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Galway, Mayo, Roscommon experience success in Connacht
Schools from 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, 12 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 952 schools involved in 2009:
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 Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5 A Side competition: In fact out of the three Mayo teams that qualified for the All Ireland, two schools captured gold with Derrywash NS in Co: Mayo winning the “A” Section and St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar winning in the “C” Section: While Breaffy NS secured a silver medal in the “B” Schools Section: The other counties did themselves very proud with Gorthaganny NS, Roscommon and Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge claiming a respectable third in the Girls “A” Section and Girls “B” Section:
The only team to make a welcome return from last year was Scoil Mhuire NS, Clarinbridge, Galway but equally significant for Timmie Glavey’s team was the Provincial title which they so desperately wanted to defend:
This year saw the emergence of some new schools at the Provincial Finals which was a great addition and demonstrates the tremendous work being done at grassroots level by the FAI’s team of Development Officers:
More importantly, as the Cup competitions were to unfold was the equal spread of Cup winners as Galway and Mayo both claimed two titles each while Roscommon captured the fifth: A good geographical spread of winners in Connacht this season:
Flying the flag for Mayo and first to qualify was Barnacarroll NS in the “A” Schools Section with Clontuskert NS in Roscommon claiming a hard earned runner’s up prize:
Craggagh NS in Mayoqualified in the Girls “A” Schools Section while Dunmore NS in Galway came second:
Roscommon’s Cornafulla NS won the “B” Schools Section in formidable style with host County Barna NS coming a close second:
Scoil Mhuire of Clarinbridge, Galway won the Girls “B” Schools Section defending their crown with honour: The School will be hoping for a match winning display in the All Ireland series:
The final team to qualify out of Connacht, were, Scoil Chaitriona, Renmore, Galway in the “C” Schools Section for large schools: Only three teams contested this section with Scoil Phadraig, Ballina, Mayo and Abbey NS in Roscommon all in contention: The Mayo side came runners up in an exciting finale to the day’s proceedings:
The five Provincial Finalists will now travel to the National Finals which will be held in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, 26 May:
OVERVIEW:
Section “A” Schools: Barnacaroll NS, Mayo
Section “A” Girls Schools: Craggagh NS, Mayo
Section “B” Schools: Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Section “B” Girls Schools: Scoil Mhuire Clarinbridge, Galway
Section “C” Schools: Scoil Chaitriona, Renmore, Galway
CONNACHT PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
‘A’ Cup
TEAMS
Boleybeg NS, Galway
Barnacarroll NS, Mayo
Sooey NS, Sligo
Cloontuskert NS, Roscommon
Aughnasheelin NS, Leitrim
Winners: Barnacaroll NS, Mayo
Players: Patrick Barry, James McCormack, Rossa Vahey, Conor Diskin, Ciaran Canavan, Evan Slattery, Jarlath Ruane, Mark Keane
Teacher: Gerard Egan
Runners Up: Clontuskerk NS, Roscommon
Girls ‘A’ Cup
TEAMS
Dunmore NS, Galway
Craggagh NS, Mayo
Strandhill NS, Sligo
Clonakilla NS, Roscommon
The Hunt NS, Leitrim
Winners: Craggagh NS, Mayo
Players:Lisa Begley, Aoife Begley, Katie Dwyer, Jessica Nolan, Rachel King, Katie McNicholas
Principal: Danny Charlton
Runners Up: Dunmore NS, Galway
‘B’ Cup
TEAMS
Barna NS, Galway
Scoil Rafteirí, Castlebar, Mayo
Strandhill NS, Sligo
Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Leitrim Village NS, Leitrim
Winners: Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Players: Ronan McAlary, David McManus, Gary Nicholson, Ciaran Lennon, Kieran Connaughton, Ian Naughton, Eoin Hannon, Harry O’Rourke
Teacher: Sean Glennon
Runners Up:Barna NS, Galway
Girls ‘B’ Cup
TEAMS
Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway
Foxford NS, Mayo
Scoil Ursula, Sligo
Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Marist Girls NS, Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim
Winners: Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway
Players:Rebecca Callanan, Roisin Leen, Saoirse Burke, Niamh Murphy, Ciara Murphy, Carroll Daly, Katie Joyce, Annika Lipsius
Teacher:Timmie Glavey
Runners Up: Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
‘C’ Cup
TEAMS
Scoil Chaitríóna, Renmore, Galway
Scoil Phádraig, Ballina, Mayo
Abbey NS, Roscommon
(No Sligo or Leitrim qualifiers)
Winners: Scoil Chaitriona, Renmore, Galway
Players: Ross Burn, Dean McKeon, Robert Carroll, Ross Doyle, Aidan Coyle, Connor Malonfy, James Lillis, Yuri Petreachen
Teacher:Richard Delaney
Runners Up: Scoil Phadraig, Ballina, Mayo