EMSGAA Champions 2005 St. Anne's

St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Coventry became kings of primary school GAA this week when they clinched the East Midlands Championship Cup. The competition now a highlight of the East Midlands GAA calendar saw over 200 children from 10 primary schools from Coventry, Leicester and Rugby compete for the Irish Post trophy at Earlsdon Rugby Club in Canley.

The day kicked off with an exciting opening ceremony were children went straight into contesting the Banner and Loudest Cheer competitions. St. Anne’s were first to take to the field against Christ the King, whilst newcomers Sacred Heart from Leicester, taking part in their first ever GAA game, took on defending championship St. Augustine’s (Coventry). 16 qualifier games followed with St. Joseph’s (Leicester), St. Augustine’s and Christ the King (Coventry) all registering impressive score lines.

Player of the Championship Winners Sian Hickey (St. Josephs) and James Deehan (St. Anne's)

The final qualifying league standings saw Christ the King School edge clear of St. Joseph’s to top group 1, whilst group 2 saw a surprise clash between newcomers Our Lady of Assumption (Coventry) and St. Marie’s (Rugby), with St. Marie’s edging clear with an remarkable unbeaten run of 5 games. St. Patrick’s (Leicester), St. Augustine’s and St Anne’s completed the championship quarter final line-up.

After lunch saw the championship and shield knock out games get underway, St. Anne’s continued their rich vein of form by scoring 6-5 against Our Lady of Assumption and 4-1 against St. Marie’s to reach their second championship final in 2 years. St. Joseph’s defeated last years champions St. Augustine’s and edged clear of Christ the King by a single point to book their place in the final. The Shield champ-ionship competition saw Holy Cross and Sacred Heart defeat English Martyr’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ of Rugby to reach the finals.

Championship Shield Winners 2005 Holy Cross

Both championship finals got off to a flying start with St. Joseph’s facing St. Anne’s in the cup and Holy Cross coming up against Sacred Heart in an all Leicester schools shield final. The experience of reaching last years final stood for the skilful St. Anne’s teams who snatched some early scores and held the lead until a late surge from St. Joseph’s. But it was a case of too little too late for St. Joseph’s with St. Anne’s winning the game 1-1 to 0-1 and being crowned EMSGAA champions. The shield final game was a one sided affair with the Holy Cross team scoring 2-2 against a Sacred Heart team, to win the championship shield.

The closing presentation saw the 11 schools joined by Coventry City reserve youth team goalkeeper and former GAA player Jonathan Tuffy. After organisers acknowledged the fine facilities made available by Earlsdon Rugby Club and the tireless efforts of school teachers and student coaches from Bishop Challoner, Stuart Bathurst and Newman College, the Irish Post Cup was presented captain Michael O’Brien and St. Anne’s were crowned EMSGAA champions 2005.