Leah Victoria Park home to Tullamore Town FC will host the FAI Schools 5-a-side National Finals on Wednesday, June 1 (12pm – 3pm):
More than 16,000 children from all over Ireland participated in this, the biggest and best competition in the 2011 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, stated, “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 Roscommon, Tipperary, Westmeath, Monaghan, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford, Donegal, Limerick, Sligo, Dublin, Galway, Cork and Carlow 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 umbro jersey and commemorative medal for their participation in this year’s National Finals:
Two of this year’s participating schools qualified last season and will be hoping that their experience will merit more success: Scoil Chaitríona, Renmore in Galway came runners up in the “C” Section for large schools last time around: Ulster stars St: Patrick’s NS, Carndonagh came fourth in the “B” Schools Section for medium schools: Two young stars that performed last year for the Ulster Champions will be making a welcome return namely, Sam Todd and Evan Tweed: The duo were excellent in their Provincial group matches and will be definitely be relishing the challenge put up to them: Mentor John McFeely will have his team well drilled as they prepare for the final stages of a thrilling competition:
The “C” Schools Section will be one to watch out for as St: Anthony’s NS, Cork and Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana are back in contention for All Ireland success: Both schools last met each other in 2008 were the Corkians came out on top winning the group while Scoil Iosagain came a well placed third: The Ulster outfit will see them make their fourth appearance at the majors in five years: A wonderful achievement for the School from Buncrana under the leadership of Maria and Josephine Doherty: The School came fourth in 2007 and 2009 and the Doherty duo will be enjoying their return to Tullamore:
Some new faces are always a welcome edition to the Nationals: The “A” Section will see Tarmon NS, Roscommon, St: Michael’s NS, Cloughjordan, Milltown NS, Westmeath and St: Mary’s NS, Glaslough in contention: The quartet will surely enjoy the day’s festivities and will be delighted to kick off their campaign in the impressive surrounds of Leah Victoria Park:
Mark Macklin, Principal of St: Mary’s NS,Glaslough was involved at this stage some 19 years ago and he has co/ordinated the Monaghan leg of the competition for years: He will no doubt want to do well having waited so long for a return to this level:
The Girls “A” Section has another four select debutants with Holy Family NS, Newport, Mayo, St: Beacon’s NS, Mullinavat, Kilkenny, Bree NS, Wexford and Scoil Mhuire, Glenties making a rare appearance: This will be a great outing for the schools with plenty of supporters making the trip to Tullamore to cheer on the participating schools:
The “B” Section for medium schools has a mix of experienced schools returning to the fore: St: Patrick’s NS, Carndonagh and Roxborough NS have been here before, doing their schools proud: While Scoil Phádraig, Ballina and Scoil Naomh Aine, Rathgarogue will be hoping to surprise the experienced challengers:
The Girls “B” Section will see all four corners of the Country represented with Limerick, Dublin, Monaghan and Sligo represented: Gaelscoil Ultain from Monaghan Town clocked up four goals in each group game of their Provincial rounds amounting to a tally of 12 goals as runners up Virginia were the only team to get one by their solid defensive system: The school defeated St: Mary’s NS, Virginia on route to the National: The latter coming third in the All Ireland series last season so Gaelscoil Ultain will have something to prove when it comes to taking on Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, St: Anne’s NS and St: Oliver Plunkett NS, Malahide in a highly entertaining grouping:
