Connacht Competition Commences on Wednesday
Republic of Ireland International, Kevin Doyle was in attendance at the Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5-a-side Provincial Finals Launch in Dublin recently: The Provincial Finals are the culmination of three months of competition held at County level which sees schools progress to the respective Provincial Finals:
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 952 schools involved in 2009:
184 children from 23 schools in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon will participate in the Connacht Provincial Finals which will be held in the impressive surrounds of Shiven Rover AFC, Newbridge, Galway on Wednesday next, 12 May:
Tom Bolger, Chairman of FAI Schools stated, “This is our first year with title sponsors Xtra/vision 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”:
Ciara Moore, Marketing Manager with Xtra/vision stated: “We are delighted to be involved with such a prestigious and important tournament that brings entertainment and participation to the broadest range of school children: The Xtra/vision brand is synonymous with entertainment and fun, rooted at the local level“:
The Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5-a-side is the biggest and best competition in the 2010 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes: While FAI Schools and Xtra/vision 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 three out of five Connacht Section Winners medals that were up for grabs in the competition: The other two sections were captured by Galway and Roscommon respectively:
In fact out of the three Mayo teams that qualified for the All Ireland, two schools captured silverware with Derrywash NS winning the “A” Section and St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar capturing the top spot in the “C” Section: The third Mayo School did themselves justice by picking up runners up medals in the “B” Section while Galway’s Scoil Mhuire of Clarinbridge came third in the Girls “B” Section and Roscommon’s Goltaganny NS picked up a respective third place also in the Girls “A” Section:
Scoil Mhuire of Clarinbridge NS will be back again to defend their Provincial title and hope to go a step further in capturing gold in Tullamore in a fortnight’s time: A fresh emergence of new schools will see a new name etched on the trophies this year as they play for Provincial glory on Wednesday:
It promises to be a fantastic fun filled day with winners and runners up receiving a commemorative medal: The lucky winners will also receive a free UMBRO Kit and the prestigious Connacht trophy for their School:
Once the Provincial Finalists have been identified they won’t have long to wait for the All Ireland series: The National Finals will be held in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, 26 May:
CONNACHT PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
‘A’ Cup
TEAMS
Boleybeg NS, Galway
Barnacarroll NS, Mayo
Sooey NS, Sligo
Cloontuskert NS, Roscommon
Aughnasheelin NS, Leitrim
Girls ‘A’ Cup
TEAMS
Dunmore NS, Galway
Craggagh NS, Mayo
Strandhill NS, Sligo
Clonakilla NS, Roscommon
The Hunt NS, Leitrim
‘B’ Cup
TEAMS
Barna NS, Galway
Scoil Rafteirí, Castlebar, Mayo
Strandhill NS, Sligo
Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Leitrim Village NS, Leitrim
Girls ‘B’ Cup
TEAMS
Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway
Foxford NS, Mayo
Scoil Ursula, Sligo
Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Marist Girls NS, Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim
‘C’ Cup
TEAMS
Scoil Chaitríóna, Renmore, Galway
Scoil Phádraig, Ballina, Mayo
Abbey NS, Roscommon
(No Sligo or Leitrim qualifiers)
PHOTOGRAPHY: Brian Lawless, Sportsfile
Republic of Ireland International Kevin Doyle with Wesley Ó Goidín and Lauryn Ní Bhroin from Gaelscoil na Rilte, Dunshaughlin at the recent launch of the Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5-a-side Provincial Finals: Don’t miss your opportunity to support the schools involved by attending the Provincial and National Finals: The Regional Sports Centre in Waterford play host to the MunsterFinal on May 12th while the Connacht Final are also scheduled for the same date in the magnificent Shiven Rovers AFC, Newbridge, Galway: The following week sees the Ulster Final in Ballylar FC, Letterkenny and the Leinster Final will be held in the accommodating MDL Grounds in Navan, both on May 19th: The competition reaches its finale with the National Finals taking place in the impressive Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on May 26th: