked Kentstown into gear as they went toe to toe with the Kilcock based school.

Austin Barry again opened Kentstown’s account and then added another to give Seán McKiernan’s charges a 2-0 half-time lead. An unfortunate own goal before Barry completed his hat-trick left Kentstown 4-0 up.

Scoil Choca Naofa struck back with a goal, but Daragh McCoy sealed the win by scoring two late goals, including a rocket with his left foot, to give Kentstown a 6-1 win.

Kentstown's final game was against Carlow and South Leinster champions, Ballon NS from Carlow.

Ballon NS started on the frontfoot and had the Kentstown goal under siege only to be thwarted again and again by goalkeeper Jay Lynagh.

Despite being under serious pressure, Kentstown took the lead through Mossie Gillic. However, Ballon NS struck back immediately to leave the score 1-1 at half time.

In the second half, Oisín Melia crashed home a rebound to give Kentstown a 2-1 lead. Kentstown began to take more control in the second half with the fresh legs of Tom Hickey and Eoin Carolan making a difference. Austin Barry finished off the scoring with his fifth goal of the day to give Kentstown a 3-1 win, securing their place at the National finals.

Gaelscoil na Bóinne finished as runner-up in Girls section for medium sized schools.

A fantastic start to the day saw the girls defeat Dublin champions Sacred Heart NS by 4-0 with a hat-trick of goals from Síofra Ní Thoirealaigh and one from Caoimhe Ní Fhearail.

The second game of the day saw Gaelscoil take on Laois champions Killeshin NS and Isabelle Nic Íomhair’s ever reliable corner kick found the net to seal the 1-0 win.

Gaelscoil na Bóinne took on the impressive Wexford champions Marshalstown NS with a place in the National finals at stake. Despite finding themselves behind early on, the Trim girls battled back and Isabelle Nic Íomhair set-up Síofra Ní Thoirealaigh who made it 3-1 early in the second half.

Caoimhe Ní Fhearail and Clíona Ní Chuaigh put in an excellent display and pushed for the goals required but it wasn’t to be and despite heroic defending from Tara Ní Riain and Aoife Ní Riabhaigh and some fantastic saves from Shona Nic Gafraigh it was the Wexford girls who eventually ran out 5-1 winners. Hard luck to the Trim school, managed by Mark Scanlon and Múinteoir Jackie, with 13 victories from 15 games and a Meath and North Leinster title along the way.

The Leinster finals proved to be a much tougher proposition for the Boyerstown team managed by Cathal O Bric and Eibheann Keegan.

Boyerstown played their toughest game first against Dublin champions Scoil Mobhi, the eventual Leinster champions, who won all of their three games amd lost out 0-2.

The second game against Hackettstown NS from Carlow could have gone either way, but it finished in a narrow 1-2 defeat for the Meath lads with Aaron McKenna notching the goal.

The last game against St Colman's from Tullamore was a 2-2 thriller. A scorcher from captain Alex Brady opened the scoring with Pelayo Rogers Suarez, goalkeeper turned goal scorer, finishing neatly two minutes later.