The “C” Section has it all to play for with the larger schools competing in this group: Carlow’s Bishop Foley NS were delighted to capture the Leinster title after a nine goal spree say the wee County pick up all six points on offer: Will this impressive feat be repeated in Tullamore? Only time will tell: Carlow will have to see how they play against veteran’s Scoil Chaitriona, Renmore who appear for their third consecutive time: Also looking to do well will be the experienced Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana and Ballinlough’s St: Anthony’s NS who are no strangers to this level of play: I’m sure this will be the group that will prove to be as exciting as they seem:
Geographically speaking, Donegal has the honour of being the biggest county represented this year with a total of three schools competing for glory: The Ulster qualifiers saw two Schools from Monaghan and two Schools from Inishowen capture Provincial crowns while Donegal was the other region to progress: Schools from Buncrana, Carndonagh and the Glenties will fly the flag for Donegal:
Monaghan, Mayo, Limerick and Wexford will share the spoils with two schools each competing at National level: Mayo has the boys from Scoil Phadraig, Ballina and Newport Girls participating while Monaghan will see Gaelscoil Ultain and St: Mary’s NS, Glaslough in contention for the Ulster province: Limerick has St: Anne’s NS, Rathkeale and Roxborough in the Girls B Section and B Section for medium schools: Wexford will have Bree NS and Scoil Naomh Aine, Rathrogue participate at this level for the first time:
This leaves Roscommon, Tipperary, Westmeath, Waterford, Sligo, Dublin, Galway, Cork and Carlow with one school each, holding the mantel for their respective County:
Last year’s competition was highly entertaining with a share of the spoils for Mayo, Dublin, Wexford, Inishowen and Galway making the headlines as Barnacarroll NS, St: Laurence O’Toole’s, St: Joseph’s Gorey, Scoil Eoghain, Moville and Scoil Mhuire Clarinbridge captured All Ireland titles: Who will make the headlines this year::: only time will tell:::
The 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:
SCHOOLS, FIXTURES & PLAYERS
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
Tarmon NS, Roscommon (CONNACHT)
St: Michael’s NS, Cloughjordan, Tipperary (MUNSTER)
Milltown NS, Westmeath (LEINSTER)
St: Mary’s NS, Glaslough, Monaghan (ULSTER)
FIXTURES
12:00 Tarmon NS v Milltown NS
12:30 St: Michael’s NS v St: Mary’s NS
1:00 Tarmon NS v St: Mary’s NS
1:30 St: Michael’s NS v Milltown NS
2:00 Tarmon NS v St: Michael’s NS
2:30 Milltown NS v St: Mary’s NS
PLAYERS
Tarmon NS, Roscommon
Conor Murray, James Larkin, Daniel Gannon, Jack Keane, Jamie Aaron Burke, Tomás Hester, Michael Kelly
Principal:Kieran Dowd, Coach: Greg Kelly, Teacher: Mary McElroy
St: Michael’s NS, Cloughjordan, Tipperary
Danny Maguire, Bramall Hague, Cian Darcy, Martin Grace, Owen Usman, Rob Banaghan, Liam Dooley, Luke Dervan
Principal:Vivian P Dooley
Milltown NS, Mullingar, Westmeath
Daire Hynes, Ian Burke, Conor Dillon, Joseph Newman ,Leon Hynes, Peter Kennedy, Jack Kenny & Michael Harnett
Teacher:Dónal Whelan
St: Mary’s NS, Glaslough, Monaghan
PANEL:Karl McKenna, Michael McAlister, Oisin Campbell, James Boyle, Jake Duffy, Ryan O’Neill, Robert McAlister, Kyle Tracey
Principal/Coach:Mark Macklin
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Holy Family NS, Newport, Mayo (CONNACHT)
St: Beacon’s NS, Millinavat, Waterford (MUNSTER)
Bree NS, Wexford (LEINSTER)
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties, Donegal (ULSTER)
FIXTURES
12:00 Newport NS v Bree NS
12:30 St: Beacon’s NS v Scoil Mhuire
1:00 Newport NS v Scoil Mhuire
1:30 St: Beacon’s NS v Bree NS
2:00 Newport NS v St: Beacon’s NS
2:30 Bree NS v Scoil Mhuire
PLAYERS
Holy Family NS, Newport, Mayo
Rachel Baynes, Sarah Baynes, Jennifer Chambers, Ellie Dillane, Emma Knox, Feena McManamon, Aisling McNulty, Ann Sheridan
Teacher:
Deirdre Nevin
St: Beacon’s NS, Mullinavat, Waterford
Ciara Phelan, Kate Walsh, Hannah Holden, Rachel Sutton/Duggan, Elizabeth Rafter, Michelle O’Connor, Rachel Rafter, Blaithin Haberlin
Teacher:Anthony O’Keeffe
Bree NS, Wexford
Bríd Byrne, Niamh Treacy, Casey Doyle, Sophie McCabe, Niamh Sinnott, Shannon Carr, Claire Jordan & Emma Byrne
Teacher: John Joe Fitzgerald
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties
PANEL: Dearbhla Ward, Shauna Quinn, Amy Boyle Carr, Gemma Byrne, Danielle McDermott, Niamh O’Donnell, Kristy Gallagher, Mary Mannering
Teacher: John G McCann
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Phádraig, Ballina, Mayo (CONNACHT)
Roxborough NS, Limerick (MUNSTER)
Scoil Naomh Aine, Rathgarogue, Wexford (LEINSTER)
St: Patrick’s NS, Carndonagh, Inishowen (ULSTER)
FIXTURES
12:00 Scoil Padraig v Scoil Naomh Aine
12:30 Roxborough NS v St: Patrick’s NS
1:00 Scoil Padraig v St: Patrick’s NS
1:30 Roxborough NS v Scoil Naomh Aine
2:00 Scoil Padraig v Roxborough NS
2:30 Scoil Naomh Aine v St: Patrick’s NS
PLAYERS
Scoil Phádraig, Ballina, Mayo
John Battle (Capt), Daniel Maughan, Roy Collins, Jordan Delaney, Eric Nash, Mark Birrane, Simon Leonard, Jason Muldoon
Teacher: Brian Lawlor
Roxborough NS, Limerick
Séan Mc Namara, Ruairi Casserly, James Deery, Brian Ryan, John Blake, Mark Edwards, Karl Moloney
Liam Harrington
Teacher:Donat Leahy
Scoil Naomh Aine, Rathgarogue, Wexford
Eoin Porter, Kieran Kelly, Enda Kelly, Fionn Slattery, Eric Cummins, David Thorpe, Liam O' Shea & Ricky McGrath
Teacher:Kay Grace
St: Patrick’s NS, Carndonagh
PANEL: Sam Todd, Evan Tweed, James Monagle, Kieran Farren, Conor Browne, Calvin O’Donnell, Ronan McCusker, Scott McElhinney
Manager: John McFeely
“B” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Ballymote, Sligo (CONNACHT)
St: Anne’s NS, Rathkeale, Limerick (MUNSTER)
St: Oliver Plunkett NS, Malahide (LEINSTER)
Gaelscoil Ultain, Muineachain (ULSTER)
FIXTURES
12:00 Scoil Mhuire gan Smal v St: Oliver Plunkett NS
12:30 St: Anne’s NS v Gaelscoil Ultain
1:00 Scoil Mhuire gan Smal v Gaelscoil Ultain
1:30 St: Anne’s NS v St: Oliver Plunkett NS
2:00 Scoil Mhuire gan Smal v St: Anne’s NS
2:30 St: Oliver Plunkett NS v Gaelscoil Ultain
PLAYERS
Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Ballymote, Sligo
Aisling Durey, Shauna Conlon, Sophia Cogan, Saoirse O Dowd, Shauna Byrne, Kelly Gardiner, Ciara Keenan, Ciara Davey
Teacher:Patricia Hunt
St: Anne’s NS
Tara Coleman, Eadaoin Lyons, Kate Geary, Chloe Cunnigham, Sinead Fitzgibbon, Katie Brennan, Sarah Fitzgerald and Chloe Mullins:
Teacher: Maria O’Shea
St: Oliver Plunkett NS, Malahide, Co: Dublin
Abbie Brophy, Megan Byrne, Cliona Hamill, Amy Phelan, Amy Ewing, Caoimhe McCann, Carys Herbert & Niamh Smyth
Teacher: Joe Morton
Gaelscoil Ultain, Muineachain
PANEL: Eadaoin Nig Uidhir, Emma Ní Chléirchín, Bláithín Ní Dhúláin, Morgan Ní Chionna, Claire Ní Dhufaigh, Lee Nic Sandair, Celine Ní Fhailigh, Niamh Ní Chorragáin
Múinteoir: Joe Ó Gallchoir
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Chaitríóna, Renmore, Galway (CONNACHT)
St: Anthony’s NS, Ballinlough, Cork (MUNSTER)
Bishop Foley NS, Carlow (LEINSTER)
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen (ULSTER)
FIXTURES
12:00 Scoil Chaitriona v Bishop Foley
12:30 St: Anthony’s v Scoil Iosagain
1:00 Scoil Chaitriona v Scoil Iosagain
1:30 St: Anthony’s v Bishop Foley
2:00 Scoil Chaitriona v St: Anthony’s
2:30 Bishop Foley v Scoil Iosagain
PLAYERS
Scoil Chaitríóna, Renmore, Galway
Jack Coyne, Eoin O’Donovan, Rouirc Greaney, Malcolm Corbett, Adam Jones, Luke Byrnes (Capt) Kevin Vahey and Patrick Doyle
Teacher:Richard Delaney
St: Anthony’s BNS, Ballinlough, Cork
Simon Falvey, Owen O'Sullivan, Adam Coughlan, Bryan Cotter (Capt), David Hogan, Jack Murray, Mark O'Connell, Finn Carey
Teacher:Kevin O’Sullivan and Paddy Murphy
Bishop Foley NS, Carlow
Brian Coady, Harry Hynes, Dane O'Neill, Ross Dunphy, Luke Fitzpatrick, Jordan Morriseey, Cathal Myers & Michael Meaney
Teacher: Tony Crowe
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
PANEL: Toby Doherty, John Doherty, Ryan McElhinney, Eoin Murphy, James Adair, Shane Dillon, Ronan Hegarty, Jack McDaid
Teachers:Maria Doherty, Josephine Doherty, Jonathon Adair
Please review the GALLERIES & DOWNLOADS section for images of all 20 participating schools: Link below:
http://www:faischools:ie/galleries/and/downloads/photo/gallery/118/fai/s...