184 children from 24 schools in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon will participate in the Connacht Provincial Finals which will be held in the marvelous surrounds of Shiven Rover AFC, Newbridge, Galway on Wednesday 13 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:
The Mayo Schools dominated proceedings last year as they captured four out of five Connacht Section Winners medals that were up for grabs in the EA SPORTSTM FAI Schools 5 A Side competition: In fact out of the four Mayo teams that qualified for the All Ireland, two schools captured silverware with St: Oliver Plunkett’s NS in Ballina, Co: Mayo winning the Girls B Section and St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar runners/up in the C Section:
St: Patrick’s NS will be back again to defend their Provincial title and hope to go a step further in grabbing gold in Tullamore in a fortnight’s time:
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 Connacht 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 Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, 27 May:
EA SPORTSTM will be on hand to entertain spectators with HD Lounges and PODs for that interactive gaming enthusiast:
CONNACHT PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
Kilgass NS, Sligo
Boleybeg NS, Barna, Galway
St: Bridgid’s NS, Drumcong, Leitrim
Roscommon
Derrywash NS, Mayo
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Ballymote
Tooreeney NS, Moycullen, Co: Galway
St: Clare’s NS, Manorhamilton, Leitrim
Roscommon
Kilmaine NS, Mayo
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
St: Patrick’s NS, Calry, Sligo
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Cappagh Road, Galway
St Manchan’s NS, Mohill, Leitrim
Roscommon
Breaffy NS, Mayo
Girls “B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Ursula, Sligo Town
Clarinbridge N:S:, Clarinbridge, Co: Galway
Marist Girls NS, Carrick On Shannon, Leitrim
Roscommon
Foxford NS, Mayo
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
Mercy Primary School, Sligo
St: Patrick's NS, Tuam, Co: Galway
No School from Leitrim entered this section
Roscommon
St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar Mayo
COMPETITION TIME
The EA SPORTS™ FAI Schools Match Report Competition
Calling all budding young 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 be attending one of the following, you could be in with a chance to win this exciting competition:
Munster Final at Brickfield, Nenagh , Co: Tipperary Wednesday 13th May
Connacht Finals at Shiven Rovers, Newbridge, Galway Wednesday 13th May
Leinster Finals at MDL Grounds, Navan, Co: Meath Wednesday 20th May
Ulster Finals at Kingspan Century Park, Monaghan Wednesday 20th May
National Finals at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore, Offaly Wednesday 27th May
Spectators at each of these events are being invited to submit a 250 word match report: You can report on one of the matches played on each 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 each 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 SPORTSTM Match Report Competition”: