The biggest and best competition in the 2012
Primary School Soccer Calendar
IRISHTOWN STADIUM will play host to the An Post FAI Schools Dublin 5-a-side competition next week as four days of frenzied fun is scheduled to bring together an impressive 80 schools from all over Dublin to compete in this annual competition:
There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes: While FAI Schools 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 centred and exciting environment:
With the demand for Schools soccer in the Capital so high, the Dublin Primary Schools Section organises both a 5-a-side and an 11/a/Side competition: As well as Cup competitions there are various leagues in operation with players competing for the Pegasus Cup, Girls’ Cup and Senior Cup at the close of the academic year:
This year the 5-a-side event is proving even more popular than ever according to competition co/ordinator Mr: Tom Bolger as a total of 95 teams amounting to 760 participants will descend on the Ringsend venue over the course of next week:
Dublin has a wonderful record when it comes to their schools progressing further in the Provincial deciders: Many of the schools taking part this year will be so called veterans in the competition as records will show:
St: Lorcan’s NS, Palmerstown won an All Ireland title back in 2004 in the “C” Schools section for large schools:
In 2005, St: Anne’s NS, Shankill won the national title in the Girls “B” section for medium girls schools:
Clondalkin’s St: Joseph’s were All Ireland winners in the “C” Schools division in 2007:
More recently, St: Laurence O’Toole’s CBS were crowned All Ireland “B” Schools Champions in 2010: A marvellous achievement for the City Centre school:
Five schools to watch out for in 2012 will be last year’s winners which include; “A” Schools: Zion Primary School, Rathgar, “B” Schools: St: Laurence O’Toole’s, “C” Schools: Ballyroan NS, Girls “A” Schools: Monkstown ETNS, Girls “B” Schools: St: Oliver Plunkett NS, Malahide: These five schools will be hoping lady luck is shining on them in Irishtown come match day:
St: Oliver’s Plunkett NS went on to win their Leinster qualifiers and put the icing on the cake by being crowned ALL IRELAND GIRLS “B” CHAMPIONS in Tullamore last season: This follows their All Ireland win back in 2002 in the same category: Can the County Dublin School repeat their form this season with a new crop of players coming through? Joe Morton who teaches in the school and has managed the teams over the years has been a wonderful advocate of primary schools soccer over the years and will have his player’s well prepared as the team take to the field on Tuesday next: The Girls “B” section will be highly competitive with 19 teams bidding for glory:
The competition will commence on Monday morning with the Girls “A” section opening events: This category caters for small schools with a total of 11 schools partaking in the day’s fixtures:
The Monday afternoon session will see the “A” section start with last season’s winners Zion Primary School up against Our Lady’s, Milltown:
Tuesday will prove a busy day as 19 schools come head to head in the Girls “B” section to take the title from reigning Champs St: Oliver’s:
A monster day of football on Wednesday will see a total of 34 schools get togged out in the “B” Schools section for medium schools: St: Laurence O’Toole’s CBS will have the tough task of trying to retain their title ambitions under severe competition for their fellow competitors:
The final day of events in Ringsend will see the large schools participate in the “C” Schools section: An impressive 29 schools will do battle for the ultimate prize of being crowned Dublin Primary Schools Champions: Ballyroan NS received the honours last year but can they make it two in a row?
