A Great Day In Thurles For Our Soccer Boys
12 boys from 4th class were chosen to represent our school at the 3rd/4th class FAI 5-a-side football tournament in Peake Villa on 17 November.
Following a series of trials in school, Mr Ryan choose the boys based on their soccer ability and their effort/behaviour in class.
There was both disappointment and joy when the 12 boys were chosen. However, there will be other chances for those boys not chosen.
Parents reported broken sleep patterns on Wednesday as excitement grew amongst the twelve!
We boarded the bus driven by Liam and hit for Peake Villa soccer club in Thurles.
However, as we left the motorway at the Horse & Jockey, storms clouds were gathering ominously in the distance over Thurles.
That didn’t dampen our excitement as Reece Deed (6th class assistant manager) and I planned for the day ahead.
We played four games. We drew three and lost one. Everyone played in every game as it was non-competitive(!) and participation was the most important thing.
It was cold, wet, dry, sunny and windy all in the one day and there were some complaints of sore, red hands.
That temporary pain was all forgotten, however, when they got out onto the field of play where the lads gave their all. Their excitement and enthusiasm was infectious and our two supporters (thank you to Daddy Gayson and Mammy O’Neill for coming) were very impressed by the ability and
sportsmanship on show.
It was a particularly good day for Mikey Gayson as it was his birthday. One of his highlights was an inch perfect cross to Evan O’Neill who got on the end of it with his head only for his effort to crash agonisingly off the crossbar.
The boys brokered a deal with Mr Ryan that if they won the last day 10-0, then they would get homework off.
The final score in that game was 0-0.
The boys got homework!
We had a great day.
