Kells and Kentstown advance to Leinster final
SCHOOLS SOCCER
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Kentstown NS were winners of North Leinster Primary 5s Boys Medium size schools. At the presentation (from left) were Graham Kane (FAI Meath), Sean McKiernan, Orla O’Reilly, Aoife Burns (Drogheda United FSR) and Fr David Brennan.Image 2 of 2
The St Colmcille’s Kells players that won the North Leinster Primary Schools 5s. Also at the presentation were Graham Kane (FAI Meath), coach Ciaran Bird and Aoife Burns (Drogheda United FSR); front - Paul Holland (FAI Schools Meath).PAUL HOLLAND
The boys from St Colmcille's Kells and Kentstown advanced to Leinster finals of the FAI Primary Schools 5s which will be held in the AUL Grounds Dublin on 14th May.
St Colmcille's reached their first ever Leinster final after two wins and a draw saw them top their group ahead of Holy Family Mullingar in the large schools section.
Kells started nervously and conceded an own goal against the Westmeath school but recovered to draw 1-1 with a superb bicycle kick from Jack Farrell. In their second game against St Michael’s Longford, St Colmcille's were 0-2 down after five minutes but recovered to win 4-2 while they hammered St. Mary’s Drogheda 5-0 in their final group game
Midfielder Kayden Tolan Brady was outstanding and covered every blade of grass. Top scorer Jack Farrell was in sensational form and scored seven goals, while captain Elliot Flood Norton steadied the ship in midfield and scored twice for Ciarán Bird’s charges.
Kentstown NS opened the defence of their North Leinster crown against Melview NS, Longford in the section for medium sized schools. First half goals from Oisín Melia and Austin Barry (two) gave Sean McKiernan’s boys a 3-0 half-time lead. Further second half goals from Melia and Barry (two) and another from Dáire Griffin rounded off a 7-0 victory.
Next up were St Oliver Plunkett's (Westmeath). A Dáire Griffin goal and some fine saves from goalkeeper Tomás Melia ensured Kentstown held a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Another goal in the second period by Griffin doubled Kentstown's lead, before he completed his hat-trick with a third.
In the final game Kentstown faced Louth champions, St Oliver's NS, Drogheda. Kentstown struck first through a Griffin goal but this was quickly cancelled out by the Louth side. An Oisín Melia goal before half time restored the lead. In the second half the game opened up as Kentstown found the net through Max Kearns, Cathal Cummins and Kai Phoenix (two) to seal a 6-2 win.
There was final heartbreak for Kilbeg girls, St Andrew's Curraha and Athboy girls who all finished as runners-up and narrowly missed out on advancing to the provincial finals.