Mayo school soccer side takes part in national Aviva Stadium competition

Mayo were well-represented in the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, when Lankill National School, in Aughagower, travelled east to represent Connacht in the FAI Primary 5s Finals Day.

The school were travelling in a buoyant mood, having been crowned Cumann na mBunscol Division 4 champions just seven days previously.

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The first outing of the day was a testing one, as they came up against Donegal side Coimín National School at 11.30 am.

The opening half was tight and terse, with very little to separate the pair. That changed early in the second half, with Eadoin Nic Meanaman producing a net-shaker to put Lankill behind. Three later, Coimín had another, with Nic Meanman latching onto a Moly Ní Ghallachoir corner to double both her and her side’s tally.

There was no time to ruminate on their early defeat, as at 12.20 pm, they were gearing up for another ding-dong battle with Cloughjordan National School from Tipperary.

It was the dream start for the girls from the West, with Aine Hughes netting after just three minutes. Two later, Karla Gibbons, who scored a goal in the Cumann na mBunscol win last Wednesday, also found the target, doubling the advantage.

Seconds after half-time, Abbie Collins made it three-nil, and while Megan Davis pulled one back for Cloughjordan, it was the girls from Lankill who recorded a memorable victory.

Going into the final game against Saint Leonard’s Dunnamaggin, Lankill needed a win to have any chance of taking home the trophy.

Those chances took a dent when the previous game’s goalscorer, Karla Gibbons, was forced off early on. Ciara Lyons' penalty put a penalty past Shona Gibbons, who put in a fine performance along with totemic defender Abbie Collins, before Aoife McComack netted on the verge of half-time.

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Goals from McCormack and Ruth Moylan ensured that eventual champions Saint Leonard’s recorded a 4-0 win.

The girls from Lankill would have returned home disappointed to lose twice, but can take solace from the fact that they did themselves, their school, and Mayo proud in their performances, attitudes, and commitment, and will always look back with fondness on the day they strutted their stuff on Irish soccer’s biggest stage.