PORTLAOISE AFC will be the venue for the Aviva Health FAI Primary School 5’s Mid Leinster Finals today (May 8)
The competition caters for senior cycle students (boys and girls) in Primary School with five divisions to suit all school sizes: While Aviva Health and FAI Schools encourage boys and girls to play on the same team, there is also a separate competition for girls’ schools:
Schools from Laois, Offaly, Kildare and Kilkenny compete to represent Mid Leinster at the Leinster Provincial Finals in the MDL Grounds, Navan on Thursday, May 16:
Each County winner was selected to participate in the Regional qualifiers in the hope that they could continue winning ways and progress further afield this year:
152 active participants from 19 schools will make the cut in Portlaoise as they kick off the final regional qualifiers:
Kildare were notable winners last season as they captured 4 out of the 5 section winners: The only other winner in 2012 was Rosenallis NS (Laois) in the ‘A’ Section while Kildare Educate Together won the Girls ‘A’ Section, Kilcock NS captured the ‘B’ Section, Celbridge NS were victorious in the Girls ‘B’ Section and Scoil Phádraig, Clane were winners in the ‘C’ Section for large schools: Who will make the mark this year?
Offaly’s Geashill NS who were runners up last year are welcomed back to the ‘A’ Section for small schools alongside St: Colmcilles NS, Moone, Timahoe NS and St: Leonard's NS (KILKENNY) qualifiers
The ‘B’ Section for medium schools should serve up a real contest as Newbridge Educate Together (KILDARE), Gaelscoil Portlaoise (LAOIS), St: Francis NS, Clara (OFFALY), Kilkenny School Project (KILKENNY) are all involved this season with some fine footballers on display
St: Joseph’s BNS, Kilcock (KILDARE), St: Paul’s BNS, Portlaoise (LAOIS), St: Patrick BNS, Portarlington (OFFALY) and Kilkenny CBS (KILKENNY) will contest the ‘C’ Section which will be a closely fought encounter judging from their performances in their respective County qualifiers
The girls competition will see some new faces in Portlaoise as Killashee Multidenominational NS (KILDARE), Durrow NS (LAOIS), Durrow NS (OFFALY) and Model School (KILKENNY) all go in search of glory in the Girls ‘A’ Section
Only three schools will contest the Girls ‘B’ Section in 2013 with Scoil Mochua, Celbridge (KILDARE), The Rock NS (LAOIS) and Bunscoil Callan (KILKENNY) bidding to advance to the Leinster Provincial Finals next week:
A brand new addition to the tournament in 2013 will see primary school children given the opportunity to compete in Aviva Stadium, as it will host the National Finals on Saturday, 25 May:
This will be a family fun day focused on providing participants and spectators alike with huge excitement and entertainment in order to make it a day to remember for all involved:
Aviva’s sponsorship of the Primary School 5’s sees the expansion of their partnership with the football family: At present, Aviva support the FAI Club of the Month and the Soccer Sisters programme:
Nichole Dunphy FAI/LCC Football in the Community Development Officer for Laois will co/ordinate the Mid Leinster Finals: Best of luck to all participating schools:
MID LEINSTER REGIONAL QUALIFIERS
‘A’ Section:
St: Colmcilles NS, Moone (KILDARE)
Timahoe NS/Derrylamogue (LAOIS)
Geashill NS (OFFALY)
St: Leonards NS (KILKENNY)
‘B’ Section:
Newbridge Educate Together (KILDARE)
Gaelscoil Portlaoise (LAOIS)
St: Francis NS, Clara (OFFALY)
Kilkenny School Project (KILKENNY)
‘C’ Section:
St: Joseph’s BNS, Kilcock (KILDARE)
St: Paul’s BNS, Portlaoise (LAOIS)
St: Patrick BNS, Portarlington (OFFALY)
Kilkenny CBS (KILKENNY)
Girls ‘A’ Section:
Killashee Multidenominational NS (KILDARE)
Durrow NS (LAOIS)
Durrow NS (OFFALY)
Model School (KILKENNY)
Girls ‘B’ Section:
Scoil Mochua, Celbridge (KILDARE)
The Rock NS (LAOIS)
No qualifier (OFFALY)
Bunscoil Callan (KILKENNY)
