Post Primary Schools National Cup competitions mid season roundup
Summary to date of our FAI Schools National Cup Champions 2023/24
Sunday, April 21, 2024
The FAI Schools Post Primary Schools National Cup competitions are at the midway point in their season with 8 of the 16 National Cup competitions reaching a conclusion last week.
FAI Schools organise National Cups in the boys and girls section, with 8 divisions apiece catering for small and large schools tailored for Under 20, 19, 17, 15 and 14 age groups.
Each provincial branch will also offer an extensive local League structure co-ordinated by teachers voluntarily.
The series of competitions provide football to over 600 post primary schools nationwide with almost 80,000 students participating annually.
Take a look at the 2024 winners and runners up in the respective National Cup series to date.
FAI Schools Girls National Cup Champions
Senior Cup (Under 20, Large Schools) Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
Senior ‘B’ Cup (Under 20, Small Schools) St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Leitrim
Junior Cup (Under 17, Large Schools) Presentation College, Athenry, Galway
Junior ‘B’ Cup (Under 17, Small Schools) Coola Post Primary School, Sligo
Senior Cup
Presentation Secondary School, Thurles 1-0 Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana (AET)
Molly O’Dwyer (93)
PRESENTATION SECONDARY SCHOOL, THURLES overcame reigning Champions Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana to clinch the National Senior title following some extra-time heroics in Rock Celtic FC, Dundalk on Monday, March 4.
Both goalkeepers Caitlin Shelly, Thurles and Hollie Ferguson, Buncrana were in exceptional form to keep the deadlock for so long after sustained pressure from both sides.
But Molly O’Dwyer’s half volley early in the second period of extra time was to prove the master class for the Tipp side as Barry Ryan clinched a third victory in this grade having previously captured the National crown in 2018 and 2016.
Senior ‘B’ Cup
St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton 3-1 Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton
Áine McLaughlin (1), Megan Rooney (62), Lauen Devaney (71) Gemma Leahy (39)
ST. CLARE’S COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL, MANORHAMILTON captured their first ever National Cup title when they overcame a resilient Colaiste Mhuire, Askeaton in the FAI Schools Senior ‘B’ Girls National Cup Final in Athlone Town AFC on Wednesday, January 31.
Manorhamilton got the dream start when the industrious Áine McLaughlin converted within the opening minute. She unleashed a powerful strike from the left wing which the keeper couldn’t hold onto as the ball trickled into the back of the net
Coláiste Mhuire equalised as half-time beckoned. Grace Fitzgibbon lofted the ball into the danger zone for colleague Gemma Leahy to slot home from close range.
The Leitrim side netted a second just after the hour mark. Megan Rooney broke free on the left flank to see the keeper off her line so she attempted a marvellous lob which sensationally smashed the back of the net.
With nine minutes remaining, Captain Lauren Devaney got their third with a fabulous individually effort leaving Neville no chance between the posts.
An historic day for both teams as they reached their first National Cup Final. St. Clare’s were just more clinical with some sublime goals to take the silverware.
Junior Cup
Presentation College, Athenry 2-1 Athlone Community College
Mollie Noone (28), Abbie Duffy (35+2) Ciara Walsh (54)
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY defeated local outfit Athlone Community College in a fantastic showcase to claim the FAI Schools Junior Girls National Cup in Athlone Town AFC on Wednesday, March 13.
Mollie NOONE opened the scoring 7 minutes from the interval as she struck a sweet effort off her left peg to give Athenry the edge.
Under 15 Schools International Abbie DUFFY scored direct from a 30 yard free kick to silence the massive Athlone crowd with her sensational set-piece to double the Pres tally in the second minute of added time.
Presentation College led 2-0 at the interval.
It was Ciara WALSH’s goal on 54 minutes that sparked a massive change in the Athlone crew as her low drive managed to sneak past Gilligan’s bottom corner to take it to within reach for the Leinster Champions as they trailed 2-1.
It was a exciting encounter which nearly went to the wire as Athlone’s late comeback in the final ten minutes made for a nail-biting conclusion to this season’s Cup decider.
Junior ‘B’ Cup
Coola Post Primary School 1-0 Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton
Aoibhin Doherty (26)
COOLA POST PRIMARY SCHOOL near Riverstown in Sligo came through a sensational encounter against Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton to claim the Junior ‘B’ Girls National title in Athlone Town AFC on Friday, March 8.
Coola’s Aoibhin DOHERTY provided the only goal of the game on 26 minutes as a defensive error with Coláiste Mhuire saw the First Year scholar with time on the ball to pick her spot beautifully.
