Nenagh Arena will be the setting for the Post Primary Schools Futsal Finals on two separate days next week. The girls will kick off proceedings on Wednesday, 17 November while the boys will entertain the crowds on Thursday, 18 November.
The event will cater for boys and girls in first year only. Each team has progressed through their respective county finals to reach the pinnacle of the FAI Schools Provincial calendar.
High School CBS, Clonmel will be aspiring to defend their Munster boy’s title which they claimed in fine style last season. The school will have to contend with newcomers Ashton School, Cork, Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna, Mercy Mounthawk School, Tralee, Crescent Comprehensive Secondary School, Limerick and Waterpark College.
All eyes will be on the surprise Waterford winners, Waterpark College who defeated County Champs De La Salle on route to the Provincial qualifiers. Waterpark are new to soccer but they didn’t show any evidence of their debutant status with some impressive victories over soccer strongholds such as St. Paul’s Community College, Mount Sion and De La Salle.
The girls teams represented on the day will comprise of St. Caimin’s Community College, Shannon (Clare), Christ King Girls Secondary School (Cork), Causeway Comprehensive (Kerry), St. Nessan’s Community College (Limerick), Colaiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir (Tipperary) and St. Angela’s Ursuline Convent (Waterford).
These six schools have dominated the league tables of schools soccer over the past few years and have a rich tradition of sporting success. The competition will be highly competitive and should prove highly entertaining as the teams go head to head for the prestigious Provincial crown.
The event which is part of the FAI’s football in schools programme will be co-ordinated by East Cork / West Waterford Development Officer, Mr. Michael Looby. For further information please contact Michael on 087 0508623.
List of participating schools:
Clare (Boys) Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna
Clare (Girls) St. Caimin’s Community College, Shannon
Cork (Boys) Ashton School, Blackrock Road, Cork
Cork (Girls) Christ King Girls SS, Turners Cross, Cork
Kerry (Boys) Mercy Mounthawk School, Tralee
Kerry (Girls) Causeway Comprehensive
Limerick (Boys) Crescent Comprehensive Secondary School
Limerick (Girls) St. Nessan’s Community College
Tipperary (Boys) High School CBS, Clonmel
Tipperary (Girls) Colaiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir
Waterford (Boys) Waterpark College
Waterford (Girls) St. Angela’s Ursuline Convent, Waterford
Note:
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.