21 schools from Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal and Inishowen participated in the Ulster Provincial Finals which were held in Kingspan Century Park home to Monaghan United FC on Wednesday, 20 May:
The event saw over 14,000 children participate last year: The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with 914 schools involved in 2008:
Tom Bolger, Chairman of FAI Schools stated, “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 EA SPORTSTM FAI Schools 5 A Side is the biggest and best competition in the 2009 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes: While FAI Schools and EA SPORTSTM 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:
Section A Schools was won by Butlersbridge NS in Cavan while runners up place went to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Lifford, Co: Donegal: Cavan had comprehensive victories over Illies 4/2, Lifford 4/0 and Lisdoonan 3/0 to capture the title:
Kilgarry NS in Cavan were making a welcome return to the Section A Girls competition: They were hoping the experience gained last year would clinch the title in 2009: Unfortunately for the Cavan School the title went to Scoil Naoimh Fhionain, Whitecastle in Inishowen with Kilgarry NS in Cavan taking a well deserved second place: Whitecastle had a narrow 4/3 win in their opening match with Kilgarry while they drew 3/3 with Falcarraigh NS in their next fixture: They found form while playing Scoil Ultain and managed to put 7 past the Monaghan ladies to ensure their ticket to the All Ireland Finals:
Section B Schools was a very tight affair with Scoil Colmcille, Newtowncunningham securing top prize only on a one point goal difference after St: Mary’s NS of Viriginia drew level with them at the top of the table:
The Section B Girls competition saw the return of three of last year’s finalist with St: Mary’s NS in Virginia replacing Virginia Mixed NS this year: In 2008, St: Mary’s of Stranorlar were proud winners with Scoil Iosagain runners up, but would this feat be repeated in Monaghan?
Surprisingly the tables were turned this year and the Schools from Monaghan and Cavan got revenge on their Donegal counterparts:
It was new comers St: Mary’s NS of Vriginia that got the upper hand on neighbouring rivals St: Louis Monaghan Town to claim gold in the Section B Girls competition: St: Mary’s had great results against Buncrana 5/2, Stranorlar 3/2 and Monaghan 8/0 to progress to the National Finals: Happily St: Louis picked up runners up prize in the section to warrant some celebrations for the host county:
The large schools competition in Section C was a repeat of last year’s competition with three of the four finalists competing for silverware: New to the section was St: Mary’s NS of Monaghan Town with St: Felim’s NS, Cavan making a return:
And again for the second conservative year Scoil Iosgain of Buncrana won to secure a hat trick of victories for Inishowen: The school will be hoping to improve on their third place finish from last year’s All Ireland series and go one better in 2009:
Neighbours Scoil Choilmcille of Letterkenny were valiant runners up in a fierce Section C competition:
The five Provincial Finalists will now travel to the National Finals which will be held in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, 27 May:
It promises to be a fantastic fun filled day with a “Player of the Tournament” accolade for each section, goodie bags and medals for all 160 participants:
EA Sports will be on hand to entertain spectators with HD lounges and PODs for that interactive gaming enthusiast:
ULSTER PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
St: Joseph’s NS, Illies, Inishowen
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Lifford, Donegal
Butlersbridge NS, Cavan
Lisdoonan NS, Carrickmacross, Monaghan
RESULTS:
Illies 2/4 Butlersbridge
Lifford 5/0 Lisdoonan
Butlersbridge 4/0 Lifford
Lisdoonan 1/4 Illies
Illies 2/6 Lifford
Butlersbridge 3/0 Lisdoonan
Winners: Butlersbridge NS, Cavan
Players: Aaron O’Reilly, John Fitzpatrick, Caoimhin O’Reilly, Jamie McEnroe, Saulo Cantero, Killian Leddy, Eoin Hannick, Diarmuid McCorry:
Runners Up: Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Lifford, Donegal
Players: Cian Patton, Dane Kelly, Connor Colhoun, Emmett McGhee, Shane Brennan, Michael Brennan, Jonathan Carlin, Ryan Hannigan
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Naoimh Fhionain, Whitecastle, Inishowen
Scoil Naoimh Fhionain, Falcarragh, Donegal
Kilgarry NS, Cavan
Scoil Ultain, Monaghan Town
RESULTS:
Kilgarry 3/4 Whitecastle
Falcarragh 4/1 Scoil Ultain
Whitecastle 3/3 Falcarragh
Scoil Ultain 1/8 Kilgarry
Kilgarry 4/1 Falcarragh
Whitecastle 7/0 Scoil Ultain
Winners: Scoil Naoimh Fhionain, Whitecastle, Inishowen
Players: Danielle Clarke, Stacy Doherty, Aine Breslin, Aine McLaughlin, Aine Havelin, Arlene McDermott, Emma McGonagle, Megan Grant:
Runners Up: Kilgarry NS, Cavan
Players: Rachel Tabot, Eimear Connolly, Aoife Finnan, Nadine Birt, Zhanna Kalinina, Aine Lovett, Grace Smith, Niamh O’Shea
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Colmcille, Newtowncunningham, Inishowen
St: Patrick’s NS, Lurgybrack, Donegal
Dooish NS, Donegal
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan
Killanny NS, Monaghan
RESULTS:
Killanny 2/5 Virginia
Dooish 2/3 Newtowncunningham
Newtowncunningham 1/1 Lurgybrack
Virginia 4/1 Dooish
Lurgybrack 2/3 Killanny
Virginia 0/0 Newtowncunningham
Newtown 6/2 Killanny
Dooish 1/6 Lurgybrack
Killanny 2/4 Dooish
Lurgybrack 0/0 Virginia
Winners: Scoil Colmcille, Newtowncunningham, Inishowen
Runners Up: St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan
Players: Liam Brady, James Connell, Killian Maguire, Ben Nagle, Sean O’Reilly, Shane Quealy, Daniel Rourke, Niall Farrelly:
Girls “B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
Scoil Mhuire, Stranorlar, Donegal
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan
St: Louis NS, Monaghan Town
RESULTS:
Buncrana 2/5 Virginia
Stranorlar 1/6 Monaghan
Virginia 3/2 Stranorlar
Monaghan 8/0 Buncrana
Buncrana 0/4 Stranorlar
Virginia 8/0 Monaghan
Winners: St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan
Players: Natasha Curran, Emer Kelly, Lauren Brady, Katie Byrne, Sarah Nulty, Sloane Reeves, Catherine Dolan, Amy Gaynor
Runners Up: St: Louis NS, Monaghan Town
Players: Corie O’Leary, Alanna McCarey, Niamh Tibby, Eimear O’Rourke, Shauna Hetherington, Cailin McCourt, Leah Shipley
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
Scoil Colmcille, Letterkenny, Donegal
St: Felim’s NS, Cavan Town
St: Mary’s NS, Monaghan Town
RESULTS:
Buncrana 4/0 Cavan
Letterkenny 5/1 Monaghan
Cavan 0/3 Letterkenny
Monaghan 2/5 Buncrana
Buncrana 4/2 Letterkenny
Cavan 0/6 Monaghan
Winners: Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
Players: Ryan Doherty, Ryan McLaughlin, Jack O’Loughlin, Caolan McBride, Ryan Varma, Cian Hirrell, Ciaran McFadden, Paul Smith
Runners Up: Scoil Colmcille, Letterkenny, Donegal
Players: Ryan Bonner, Noah Mailey, Christopher Flanagan, Ciaran McNamee, Ryan Rainey, Michael Mullen, Dylan Sweeney, Michael Sweeney