Athenry sporting nursery makes All-Ireland schools soccer history

By Mike Rafferty

ON Monday, March 16, 2020, the players and management of Presentation College, Athenry were a happy bunch as they made the return journey from Limerick having just qualified for the FAI Schools Tom Ticher Junior (U17) Cup final.

Already crowned Connacht champions, they were decisive 4-0 winners over St Francis Rochestown (Cork) in the semi-final that day and an All Ireland final against Salesian College, Celbridge beckoned.

Naturally, all involved were looking forward to that milestone occasion but life as we knew it was changing. The arrival of the Coronavirus in the early months of 2020 changed the lives of people all over the world. The normal was not possible any more and while much worse things happened, this Athenry team never got an opportunity to play the final or indeed ever to play together again.

As regulations and lockdowns became central to all our lives, schools were closed and the organisation of a final for two teams seeking to make history was not posssible.

The FAI Executive eventually took matters in hand and last week confirmed that both finalists would share the Junior Cup title for 2019/2020. A statement was issued by from schools administrator Diane Fay.  “Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic and the current restrictions in place, it has not been possible to reschedule the fixture.

“We appreciate that this has caused much frustration and disappointment for the players and management of both teams, but circumstances being what they are we are happy to acknowledge the achievements of the two teams in getting to the final and therefore the decision to share the title.”

Though it might not be the way the school wanted to be crowned as champions, Presentation College, Athenry are now in the records as All-Ireland winners. While their soccer story is just in its infancy, they are more used to success on the hurling and camogie fields. The outcome is that all sports get great support from principal Cathal Moore who sees participation in sport as all part of a happy school environment.

With the final decision made, the school organised the presentation of medals to all involved last week, while the Tom Ticher Cup will also be the property of the school for the next six months, before residing in Celbridge thereafter.

For the management duo of Jonathan Linnane and Joe Finnerty it brought a conclusion to a saga that had dragged on and they were happy that the players were rewarded.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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