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Southside teams miss out on final

Thursday, 15 May 2008

THE dream of winning a place in the National Final of the 2008 Danone Nations Cup, and possibly going on to represent Ireland in the World Finals in Parc De Prince, Paris, in September, has ended for two valiant South Dublin teams.
Cabinteely and Granada had won the honour of representing the South Dublin League (SDL) in the South Leinster Regional final of the Danone Nations Cup, which took place on May Bank Holiday Monday at Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
The Danone Nations Cup South Leinster Regional final was the last of seven regional finals to have taken place around the country since March.
Every league in the country had the opportunity to take part, with each league selecting their representatives for their regional final.
The winner of each regional final will go forward to the National Final in June, with the overall winner on the day then going on to represent Ireland in Paris from September 5-7.
The competition runs on the same rules throughout – nine-a-side games with squads of 14 players aged between 10 and 12.
The competition was played in glorious sunshine on the new synthetic pitch at the Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
There was great football on show for the spectators, with the group stages providing some thrilling action.
In Group 1, Greystones (Wicklow) and Cabinteely matched each other but a late goal from the Dubliners earned them a final place.
The final was played at a very high tempo despite the heat. Cabinteely’s Jack Power burst out of the traps and scored an excellent goal just two minutes into the game.
This stung Abbeyleix (Midlands) who hit back with intensity. A handball by Cabinteely led to the concession of a penalty in the fourth minute, Leigh Bergin slotting home to put the sides on an even keel.
Abbeyleix upped the pressure, putting the home team one ahead, but with a minute to go, Jack Power levelled the scores with a fine effort.
The game then went to penalties. Oscar Brennan found the back of the net for Cabinteely but it wasn’t enough, one score out of three.
Abbeyleix clinched the competition with penalties by Leigh Bergin and Gary Cantwell.
Elsewhere, fellow SDL representatives, Granada, were impressive and showed great promise in the group stages.
They won all of their matches; bar one, against eventual group and tournament winners Abbeyleix.
Its destination Dublin for the National Finals on June 7 with St Joseph’s Boys and Shelbourne FC representing the Dublin District Schoolboys’ League (DDSL).
This is the ninth year of the Danone Nations Cup, and the sixth year that Ireland has participated.

Results:
Group 1:
Cabinteely 3, Portlaoise 0;
Cabinteely 5, Edenderry 0;
Cabinteely 1, Greystones 0. Group 2:
Granada 2, Monasterevin 0; Granada 0, Abbeyleix 1; Granada 1, Wicklow Rovers 0. Final:
Cabinteely 2, Abbeyleix 2. Abbeyleix won 2-1 on penalties.

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