ALLIANZ IRELAND CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL SOUTH WEST FINALS

In a day that saw four seasons in the space of 3 hours a wonderful exhibition of football was on show at Kickham’s Creggan in the annual Allianz Ireland Cumman na mbunscoil South West Antrim 7 a side competition.

A return to action after a couple of Covid hit years was met with great excitement with fourteen schools keenly contesting the group stages.

Each school was guaranteed plenty of game time and some superb skill was on display.

Mount St Michael’s Randalstown topped group A winning all 6 of their matches, a feat equaled by Ballymacrickett PS in group B. Joining them in the quarter finals were St Mary’s Portglenone, St Comgall’s Antrim, St Joseph’s Crumlin, Creggan, Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel and St Colmcille’s Ballymena.

The shield was a tightly contested affair between St Patrick’s Rasharkin, St Brigid’s Ballymena, Millquarter, Moneynick and Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach. The semi-finals saw Rasharkin narrowly pip St Brigid’s, after the pair had drawn earlier in the day and Moneynick overcoming Millquarter in a local derby game.

The shield final was a tense and tight affair that saw Moneynick emerge as victors by a narrow margin.

In the cup competition Creggan and Mt St Michael’s navigated their way through the quarter and semi-finals to set up a mouth watering final between the local rivals.

Mount St Michael’s started brightly and with the aide of a strong breeze built up a healthy half time lead and despite a valiant effort from Creggan in the second half the Randalstown school were able to hang on for their victory.

Congratulations to all involved on a day when the ultimate winner was football in South West Antrim.