Tuesday, November 22, 2016
The FAI Post Primary Schools First Year Boys & Girls Leinster Finals will take place this Wednesday, November 23 at the impressive Gormanston College, Meath as proceedings get underway at 11am.
The competition caters for boys and girls in first year which delivers a quality fast paced action packed game focusing on skill, speed and technique.
288 students will take to the courts representing 22 schools in the provincial showdown. Last year saw Malahide Community School (GIRLS) win Leinster. They progressed to Nationals and recorded a fourth place podium finish which was a wonderful achievement for the school given the outstanding competition there was on the day. Dublin Oak Academy, Bray (BOYS) captured the Leinster title last season and came runners up in the National stage. A competition they have won outright in previous seasons. These two sides were unfortunate not to progress from their respective County events this year so a new name will be etched on the Leinster silverware come Wednesday afternoon.
BOYS SECTION
Given that there are 12 schools to cater for in the boys section, it will be divided into two groups of six, with the top team in each group playing off in the final.
Group One will see Tullow Community School (Carlow), Pipers Hill College (Kildare), Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown (Kilkenny), Portlaoise College (Laois), Moyne Community School (Longford) and St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda (Louth) all in the mix.
Group Two has Beaufort College, Navan (Meath), Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore (Offaly), Athlone Community College (Westmeath), Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge (Wexford), Coláiste Chill Mhantain, Burkeen (Wicklow) and Clonkeen College, Blackrock (Dublin) all challenging for top spot.
GIRLS SECTION
The girls section will work in the same format, with the 12 schools divided into two groups of six, with the league leaders in each group playing off in the grand final.
Group One will have a talented group of players as Presentation Secondary School, Loughboy (Kilkenny), Borris Vocational School (Carlow), Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Trim (Meath), Athlone Community College (Westmeath), Moyne Community School (Longford) and Caritas College, Ballyfermot (Dublin) all eager to impress.
While Group Two will line out with a fusion of skilful stars as St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin (Kildare), Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise (Laois), Dundalk Grammar School (Louth), St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr (Offaly), St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross (Wexford) and Woodlands Academy, Kilcroney, Bray (Wicklow) showcasing their talents in a bid for progression.
New Surroundings
Both Athlone Community College (Westmeath) and Moyne Community School (Longford) have dual representation on the day which obviously increases their chances of an appearance at the National Finals.
The competition should be wide open in both the boys and girls divisions as most of the schools involved are new to the provincial deciders. It should make for some exciting games on the four courts as 62 games will be contested throughout the day.
For further information on the event please contact the Provincial Co-ordinator Barry Ferguson on 087 764 0463.
The Leinster winners will progress to the National Finals which take place in Waterford IT Sports Arena on December 8. We wish all participating schools the very best of luck.
List of participating Schools:
BOYS | Tullow Community School, Carlow
GIRLS | Borris Vocational School, Carlow
BOYS | Clonkeen College, Blackrock, Dublin
GIRLS | Caritas College, Ballyfermot, Dublin
BOYS | Pipers Hill College, Naas, Kildare
GIRLS | St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin, Kildare
BOYS | Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown, Kilkenny
GIRLS | Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny
BOYS | Portlaoise College, Laois
GIRLS | Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise, Laois
BOYS | Moyne Community School, Longford
GIRLS | Moyne Community School, Longford
BOYS | St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda, Louth
GIRLS | Dundalk Grammar School, Louth
BOYS | Beaufort College, Navan, Meath
GIRLS | Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Trim, Meath
BOYS | Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore, Offaly
GIRLS | St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr, Offaly
BOYS | Athlone Community College, Westmeath
GIRLS | Athlone Community College, Westmeath
BOYS | Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge, Gorey, Wexford
GIRLS | St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross, Wexford
BOYS | Coláiste Chill Mhantain, Wicklow Town
GIRLS | Woodlands Academy, Kilcroney, Bray, Wicklow
END
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS FUTSAL DATES
Provincial Finals:
Ulster: Tuesday, November 15 AURA Leisure Centre, Letterkenny
Connacht: Thursday, November 17 IT Sligo
Munster: Tuesday, November 22 Waterford IT Sports Arena
Leinster: Wednesday, November 23 Gormanston College, Meath
National Final: Thursday, December 8 Waterford IT Sports Arena
2015 NATIONAL FINALS ROLL OF HONOUR:
Post Primary Schools – Girls
WINNERS: Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana, Donegal (ULSTER)
RUNNERS UP: Coláiste Dún Íascaigh, Cahir, Tipperary (MUNSTER)
THIRD: Ursuline College, Sligo (CONNACHT)
FOURTH: Malahide Community School, Dublin (LEINSTER)
Post Primary Schools - Boys
WINNERS: St. Patrick’s College, Cavan (ULSTER)
RUNNERS UP: Dublin Oak Academy, Bray, Wicklow (LEINSTER)
THIRD: Ashton School, Cork (MUNSTER)
FOURTH: Coláiste Mhuire, Ballymote, Sligo (CONNACHT)
What is Futsal | Futsal is an indoor version of association football. It is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines; walls or boards are not used.
Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation football. The rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.