MOLDOVAN Professional futsal side FC Camelot ran out winners in front of of Football Association of Ireland technical director Packie Bonner at the Loughnane Sportswear Futsal Cup in Mountmellick, Co Laois, on Saturday.

Futsal is the FIFA-approved version of five-a-side football and Bonner was more than impressed at the highly exciting event.

"It was great to see futsal first hand and I can really see how the game can benefit the development of our young players," said Bonner.

"The game is all about skills, passing and moving and that's why we are very excited about seeing the game grow here in Ireland."

Camelot won the event in style and with two internationals in their side, their quality was evident from the kick-off when they beat Burnley side Santos.

The Dublin select went closest to holding the Eastern Europeans all day, with player-manager Mickey Murphy seeing his side go within nine seconds of a draw only to concede at the death.

Dublin went out to Birkenhead side Tranmere Victoria in the semi-finals but the performances of Keith Harrington, Alan McCabe and goalkeeper Martin Forde gave Murphy plenty to be pleased about afterwards.

"The Camelot game was a great experience for our players and with a bit of luck we might have met them again in the final," said Murphy, who plays for Home Farm's Leinster Senior League side.

The host team was the Midlands Select, where a recently established futsal league has been an enormous success.

FAI Regional Development Officer Ger Dunne has been instrumental in bringing futsal to the Midlands and he felt the Loughnane Sportswear Cup had given the game a major boost in his area.

"We've learned so much from this event and with such a large crowd turning up to watch the tournament as well, I think futsal will grow at a rapid rate in the Midlands," said Dunne.

The Midlands started well with Ronan Guilfoyle scoring in a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland before the hosts were narrowly beaten by eventual finalists Tranmere.

A complete blow-out in their final group game knocked the Midlands side off track but they finished the day with a morale boosting 7-3 win over Grimsby side Grainthorpe, thanks to four goals by Robbie Hibbits.

Camelot beat Tranmere 6-1 in an amazing final, the English side having been beaten in the Masita Cup final in Dublin this time last year.


Group A
Camelos - Santos 2-1
Dublin - Grainthorpe 8-0
Camelot - Grainthorpe 12-0
Dublin - Santos 2-0
Camelot - Dublin 1-0
Santos - Grainthorpe 6-0

Group B
Scotland - Tranmere 0-2
Midlands - Northern Ireland 1-1
Scotland - Northern Ireland 4-0
Midlands - Tranmere 0-1
Scotland - Midlands 8-1
Tranmere - Northern Ireland 3-1


7-8 Placing
Grainthorpe - Midlands 3-7

5-6 Placing
Santos - Northern Ireland 3-2

Semi-finals
Camelot - Scotland 4-1
Tranmere - Dublin 3-1

Final
Camelot - Tranmere 6-1


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