22 schools in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon participated in the Connacht Provincial Finals which were held in the marvelous surrounds of Shiven Rover AFC, Newbridge, Galway on Wednesday, 13 May.
The event saw over 14,000 children participate last year. The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with 914 schools involved in 2008.
Tom Bolger, Chairman of FAI Schools stated, “This is our second year with title sponsors EA SPORTSTM and the competition is growing from strength to strength. FAI Schools must pay tribute to the phenomenal work carried out at grassroots level by the Provincial Co-ordinators and Regional Development Officers in ensuring that the event is even more popular than ever before”.
The EA SPORTSTM FAI Schools 5 A Side is the biggest and best competition in the 2009 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar. There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes. While FAI Schools and EA SPORTSTM encourage boys and girls to play on the same team, there is also a separate competition for girls’ schools. A number of teams can represent one school depending on the size of their student body, giving more children the chance to develop their skills in a safe, child centered and exciting environment.
The Mayo Schools dominated proceedings last year as they captured four out of five Connacht Section Winners medals that were up for grabs in the EA SPORTSTM FAI Schools 5 A Side competition. In fact out of the four Mayo teams that qualified for the All Ireland, two schools captured silverware with St. Oliver Plunkett’s NS in Ballina, Co. Mayo winning the Girls B Section and St. Patrick’s NS, Castlebar runners-up in the C Section. St. Patrick’s NS were back again to defend their Provincial title and hope to go a step further in grabbing gold in Tullamore in a fortnight’s time.
This year saw the emergence of some new schools at the Provincial Finals which was a welcome addition. Again Mayo came out on top with 3 Provincial titles while Galway and Roscommon received the remaining honours.
Flying the flag for Mayo and first to qualify was Derrywash NS in the A Schools Section. The team never conceded a goal and scored an impressive 25 goals on route to Provincial glory. An impressive feat for any schools and one that they will be hoping to replicate in Tullamore
Goltaganny NS in Roscommon qualified in the Girls A Schools Section. The girls made the task difficult with slight victories over Ballymote (0-1) in their opening encounter while increasing the tempo to beat Manorhamilton by a convincing scoreline. Kilmaine was next up for the Roscommon ladies and they held the slight advantage winning out 1-0. Their confidence was building and Tooreeney had no response to a determined performance as they were comfortable winners (4-0).
Breaffy NS in Mayo won the B Schools Section in formidable style. The boys had a great victory over Galway’s Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh beating them 5-1. The runners up of the group were St. Patrick’s NS, Calry in Sligo and this was evident as they held Breaffy NS to a nervy ending. The Mayo men only progressing by a slim 1-0 win. Breaffy followed this by victories over Summerhill and Mohill to be crowned Connacht Champions.
Scoil Mhuire of Clarinbridge, Galway won the Girls B Schools Section with success against Foxford (2-1), Marist Girls (6-1), Scoil Ursula (9-0) and Summerhill (6-0). A great goal scoring ability from the team which no doubt will assist them at the Finals in a fortnight’s time.
The final team to qualify out of Connacht, were old favourites St. Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Mayo. Last year’s Provincial Champions faced their name sake’s St. Patrick’s NS of Tuam in Galway in the only fixture of the C Schools Section for large schools. This was an exciting game of football with Noa Baba the target man for Mayo. The Mayo men secured the silverware on a 7-3 scoreline to lift the C Schools Connacht title for a second consecutive time.
The five Provincial Finalists will now travel to the National Finals which will be held in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, 27 May.
CONNACHT PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
Kilgass NS, Sligo
Boleybeg NS, Barna, Galway
St. Bridgid’s NS, Drumcong, Leitrim
Aughrim NS, Roscommon
Derrywash NS, Mayo
RESULTS:
Boleybeg 0-3 Derrywash
Kilglass 1-5 Aughrim NS
Drumcong 1 -4 Boleybeg
Derrywash 6-0 Kilglass
Aughrim 2-0 Drumcong
Boleybeg 6-1 Kilglass
Derrywash 10-0 Aughrim
Drumcong 2-1 Kilglass
Boleybeg 4-2 Aughrim
Derrywash 6-0 Drumcong
Winners: Derrywash NS, Mayo
Runners Up: Scoil Sheosaimh, Boleybeg, Galway
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Ballymote
Tooreeney NS, Moycullen, Co. Galway
St. Clare’s NS, Manorhamilton, Leitrim
Goltaganny NS, Roscommon
Kilmaine NS, Mayo
RESULTS:
Tooreeney 1-2 Kilmaine
Ballymote 0-1 Goltaganny
Manorhamilton 1-0 Tooreeney
Kilmaine 3-1 Ballymote
Goltaganny 6-0 Manorhamilton
Tooreeney 2-4 Ballymote
Kilmaine 0-1 Goltaganny
Manorhamilton 1-2 Ballymote
Tooreeney 0-4 Goltaganny
Kilmaine 4-1 Manorhamilton
Winners: Goltaganny NS, Roscommon
Runners Up: Kilmaine NS, Mayo
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
St. Patrick’s NS, Calry, Sligo
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Cappagh Road, Galway
St Manchan’s NS, Mohill, Leitrim
Summerhill NS, Athlone, Roscommon
Breaffy NS, Mayo
RESULTS:
Gaelscoil Mhic 1-5 Breffy
Calry 2-0 Summerhill
Mohill 2-1 Gaelscoil Mhic
Breaffy 1-0 Calry
Summerhill 2-0 Mohill
Gaelscoil Mhic 1-2 Calry
Breaffy 3-0 Summerhill
Mohill 2-4 Calry
Gaelscoil Mhic 1-3 Summerhill
Breaffy 6-0 Mohill
Winners: Breaffy NS, Mayo
Runners Up: St. Patrick’s NS, Calry, Sligo
Girls “B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Ursula, Sligo Town
Scoil Mhuire NS, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway
Marist Girls NS, Carrick On Shannon, Leitrim
Summerhill NS, Athlone, Roscommon
Foxford NS, Mayo
RESULTS:
Clarinbridge 2-1 Foxford
Scoil Ursula 1-2 Summerhill
Marist Girls 1-6 Clarinbridge
Foxford 5-0 Scoil Ursula
Summerhill 6-0 Marist Girls
Clarinbridge 9-0 Scoil Ursula
Foxford 3-0 Summerhill
Marist Girls 5-0 Scoil Ursula
Clarinbridge 6-0 Summerhill
Foxford 6-0 Marist Girls
Winners: Scoil Mhuire NS, Clarinbridge, Galway
Runners Up: Foxford NS, Mayo
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
Winners: St. Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Mayo 7
Runners Up: St. Patrick's NS, Tuam, Co. Galway 3