The growth of football across the country can be attributed to the FAI’s Community and Regional Development Officers, who have been vital in increasing the number of schools playing the sport, and to the dedication of local organisers who volunteer to run competitions in a professional and meticulous manner:
Mr: Jonathan Tormey, FAI Community Development Officer who promotes soccer activities in the South Dublin Inner City region will have sole responsibility for organising events in Ringsend:
Tormey is well experienced in co/ordinating the Primary schools competition having run the Dublin 5-a-side event over the last number of years: The Dubliner will have a network of FAS employees to assist on the day in what should prove to be a fun filled four days for all participants:
The Dublin qualifiers will be announced during the week’s activities so click onto www:faischoolsdublin:com for further information on fixtures and results:
The five successful schools will be progressing to the Leinster Finals which are due to take place on Wednesday, May 23 in the MDL Grounds, Navan: The Dublin qualifiers will compete against Mid Leinster, North Leinster and South Leinster qualifiers for a spot in the All Ireland Finals which are due to take place in early June:
Girls’ “A” Competition – Monday, April 30
Participating Schools: Ballyboughal NS, Monkstown ETNS, Rathfarnham ETNS, Scoil Chaitríona, Baggot Street, St: Damian’s, Walkinstown, St: Gabriel’s, Cowpar Street, St: Patrick’s, Chapelizod, Whitechurch NS, Scoil Treasa Naofa, St: Dominic’s, Tallaght, St: Ultan’s, Cherry Orchard (11 schools)
Boys’ “A” Competition – Monday, April 30
Participating Schools: Zion Parish School, Our Lady’s, Milltown (2 schools)
Girls’ “B” Competition – Tuesday, May 1
Participating Schools: Holy Rosary, Ballcragh, Our Lady Immaculate, Darndale, Queen of Angels, Wedgewood, Scoil an Chroí Ró/Naofa Íosa, Huntstown, Scoil Mhuire, Shankill, St: Mark’s, Springfield, St: Mary’s, Rowlagh, St: Oliver Plunkett’s, Malahide, St: Patrick’s, Corduff, St: Ronan’s, Deansrath, St: Thomas’, Jobstown, Talbot Senior, Taney PS, Castaheany ET, Griffeen Valley ET, Scoil Cholmcille, Ballybrack, St: Ciaran’s, Hartstown, Castleknock ET, Scoil Íde, Kilmore West (19 schools)
Boys’ “B” Competition – Wednesday, May 2
Participating Schools: St: Joseph’s, Dun Laoghaire, Francis Street CBS, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin, Guardian Angels, Blackrock, Harold’s Cross NS, Knockmore Senior School, Mary Queen of Angels 2, Ballyfermot, Queen of Angels, Wedgewood, Rathfarnham ETNS, Scoil Cholmcille, Donaghmede, Scoil Mhuire, Shankill, St: Benedict’s and St: Mary’s, St: Bernadette’s, Quarryvale, St: Catherine’s, Rush, St: Damian’s, Walkinstown, St: Dominic’s, Tallaght, St: Gabriel’s, Cowpar Street, St: Laurence O’Toole’s CBS, St: Mary’s, Tallaght, St: Patrick’s, Chapelizod, St: Patrick’s, Ringsend, Taney PS, Whitechurch NS, Ballyboughal NS, St: Benedict’s, Ongar, Kildare Place, Malachy’s Edenmore, St: John the Evangelist NS, St: Kilian’s DSD German School, Mary Queen of Angels 1, Ballyfermot, Our Lady’s BNS, Ballinteer, Mulhuddart NS, St: Brendan’s, Loughshinny, Monkstown ETNS (34 schools)
Boys’ “C” Competition – Thursday, May 3
Participating Schools: Ballyroan BNS, Drimnagh Castle, Holy Child, Larkhill, Holy Rosary, Ballycragh, Our Lady Immaculate, Darndale, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mourne Road, Sacred Heart, Ballygall Road, Scoil an Chroí Ró/Naofa Íosa, Huntstown, Scoil Bríde, Blanchardstown, Scoil Maomh, Caoimhin, St:Anne’s, Shanhill, St: Joseph’s, Clondalkin, St: Mark’s, Springfield, St: Mary’s, Rowlagh, St: Mochta’s, Clonsilla, St: Patrick’s, Corduff, St: Patrick’s, Drumcondra, St: Paul’s Brunswick Street, St: Ronan’s, Deansrath, St: Thomas’, Jobstown, Terenure College, Scoil Cholmcille, Ballybrack, De La Salle, Ballyfermot, Johnstown BNS, St: John Bosco’s, St: Ciaran’s, Hartstown, Rush NS, Griffeen Valley ET (29 schools)
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