By Tomás Ó hAiniféin

The INTO /GAA Mini Sevens county were played on Thursday evening last in Austin Stack Park and new winners emerged in both the girls and the boys competition.

The Mini Sevens organised by Allianz Cumann na mBunscol have proven to be extremely popular with huge interest in the competition. Almost all the schools in the county play and this year was no different following a three year break due to Covid.

Nine boys and nine girls teams qualified for this year’s finals all representing their respective districts. We done to all who promoted the staging of the district competitions in this the most difficult year in the long history of the competition to find playable playing surfaces.

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We are indebted to all clubs and schools who made their Astro surfaces available to us, particularly John Mitchel’s GAA club and the Ardfert  community Committee for the use of the ARC and if course the Austin Stacks Park Committee for the use of the Park on such an important day for our young footballers.

On Thursday, all eighteen teams involved in the county departed their respective school in the hope that the would return as county champions and following some excellent round ronin games all player can be proud of their efforts throughout the day.

The teams were divided into three groups with three boys and three girls teams in each group and teams guaranteed two games in the round robin part of the finals.

The group in John Mitchels would have two qualify for the semi finals with the top team in the Ardfert and the Aistin Stacks group qualifying for the semi finals.

The three girl’s teams in the John Mitchels section ended level on points which resulted in a three way play off.

Scoil Eoin Baiste Were chosen from the hat to go through to the semi finals while Scoil Dara Earca, Valentia girls were defeated by Fossa in the play off game.

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Scoil Naomh Fhionnáin Waterville, Gaelscoil Faithleann and Scoil Eoin Baiste Lios Póil battled for qualification in the boys with Scoil Eoin Baiste losing out following close and exciting game.

The boys group played in the ARC in Ardfert was also close with Abbeydorney NS scoring a last minute goal to pip Nohoval NS for top spot in a group which also included Mid Kerry champions Castledrum NS.

Spa NS girls topped the girls section following victories over n Scoil Réalt na Mara Cromane and Scoil Mhuire, Cordal.

In Austin Stack Park the games were also keenly contested with Scoil Eoin Balloonagh qualifying in the girls thanks to victories over Lisselton and St. John’s Kenmare.

In the boys section a talented Kilgarvan group overcame Dromclough and Scoil Eoin Balloonagh to claim the county semi final spot.

The two semi finals were played in Austin Stacks Park and despite the torrential rain which had fallen over the past few weeks the pitch was in excellent condition.

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Abbeydorney were a point up against Gaelscoil Faithleann at half time in their encounter 0-6 to 0-5 but the Killarney boys hit a purple patch mid way through the second half scoring 2-1 inside a minute to dominate the from then to the final whistle.

They ran out 3-7 to 0-7 winners. The second semi final was a tremendously exciting game with some excellent passages of free flowing fast football but once again as one would expect in Mini seven encounters goals proved decisive and Kilgarvan scored four to earn a final spot on a 4-5 to 0-5 scorline.

Scoil Eoin Baiste Lios Póil were a point ahead of Spa NS at half time in the girls semi final 1-2 to 1-1 with both sides guilty of some wayward shooting. The second half was nip and tuck with scores at a premium but the Spa girls held on to win 1-5 to 1-3.

The standard was far higher in the second semi final as Scoil Eoin Balloonagh were seven points ahead at the break 2-3 to 0-2. Fossa dominated the early exchanges in the second half scoring 2-2 without reply to go ahead for the first time.

When they added a further two points it seemed that they would prevail but the Tralee outfit got going again and notched two excellent goals and while the sides exchanged points close to the end the Scoil Eoin girls were victorious on a final score of 4-4 to 2-7.

The Scoil Eoin Balloonagh girls started the final in a powerful and never really allowed the gallant Spa girls settle.

They combined brilliantly as a team and were well able to keep the hard earned possession. Having obviously learned from the semi final fright they fought for every possession and had excellent finishers in Nessa Kirby, Amelie O Sullivan and Allie Keirns.

Nessa scored two outstanding goals in the first half and Amelie and Allie struck on each. Cora Crowley was outstanding in goal for Spa and they had other top performances from Clodagh Buckley, Ava Flaherty and Sarah Chute.

Ava Flaherty was their scorer in chief as they notched a total of 1-7 during the encounter with Ava accounting for 1-3 of that total. Scoil Eoin struck for three further goals in the second half, another pair from tormentor in chief Nessa Kirby and one from Allie Kerins. Final score Scoil Eoin Balloonagh 7-3 Spa NS 1-7.

Scoil Eoin, Balloonagh. Mary Gibbons, Shauna Quigley, Clodagh Morris,  Allie Kerins, Nessa Kirby, Amelie O Sullivan, Lexi Keane, Alice Kennedy, Kate O Shea,  Clodagh Kennedy, Roisín Sheehy

Spa NS. Cora Crowley , Ava Flaherty, Fiadh Nelan, Aoibhinn Corridan, Clodagh Buckley, Sarah Chute, Aisling Dillon, Louise Gaynor, Erin Harty,  Aisling Ellie Mc Gann, Ella-Mai McCarthy.

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The boy’s final was a physical affair between Scoil Náisiúnta Cill Garbhán and Gaelscoil Faithleann.

Both schools in search of a first Mini Sevens title and  referee Billy Lacey was busy in keeping order and a flow to the encounter.

Gaelscoil Faithleann were two goals ahead at the break 2-3 to 0-3 but Kilgarvan can feel aggrieved that they were not allowed implement their free flowing style of football which they had displayed in all the earlier games.

Max Ó Muineacháin was the chief marksman for the Gaeilscoil accounting for two of their first half goals and stricking a third in the second half. Séamus Ó Ceallacháin hit 1-1 in the final and Daniel Ó Mainchín and Setanta Ó Muirthuille accounted for the other scores.

Kilgarvan had a well balanced team and their main marksmen in the final were Dara Foley with 1-3, Kevin Tuohy with 1-1 and Tiernan Desmond with their third goal as Gaelscoil Faithleann were victorious on a 4-5 to 3-4 scoreline.

Gaelscoil Faithleann.  Daniel O’Súilleabháin,Séamus O’Ceallacháin, Joshua Salvador, Daniel O’Mainchín, Setanta O’Muirthuille, Tristan O’Murchú, Max O’Muineacháin, Nathan O’Mailcaithe, Conor O’Brosnacháin.

Scoil Náisiúnta Cill Gharbhán.Micheál Kelleher, Kevin Tuohy, Tiernan Desmond, Dara Foley, Leon O Neill, Daniel Creedon, John Quill, Daniel O Sullivan, Mikey O Sullivan, Alexander Healy.

Céad mile buíochas to all coordinators referees and all who helped on the day and congratulations to Gaelscoil Faithleann and Scoil Eoin Balloonagh on claiming their first titles in their respective Mini Sevens competition.

Next up immediately after the Easter break is the INTO/GAA hurling and camogie  Mini Sevens.

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