St. Pat’s U-17s Win World Schools Soccer Games in Spanish Resort

St. Patrick’s Secondary School players and management posing in their away strip which was sponsored by FRS Network for the competition. Back row from left: Evan Brennan, Shane Kelliher, Killian Dennehy, Finn Nolan, Gearoid Healy, Tómas Jones, Conor Martin, Shea Lawless, Ruairí Bourke, Ciaran Mangan and Ruairí Brosnan, Front left to right: Kevin Fitzgerald, teacher; David Healy, Eugene Deniel, Joshua Ryan, Ciaran O’Connell, Owen O’Connor, Michael Horan, Joseph Bell, Luke Toomey, Gerard Costello, Conor Cahill, Aidan Young, Thomas Kelliher, Eoghan Shire, Martin Courtney, mentor and William Hurley, teacher.

Waves of congratulations are breaking over St. Patrick’s Secondary School’s U-17 soccer team and its management this morning.

They return home today from the Cambrils Park Holiday Resort in Salou on the Costa Dorada after a weekend on which they took on and defeated teams from all over the world to win the World Schools Soccer Games.

Two goals by Michael Horan secured the final win over German opposition!

All Geared Up

The team and management were well geared up in the run-up to the international soccer event the World School Games.

St. Pats, after a very successful year on the soccer field last year, caught the eye of event organisers and were invited to take part in this prestigious competition.

The standard of the competition was very high with teams such as Everton Academy entering a team.

Shopping Centre Fundraisers

Since the return to school in August the team has continued to put in the hard work on and off the field. As part of these preparations the players completed a fundraiser and an event awareness campaign for the upcoming trip.

The fundraiser took place in early September when players and management completed a cycle event at Whyte’s Centra and Garvey’s SuperValu here in Castleisland.

The event took place in the state of the art facility with a dedicated ‘Sports Zone’ where the games took place.

The Ultimate Prize

They left for Salou from Dublin airport on Friday last and they return home today.

St. Pats competed in a group stage with the hope of progressing onto the knockout stages of the competition. However, the talent of the team and the guidance of the management obviously took them to ultimate prize.

St. Patrick’s Secondary School and the entire squad would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support in the lead up to the competition and to FRS for the sponsorship of the new gear.

Thanks from St. Pat’s

A word from the school itself pays tribute to the coaches and mentors for guiding the team to this brilliant achievement.

There was also a sincere word of thanks for all the support from parents and the local community.

You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.