Mayo schoolboys compete in SAFIB Allen McKinstry Cup

St. Gerald's College finished fourth in the annual SAFIB Allen McKinstry Cup following some mixed fortunes in Newcastle University last week.

As FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup champions last year, the Castlebar schoolboys earned their spot in the invitational tournament.

As hosts, England had two representatives line out, with Shropshire’s Thomas Telford School and Northampton High School for Boys enjoying home advantage, while Northern Ireland had Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College, Belfast, participating. The Welsh delegation was Bishopston Comprehensive School, based in Swansea, with St. John’s RC High School, Dundee, being Scotland's representatives.

The three-day tournament concluded on Friday last (May 16), with David Joyce’s side winning one of their three games.

On the opening day, St. Gerald’s College went down 4-2 to eventual winners Thomas Telford in a brilliant challenge for the Irish. Cillian Reilly and Cillian Keating were on target for the Republic of Ireland representatives, and they could have drawn level as St. Gerald’s hit the post and the crossbar late on. Overall, it was a good performance against the Shropshire lads.

In the other two fixtures that evening, Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College of Belfast ended 1-1 against Northampton Boys. The Belfast side won 6-5 on penalties for a bonus point, which would come into effect at the end of the tournament if teams were level on points. Bishopston Comprehensive defeated St. John’s RC High School 3-2 in another excellent showpiece.

The penultimate day saw St. Gerald’s College pick up their first points of the campaign when they defeated Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College 3-2. Cillian Reilly, Cillian Keating and Matthew Daly were on the score-sheet on match day two.

While Thomas Telford played out a scoreless draw against Bishopston Comprehensive. Telford collected a bonus point when they claimed a 7-6 win following the spot kicks. Then Northampton Boys had a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Dundee’s St. John’s RC High School.

The playoff places on Friday morning saw St. Gerald’s College up against Bishopston Comprehensive for a third/fourth place spot. The Welsh squad were on top for most of the game but the Castlebar school came back into contention in the last five minutes. However, a last minute winner from Bishopston sealed a third place finish for them, while St. Gerald’s College had to settle for fourth.

Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College, Belfast, finished on a high after coming out the right side of a 10-goal thriller, defeating St. John’s RC High School, Dundee, by six goals to four to take fifth for the Northern Ireland outfit.

The finale was an all-English affair, which saw Thomas Telford draw 2-2 with Northampton Boys. Another pulsating penalty shootout was played out to decide the winner, with Telford holding their nerve to win 5-3 on penalties to claim the title.

No doubt it was a great experience for the Castlebar students, who were up against some quality opposition over the three days.

Since its establishment in 2008, the Republic of Ireland representatives have had some notable successes, winning on four previous occasions. The most recent victory came last season when St. Franics College, Rochestown, won the tournament in Cardiff University.

In 2016, St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, claimed glory, with Douglas Community School coming runners-up that season in the AUL Complex, Dublin.

Oranmore’s Calasanctius College were crowned champions having captured top spot in Belfast in 2015.

Before that, when FAI Schools hosted on home soil in 2012, it was the turn of Ulster crew St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, to take the title as the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh facilitated the tournament.

St. Gerald's College, Castlebar: Shane Rodgers, Finn Ruane, Patrick Kennedy, Conor Moran, Thomas Francis, Ethan Kelly, Ruairi Mulroy, Cillian Reilly, Matthew Daly, Cillian Keating, Noah Kirby, Oskar Radzio, Keelyn McHale, Eddie Moran, Ruairi Keating, Cillian Donnelly

Management: David Joyce, Sean Curran, Darren Fernandes.