Leah Victoria Park home to Tullamore Town FC will host the EA Sports FAI Schools 5 A Side National Finals this Wednesday, 27th of May 2009 (12pm – 3:30pm):
More than 15,000 children from all over Ireland participated in this, the biggest and best competition in the 2009 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: Schools battle it out in county qualifiers nationwide before advancing firstly to regional finals and then to provincial deciders:
After three months of competition the final twenty schools advance from their provincial finals to the ultimate stage, the National Finals: There are five sections to cater from including “A” Schools and Girls “A” Schools for small sized schools: Medium sized schools are catered for under the “B” Schools and Girls “B” Schools sections and finally “C” Schools accommodate the large schools section:
Tom Bolger, Chairman of FAI Schools, “This is our second year with title sponsors EA SPORTSTM and the competition is growing from strength to strength: FAI Schools must pay tribute to the phenomenal work carried out at grassroots level by the Provincial Co/ordinators and Regional Development Officers in ensuring that the event is even more popular than ever before”:
The National Finals will see 160 participants from all corners of the country compete: An impressive 14 counties will be involved in this year’s National Finals: Schools from Cork, Meath, Cavan, Mayo, Tipperary, Longford, Donegal, Roscommon, Kerry, Wicklow, Carlow, Galway, Waterford and Wexford will fight it out in their respective categories for the top prize of being crowned All Ireland Champions: Everyone’s a winner in this competition with participants receiving an EA goodie bag, full soccer kit and commemorative medal for their participation in this year’s National Finals:
Three of the schools qualified for the competition last year and will be hoping that their experience will merit more success: Scoil Iognaid Ris, An Daingean qualify for the “B” Schools and they will be hoping to defend their All Ireland crown from last season: Assisting their bid for glory is the return of two players from last year’s panel namely, Marc O’Conchuir and Cathal O’Bambaire:
The “C” Schools Section will be one to watch out for as Scoil Iosagain in Buncrana and St Patrick’s NS in Castlebar are both back in contention: The Buncrana lads finished a respectable third place last year while Harry Canning’s team did one better in runners up spot:
Scoil Iosagain has an added advantage of having youngsters Ryan Doherty and Ryan McLaughlin making a welcome return from last year:
St: Patrick’s NS had an easy route to this year’s Nationals and this might prove decisive for the eager Mayo men: Only two sides entered the Connacht Finals which Castlebar won 7/3 to their namesake’s St: Patrick’s NS of Tuam with schoolboy International Noa Baba the match winner with a number of remarkable goals: He was involved last year and his experience will be vital if the school is to progress in the C Section:
Donegal and Mayo share the honour of being the two biggest counties represented this year with a total of three schools competing for glory in their counties: Schools from Newtowncunningham, Buncrana and Whitecastle will fly the flag for Donegal: While Castlebar feature three schools namely Breaffy NS, St: Patrick’s NS and Derrywash NS:
The Mayo teams have an excellent record coming into the Nationals: Breaffy NS were undefeated in the Connacht Finals with Jason Hunt scoring ten goals for his side in Section B of the competition: Derrywash NS never conceded a goal when annexing the A Schools Connacht Section:
Ringaskiddy will be competing alongside Derrywash in the A Schools Section: Striker Alex O’Sullivan bagged numerous goals for his side while claiming the Munster title: He will have to be closely watched if Moynalty or Butlersbridge are to have any chance of progressing past them:
Cavan and Tipperary will share the spoils with two schools each competing at National level: Cavan have Butlersbridge Boys and Virginia Girls participating while Tipperary will see Nenagh and Clonmel in both the girl’s categories: This leaves Cork, Meath, Longford, Roscommon, Kerry, Wicklow, Carlow, Galway, Waterford and Wexford with one school each, holding the mantel for their respective County:
Competition sponsors EA SPORTS™ will be hosting a special EA SPORTS™ Zone at the event, where competitors will have the chance to check out some of EA’s exciting new sports titles launching this summer:
The EA Sports FAI Schools 5 A Side Finals promises to be explosive, exciting and energetic so why not come along and support your School in this season’s finale:
The EA SPORTS™ FAI Schools Match Report Competition
Calling all budding sports journalists!
This year, EA SPORTS™ and FAI Schools are joining forces with the Irish Daily Star, to offer aspiring journalists a once in a lifetime opportunity:
If you’re going to attend the National Finals next Wednesday, 27 May, you could be in with a chance to win this exciting competition:
Spectators at this event will be invited to submit a 250 word match report: You can report on one of the matches played on the day, or even do a full write up on the whole day…:it’s completely up to you: A team of top sports journalists from the Irish Daily Star will choose the best match report from the day, and it’ll be printed in the following Tuesday’s Target:
To enter, simply email your 250 word match report, along with a photograph of yourself, to diane:fay@fai:ie Please title the entry as “EA Sports Match Report Competition”: Details are also available on www:faischools:ie
TEAMS & FIXTURES
PITCH 1:
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
Ringaskiddy NS, Cork (MUNSTER)
Scoil Mhuire, Moynalty, Meath (LEINSTER)
Butlersbridge NS, Cavan (ULSTER)
Derrywash NS, Mayo (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
12:00 Butlersbridge v Derrywash
12:30 Ringaskiddy v Moynalty
13:00 Derrywash v Ringaskiddy
13:30 Butlersbridge v Moynalty
14:00 Butlersbridge v Ringaskiddy
14:30 Derrywash v Moynalty
PITCH 2:
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Iognaid Ris, An Daingean (MUNSTER)
Gaelscoil Inbhear Mor, Wicklow (LEINSTER)
Scoil Colmcille, Newtowncunningham, Inishowen (ULSTER)
Breaffy NS, Mayo (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
12:00 Breaffy v Gaelscoil Inbhear
12:30 Scoil Choilmcille v Scoil Iognaid Ris
13:00 Breaffy v Scoil Choilmcille
13:30 Scoil Inbhear v Scoil Iognaid Ris
14:00 Breaffy v Scoil Iognaid Ris
14:30 Gaelscoil Inbhear v Scoil Cholmcille
PITCH 3:
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
St: Declan’s NS, Waterford (MUNSTER)
St: Joseph’s NS, Gorey, Wexford (LEINSTER)
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen (ULSTER)
St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Mayo (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
12:00 Scoil Iosagain v St: Declan’s
12:30 St: Joseph’s v St: Patrick’s
13:00 Scoil Iosagain v St: Joseph’s
13:30 St: Declan’s v St: Patrick’s
14:00 Scoil Iosagain v St: Patrick’s
14:30 St: Declan’s v St: Joseph’s
PITCH 4:
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Powerstown NS, Clonmel (MUNSTER)
Drumlish, Longford (LEINSTER)
Scoil Naoimh, Whitecastle, Inishowen (ULSTER)
Goltaganny NS, Roscommon (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
12:00 Drumlish v Goltaganny
12:30 Powerstown v Whitecastle
13:00 Drumlish v Powerstown
13:30 Goltaganny v Whitecastle
14:00 Drumlish v Whitecastle
14:30 Goltaganny v Powerstown
PITCH 5:
Girls “B” Schools:
TEAMS
St: Mary’s Convent NS, Nenagh (MUNSTER)
Bennekerry NS, Carlow (LEINSTER)
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan (ULSTER)
Scoil Mhuire NS, Clarinbridge, Galway (CONNACHT)
FIXTURES
12:00 Bennekerry v Clarinbridge
12:30 Nenagh v Virginia
13:00 Bennekerry v Nenagh
13:30 Clarinbridge v Virginia
14:00 Bennekerry v Virginia
14:30 Clarinbridge v Nenagh