DUBLIN’S Tallaght Stadium will host the An Post FAI Primary Schools 5-a-side National Finals on Tuesday, June 5 (12pm – 3pm):
More than 15,000 children from all over Ireland participated in this, the biggest and best competition in the 2012 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 sixteen schools advance from their provincial finals to the ultimate stage, the National Finals: There are four 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 finally “C” Schools accommodate the large schools section:
Mr: Seán Carr, 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”:
Mr: Barney Whelan, An Post Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs commented, “An Post is proud to join up with FAI Schools, to support their efforts to involve more primary school children in football: The competition is a wonderful opportunity for both boys and girls of all sporting ability to participate in the initiative with an emphasis on fun and well being: We are delighted to be teaming up with FAI Schools to further nurture and develop grassroots football in Ireland:”
The National Finals will see 108 participants from all corners of the country compete: An impressive 12 counties will be involved in this year’s National Finals: Schools from Galway (3), Clare, Dublin, Cavan (2), Tipperary, Meath, Cork, Kildare, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford and Donegal (2) will fight it out in their respective categories for the top prize of being crowned All Ireland Champions for 2012: Everyone’s a winner in this competition with participants receiving an umbro kit and commemorative medal for their participation in this year’s National Finals:
FOUR of this year’s participating schools qualified last season and will be hoping that their experience will merit more success: St: Anthony’s BNS in Cork came first in the “C” Section for large schools last time around, can they make it two in a row this year: Connacht stars Holy Family School, Newport, Mayo came first in the Girls “A” Schools Section for Small schools, The Mayo ladies will be looking to retain their title this time around: Scoil Mhuire, Glenties were runners up to Newport last season: They will be looking to go one better as they face off in Tallaght: The experienced Scoil Iosagain, Inishowen came third in the “C” Section last time out and will be well aware of the standard of football required to claim the coveted All Ireland title: Both St: Anthony’s and Scoil Iosagain met each other in 2008 and 2011 with the Corkians coming out on top on both occasions 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 six years: A wonderful achievement for the School from Buncrana under the leadership of Maria Doherty: The School came fourth in 2007 and 2009, third in 2011 and Doherty will be enjoying a visit to Tallaght, hoping to improve their podium finish this season:
Some new faces are always a welcome edition to the Nationals: The “A” Section will see Letterfrack NS, Galway, Annagh NS, Miltown Malbay, Clare, Zion Parish Primary School and St: Patrick’s NS, Kilnaleck, Cavan 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 Tallaght Stadium:
The Girls “A” Section has another few select debutants with St: Ibar’s NS, Castlebridge, Wexford, Piltown NS, Waterford up against the experienced Holy Family NS, Newport and Scoil Mhuire, Glenties making another welcome appearance: This will be a great outing for the schools with plenty of supporters making the trip to Tallaght to cheer on the participating schools: The Glenties girls were runners up to the Newport outfit last year: Will their fortunes change in 2012?
The “B” Section for medium schools has another selection of three debubants making the journey to Dublin with Brierhill NS, Galway, St: Colmcille’s NS, Tipperary, O’Growney’s NS, Athboy, Meath making the cut for the first time: St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan won an All Ireland title in the same category in 2006: St: Mary’s girls made an appearance in the All Ireland stage in 2009 and 2010 and did the school proud, now it’s the turn of the boys to impress:
The “C” Section has it all to play for with the larger schools competing in this group: Scoil Iognaid, Galway and Scoil Phádraig, Clane, Kildare were exceptional in their Provincial qualifiers, this should make for an excellent group tie in the section: Also looking to do well will be the experienced Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana and Ballinlough’s St: Anthony’s BNS 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:
Last year’s competition was highly entertaining with a share of the spoils for Westmeath, Mayo, Inishowen, Dublin and Cork making the headlines as Milltown NS, Holy Family NS, St: Patrick’s NS, Carndonagh, St: Oliver Plunketts, Malahide, and St: Anthony’s BNS captured All Ireland titles: Who will make the headlines this year::: only time will tell:::