Heartbreak for Coláiste Mhuire as they lost out to St. Clare’s CS, Manorhamilton in the Senior ‘B’ Girls National Cup Final at the end of January in the same venue.
It’s now a second National football title for the Sligo outfit. The girls from Coola Post Primary School have emulated the 2022 success of the boys as they captured the Junior ‘B’ Boys Cup following a 3-2 victory over Scoil Ruáin, Killanaule to claim a first National title for the School. No doubt there are many more National titles in the offing for these young starlets.
FAI Schools Boys National Cup Champions
Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Cup (Under 19, Large Schools) Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal
John Murphy Senior ‘B’ Cup (under 19, Small Schools) St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West, Cork
Tom Ticher Junior Cup (Under 17, Large Schools) Portmarnock Community School, Dublin
Junior ‘B’ Cup (Under 17, Small Schools) Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Dun na nGall
Dr. Tony O’Neill Cup
Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana 2-0 Belvedere College, Dublin
Shaunie Bradley (65), Conor Graham (73 pen)
A historic day for SCOIL MHUIRE as they claimed the prestigious Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Cup for the first time in the Schools history. The Buncrana boys netted two second half goals to overcome Dublin side Belvedere College in the Showgrounds, Sligo on Wednesday, April 10.
It was a cagey opening forty five with neither side making major inroads.
Belvedere’s Billy Canny forced Stephen McNulty into a great save midway through the first half. While six minutes later, it was Shaunie Bradley who had a header on target but Christian Loftus palmed it away to safety. All coming from a beautifully weighted free-kick from Conor McDaid.
The industrious Mark Isong was causing concern but had no real threat on the Donegal goal.
The deadlock was broken twenty minutes into the second period when Conor Graham played a delightful ball into Shaunie BRADLEY who slotted home the opener.
The Buncrana lead was doubled eight minutes later as Darragh Coyle was taken down inside the box and Captain Conor GRAHAM converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-0.
Belvedere just couldn’t impress on the game as their recent form in the provincial stages eluded them. Fiachra Sheridan made several changes with a quarter of an hour remaining but they couldn’t break down the Buncrana defence.
John Murphy Cup
St. Peter’s CS, Passage West 5-2 Glenamaddy CS
Liam Quinn (48, 83), Rema Mbakwe (56, 74, 90+4 pen) Eoin Morgan (73), John O’Brien (89)
ST. PETER’S COMMUNITY SCHOOL, PASSAGE WEST put in a sensational second half performance to see past Glenamaddy Community School in Athlone Town AFC on Tuesday, February 6.
All seven goals came in the second half as both Ross Hegarty and Eduardo Bessone were in superb form to keep a clean sheet in the first forty-five.
The breakthrough came three minutes into the second half as Kristian O’Callaghan played in Liam QUINN to slot home a peach of an opener.
Their tally was doubled six minutes later when Darragh Lehane played a super ball for Kristian O’Callaghan to head on target, but Hegarty saved well however it dropped perfectly for Rema MBAKWE to smash in.
Glenamaddy responded with a quarter of an hour left when Eoin Collins forced Bessone into a wonderful stop, but Eoin MORGAN was on hand to grab a vital goal to bring the game to 2-1.
Seconds later, Passage West extended their two-goal cushion as O’Callaghan fed Rema Mbakwe on the edge of the box. The talisman was exceptionally quick on his feet to round the defender and finally beat the diving keeper for MBAKWE’s second and St. Peter’s third. A real sucker punch for the Galway side.
A fourth was added for St. Peter’s with seven minutes remaining as initial shots from Mbakwe and Farrell were saved brilliantly by Hegarty, but the ball came out to Liam QUINN who drove it to the back of the net for his second of the day.
Glenamaddy were awarded a corner in the 89th minute with substitute John O’BRIEN nodding in to bring it to 4-2.
However, Passage West were to go five up when Rema MBAKWE was fouled in the box and dispatched the subsequent penalty to secure his hat-trick.
Tom Ticher Cup
Rice College, Westport 0-1 Portmarnock CS
Cian Wilson (4)
A solitary goal was enough to see Portmarnock Community School stun defending Champions Rice College, Westport in Athlone Town AFC on Wednesday, April 17 to take the Tom Ticher National Cup.
There was very little between the sides throughout the 80 minutes as Rice College piled on the pressure late on but Kyle Grainger was immense for the Portmarnock scholars between the posts.
The only goal of the game came within four minutes as Cian WILSON’S strike from 20 yards out seemed to deceive Michael McDonnell in the Westport goal as the ball nestled into the bottom corner.
Junior ‘B’ Cup
Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair 5-1 Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Domhnach Míde
Brian Mac Pháidín (10 pen, 17), Jordi Gribben (48, 80+2), Fionn Ó Cnáimhsi (80+4) Odhran Ó Conaill (56)
POBALSCOIL GHAOTH DOBHAIR put in an incredible performance to see them claim a second consecutive National title in the FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Boys National Cup decider against Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Domhnach Míde in Rock Celtic FC, Dundalk on Tuesday, March 5.
A first half brace courtesy of the inform Brian Mac Pháidín saw him convert from the penalty spot with ten minutes on the clock and his second was superbly taken seven minutes later to give the Ulster side a two goal advantage at half-time.
Jordi Gribben scored a third on 48 minutes.
A disappointing day for Gaelcholáiste Reachrann who lost their Captain Scott Ó Casaide Mac Siulaí due to injury shortly after the third goal was conceded.
However, the Dublin side grabbed one back just before the hour mark with a lovely finish from Odhran Ó Connaill cutting in the right wing.
Two late goals in added time was to slightly flatter the score-line with Gribben netting a fourth in two minutes added time while substitute Fionn Ó Cnáimhsí popped up for a fifth two minutes later.
FAI Schools Post Primary Provincial & National Champions 2024
FAI Schools Senior 'B' Boys (John Murphy Cup)
National Champions St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West, Cork
National Runners Up Glenamaddy Community School, Galway
Ulster Coláiste Ailigh, Leitir Ceanainn, Dun na nGall
Munster St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West, Cork
Leinster Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara, Offaly
Connacht Glenamaddy Community School, Galway
FAI Schools Senior 'B' Girls
National Champions St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Leitrim
National Runners Up Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Limerick
Ulster Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Dun na nGall
Munster Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Limerick
Leinster CBS New Ross, Wexford
Connacht St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Leitrim
FAI Schools Senior Boys (Dr. Tony O'Neill Cup)
National Champions Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal
National Runners Up Belvedere College, Dublin
Ulster Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal
Munster St. Francis College, Rochestown, Cork
Leinster Belvedere College, Dublin
Connacht St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar, Mayo
FAI Schools Senior Girls
National Champions Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
National Runners Up Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal
Ulster Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal
Munster Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
Leinster Athlone Community College, Westmeath
Connacht Presentation College, Athenry, Galway
FAI Schools Junior Boys (Tom Ticher Cup)
National Champions Portmarnock Community School, Dublin
National Runners Up Rice College, Westport, Mayo
Ulster Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town
Munster Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, Waterford
Leinster Portmarnock Community School, Dublin
Connacht Rice College, Westport, Mayo
FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Boys
National Champions Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Dun na nGall
National Runners Up Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Domhnach Mide, Baile Atha Cliath
Ulster Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Dun na nGall
Munster Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Corcaigh
Leinster Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Domhnach Mide, Baile Atha Cliath
Connacht Coola Post Primary School, Sligo
FAI Schools Junior Girls
National Champions Presentation College, Athenry, Galway
National Runners Up Athlone Community College, Westmeath
Ulster Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe, Donegal
Munster Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
Leinster Athlone Community College, Westmeath
Connacht Presentation College, Athenry, Galway
FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Girls
National Champions Coola Post Primary School, Sligo
National Runners Up Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Limerick
Ulster Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Dun na nGall
Munster Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Limerick
Leinster Grange Community College, Donaghmede
Connacht Coola Post Primary School, Sligo
FAI Schools Minor Boys
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, Donegal
Munster Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig / Tralee CBS, Kerry
Leinster Ardgillan Community College / Moyle Park College, Clondalkin
Connacht St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway
FAI Schools Minor ‘B’ Boys
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster Largy College, Clones, Monaghan
Munster Castleisland Community College, Kerry
Leinster Grange Community College, Donaghmede
Connacht Balla Secondary School, Mayo
FAI Schools Minor Girls
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster Carndonagh Community School, Donegal
Munster Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Cork
Leinster Kingswood Community College, Dublin
Connacht Presentation College, Athenry, Galway
FAI Schools Minor ‘B’ Girls
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Dun na nGall
Munster Midleton College, Cork
Leinster Gallen Community School, Offaly
Connacht Glenamaddy Community School, Galway
FAI Schools First Year Boys
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal
Munster
Leinster
Connacht
FAI Schools First Year 'B' Boys
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster
Munster
Leinster
Connacht
FAI Schools First Year Girls
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster
Munster
Leinster
Connacht
FAI Schools First Year ‘B’ Girls
National Champions
National Runners Up
Ulster
Munster
Leinster
Connacht
