An Post FAI Schools 5-a-side Munster Finals PREVIEW

Munster Mayhem in the making on Wednesday

 

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 15,400 children participate last year: The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with 954 schools involved in 2011

The Munster Provincial Finals will be hosted in the impressive Mounthawk Park, Tralee on Wednesday, May 16:

30 Schools from Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford will showcase their talent with a total of 240 participants involved in the day/long event:

TheFAI Schools 5-a-side is the biggest and best competition in the 2012 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: 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 centered and exciting environment:

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 Munster 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 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin on Tuesday, June 5:

Last year the Munster Schools participating in the competition did extremely well picking up a first place finish in the “C” Schools section courtesy of a magnificent performance from St: Anthony’s NS, Cork: St: Anne’s NS, Rathkeale, Limerick picked up a silver medal in the Girls “B” category while Roxborough NS, Limerick received the same feat in the “B” Schools competition: St: Beacon’s NS, Mullinvat got a fourth place finish in the Girls “A” section and Cloughjordan’s St: Michael’s scooped runners up spot in the “A” Schools section for small schools: All round an impressive result for the mighty Munster

Cork will see St: Nioclas, St: Anthony’s, Scoil na nOg, Glanmire, Scoil Mhuire na Trocaire, Buttevant and Scoil Naoimh Seosamh all make the short journey to Tralee for a fun filled day of soccer having tasted County success last month: The teams will be itching for another outing come Wednesday evening:

Host County Kerry have Scoil Bhríde Loreto, Spa NS and Moyderwell making the short trip to Tralee to represent the Kingdom in what should prove to be an enjoyable day for all involved: Fossa NS and Presentation Monastery School, Killarney will be welcome veterans to this campaign having notched up some valuable experience last season

St: Declan’s NS in Waterford will make a welcome return to the Provincial Final: The School captured Provincial glory in 2009 in the “C” Section and more recently in 2011: Their highlight was their third place finish in the All Ireland series that same year while tasting All Ireland glory in 2005 in the Nationals and the lads will be hoping their experience in this competition can bring them success in Munster yet again:

Knockanean NS make a welcome return to the Provincial Finals and will be hoping to capture honours this year as the Boys team competes in “B” category: It was the girls that reached this stage last season: Annagh NS, Miltown Malbay, Ennis, St: Aidan’s of Shannon should also be in the running for silverware for the banner County on Wednesday:

St: Ursula’s of Ballytruckle are no strangers to the 5-a-side competition having last tasted All Ireland success in 2007 in the Girls “B” Section: The school makes a welcome return in the same section having competed bravely last season: They lost out to St: Anne’s NS, Rathkeale in 2011 but are hoping for better luck second time around:  

Tipperary’s Sisters of Charity will represent the County with pride having reached the same stage last season: Also representing the Tipp contingency are Rathkeevin NS, Nenagh CBS, St Colmcilles NS and Mount Bruis NS:

St: Anthony’s BNS are back again to compete in another Provincial Final and will be hoping to take full advantage of their experience in this competition: This Cork school has a phenomenal record in this competition with various teams through the years winning the prestigious All Ireland title in the “C” section for large schools: The school last captured the titles in 2003 and 2008 and more recently in 2011 the people of Ballinlough will be urging the players on for a repeat performance in 2012:

Piltown NShave two teams competing for a title with the Boys competing in the “B” Section and the Girls in the Girls “A” Section:

There will be plenty to play for as the teams take to the field at mid day to contest yet another Munster Primary Schools 5-a-side title:

 

MUNSTER PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:

 

“A” Schools:

TEAMS

Annagh NS, Clare

St: Declan’s NS, Ardmore, Waterford

Scoil Bhríde Loreto, Kerry

Rathkeevin NS, Tipperary

St: Fergus Glin, Limerick

Scoil Naoimh Seasamh, Cork

 

“A” Girls Schools:

TEAMS

Miltown Malbay, Clare

Piltown NS, Waterford

Fossa NS, Kerry

Mount Bruis NS, Tipperary

Ballysteen NS, Limerick

Scoil Mhuire na Trocaire, Buttevant, Cork

“B” Schools:

TEAMS

Knockanean NS, Clare

Piltown NS, Waterford

Spa NS, Kerry

St: Colmcille NS, Tipperary

Abbeyfeale NS, Limerick

Scoil na nOg, Glanmire, Cork

 

Girls “B” Schools:

TEAMS

St: Aidan’s NS, Shannon, Clare

St: Ursula’s NS, Ballytruckle, Waterford

Moyderwell, Kerry

Sisters of Charity NS, Tipperary

Monaleen NS, Limerick

St: Nioclas, Cork

 

“C” Schools:

TEAMS

Ennis NS, Clare

St: Declan’s NS, Waterford

Mon Killarney, Kerry

Nenagh CBS, Tipperary

St: Nessan’s NS, Limerick

St: Anthony’s BNS, Ballinlough, Cork

END