The An Post FAI Primary Schools 5-a-side National 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
Letterfrack NS, Galway (CONNACHT)
Annagh NS, Clare (MUNSTER)
Zion Parish Primary School, Rathgar, Dublin (LEINSTER)
St: Patrick’s NS, Kilnaleck, Cavan (ULSTER)
FIXTURES
12:00 Letterfrack v Zion PS
12:30 St: Patrick’s v Annagh
1:00 Letterfrack v Annagh
1:30 St: Patrick’s v Zion PS
2:00 Letterfrack v St: Patrick’s
2:30 Zion PS v Annagh
Letterfrack NS, Galway (CONNACHT)
Colm Horan, Oisin Gray, Daniel Pryce Williams, Jake Mortimer, Nathan Leamy, Andrew Ormsby, Byron Lydon, Mark Folan
Manager: Paul Leamy
Annagh NS, Miltown Malbay, Clare (MUNSTER)
Dermot Coughlan, David Sexton, Diarmuid King, Caoilfhionn O’Dea, Daniel Walsh, Zack Whelehan, Saul Boyd, Conor Sexton
Principal: Michael King
Zion Parish Primary School, Rathgar, Dublin (LEINSTER)
Charlie Smith (Capt), Alex O’Reagon, Adam Lalor, Will Anderson, Euan Leith, Peter Lynch, Cillian Moloney
Manager/Coach: Sue Peacock
St: Patrick’s NS, Kilnaleck, Cavan (ULSTER)
Edward Deveraux, Sean Harten, Patrick O' Reilly, Peter Smith, Emmet Boylan, James Smith, Adam Charters, Oladapo Olarewaju
Coaches: Shane Reavey, Mary Grogan: Principal/Manager: Finbar Boyle
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
Brierhill NS, Galway (CONNACHT)
St: Colmcille’s NS, Tipperary (MUNSTER)
O’Growney’s NS, Athboy, Meath (LEINSTER)
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan (ULSTER
FIXTURES
12:00 Brierhill v O’Growney
12:30 St: Mary’s v St: Colmcille’s
1:00 Brierhill v St: Colmcille’s
1:30 St: Mary’s v O’Growney’s
2:00 Brierhill v St: Mary’s
2:30 O’Growney’s v St: Colmcille’s
Brierhill NS, Galway (CONNACHT)
Josh Keane Quinlivan, Aaron Connolly, David Wall, Jayden O’Malley, Jordan Waldron, Daniel Brennan, Cathal Wall, Seán Boyle
Manager: Ronan Quinlivan
St: Colmcille’s NS, Templemore, Tipperary (MUNSTER)
Paddy Cadell, Andrew Ormond, Eanna McBride, Shane Doyle, Stephen Carroll, Ciarán Byrne, Michael Fogarty, Ruairí Mockler
Principal: Kieran Healy
O’Growney’s NS, Athboy, Meath (LEINSTER)
Jamie Monaghan, Callum O’Sullivan, Cillian Swaine, Seán Hughes, John Farrell, Jack Kelly, Cian Quinn, Ben Renehan
Teacher: Barry McGann
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan (ULSTER)
Gary Sheridan, Brian Quilty, Ronan Patterson, Seanie Keogan, Scott O’Rourke, Lorcan Lynch, Alan O‘Reilly, Daniel Lawless
Trainer: Peadar Quealy
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Iognaid, Galway (CONNACHT)
St: Anthony’s NS, Ballinlough, Cork (MUNSTER)
Scoil Phádraig, Clane, Kildare (LEINSTER)
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen (ULSTER)
FIXTURES
12:00 Scoil Iognaid v Scoil Phadraig
12:30 Scoil Iosagain v St: Anthony’s
1:00 Scoil Iognaid v St: Anthony’s
1:30 Scoil Iosagain v Scoil Phadraig
2:00 Scoil Iognaid v Scoil Iosagain
2:30 Scoil Phadraig v St: Anthony’s
Scoil Iognaid, Galway (CONNACHT)
Stiofaín Ó Cuinneachaín, Seosamh Max Thomais, Eoin O’Deaghaidh, Marc Breathnach, Connor O’hAinlaigh, Adhamh De Burca, Tomás de Paor, Fiachra Parslow
Teacher: Eoin Durkin
St: Anthony’s NS, Ballinlough, Cork (MUNSTER)
Ciaran Couch, Alex Chandler, Dylan Ward, Mark Brosnan, James O’Donovan, Mark Cronin, Ethan Hurley, Eoin Davis
Teachers: Kevin O’Sullivan, Paddy Murphy
Scoil Phádraig, Clane, Kildare (LEINSTER)
Seán Callan, Daniel Reilly, David Kelly, Eoghan Maguire, Gavin Dowling, Mark Hannon, Alex Power, Rafal Buszta:
Managers: Patricia O'Riordan, Billy Dunphy
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen (ULSTER)
Jack Lynch, Shane Dillon, Oran Devlin, Pat Loughrey, Ciaran Doherty, John Timlin, Bart Wesolowski, Aaron McDaid
Coaches: Maria Doherty & Jonathon Adair
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Holy Family NS, Newport, Mayo (CONNACHT)
Piltown NS, Waterford (MUNSTER)
St: Ibar’s NS, Castlebridge, Wexford (LEINSTER)
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties, Donegal (ULSTER
FIXTURES
12:00 Holy Family NS v St: Ibar’s
12:30 Scoil Mhuire v Piltown
1:00 Holy Family NS v Piltown
1:30 Scoil Mhuire v St: Ibar’s
2:00 Holy Family NS v Scoil Mhuire
2:30 St: Ibar’s v Piltown
Holy Family NS, Newport, Mayo (CONNACHT)
Rachael Baynes, Jennifer Chambers, Kate Chambers, Clodagh McManamon, Leah Moran, Claire Nevin, Ann Sheridan, Ciara Walsh
Piltown NS, Waterford (MUNSTER)
Anna Dowley, Alanna Gallagher, Bethany Carroll, Victoria Moliejute, Hilary Balding, Lisa Norris, Sine Kavanagh, Aoibhinn Kavanagh
St: Ibar’s NS, Castlebridge, Wexford (LEINSTER)
Sinead Ronan John, Jamie Devereux, Julia Halpin, Shauna Mullally, Emma Rossiter, Deirdre Byrne, Kelley Scallan
Principal/Coach: Edward Lyons: Coaches: Dave Johnson, Eugene Byrne:
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties, Donegal (ULSTER)
Bronagh Gallagher, Kirsty Gallagher, Caoimhe Molloy, Niamh O Donnell, Orla McGuinness, Danielle McDevitt, Amy Boyle Carr, Shana Quinn:
Teacher: John G McCann
END