Ulster stars Competition Commences on Wednesday
The Provincial Finals are the culmination of three months of competition held at County level which sees schools progress to the respective Provincial Finals:
The event saw over 15,400 children participate last year: The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with 954 schools involved in 2011
160 children from 20 schools in Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal and Inishowen will participate in the Ulster Provincial Finals which takes place in Aileach AFC, Burnfoot, Donegal on Wednesday, May 23:
The An Post FAI Schools 5-a-side is the biggest and best competition in the 2012 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes: While FAI Schools and An Post 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:
Last year, Monaghan and Inishowen dominated proceedings with two title wins each while Donegal captured the remaining spot: St: Mary’s NS, Glaslough snatched the Section “A” Schools title while Scoil Mhuire, Glenties captured the Girls Section “A” Cup: St: Patrick’s NS, Carndonagh, Inishowen followed with a victory in the Section “B” Schools category while Gaelscoil Ultain, Muineachain claimed the Girls Section “B” prize: Inishowen’s Scoil Iosagain Buncrana made it through to capture the Section “C” group:
This year will see the return of two Schools namely Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana in the Section “C” category: The Inishowen School finished a respectable third in the All Ireland Finals last year and will be hoping for better this time around: The Buncrana School finished fourth in 2010:
Also making a return to the Provincial Final stage is the experienced St: Mary’s NS, Virginia: The Cavan qualifiers have won eight County girls titles in nine years now it is the turn of the boys to emulate their success when they take to the field in the “B” Schools section for medium sized schools:
Gaelscoil Ultain finished fourth last season in the Girls “B” Section and will be looking to retain their title when they travel to Donegal on Wednesday:
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties under the stewardship of Mr: John McCann will make a welcome return: The Girls “A” section competitors picked up a silver medal in Tullamore in 2011 and will be looking on their experience to get them through the Provincial qualifiers one year on:
2012 sees the return of St: Felim’s NS, Cavan who have reached this stage previously: Last season Scoil Iosagain were just too strong for the Cavan outfit but the lads will have another chance to revenge last season’s defeat:
Woodlands NS are back following their third place finish in the “C” Schools category two years ago: Teacher Kieran Shiels will be preparing the team in advance of their short trip to Burnfoot this week:
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 An Post Ulster 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 Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, June 5:
ULSTER PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
“A”CUP
Kilnaleck, Cavan
Blackstaff, Monaghan
Scoil Mhuire, Caiseal
Illies NS, Inishowen
St: Patrick's NS, Kilnaleck: Edward Deveraux, Sean Harten, Patrick O' Reilly, Peter Smith, Emmet Boylan, James Smith, Adam Charters, Oladapo Olarewaju
Coaches: Shane Reavey, Mary Grogan, Principal: Finbar Boyle
Scoil Cholmcille, Blackstaff, Carrickmacross: Seamus Kindlon, Ciarán McNulty, Andrew Woods, Steven Carville, Ronan Kindlon, Sean Kelly, Adam Gorman
Principal: Mark McEntee
GIRLS “A” CUP
St: Felim’s NS (Leitir NS), Cavan
Broomfield NS, Monaghan
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties
Rashenny NS, Inishowen
St Felim’s NS, Cavan (Leitir NS): Selina Tully, Diane Donoghue, Rebecca O’Reilly, Lucy O’Neill, Andrea O’Reilly, Jessica Tynan, Eve Clarke, Leanne Byrne
Broomfield NS, Co Monaghan: Louise Kerley, Ceara Finnegan, Sinéad Callan, Caoimhe McGeough, Egle Sakalauskaite, Chloé McClelland, Kerrie Ann Gorman, Nicole McCaghey
Principal: Rita Connell
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties: Bronagh Gallagher Kirsty Gallagher Caoimhe Molloy Niamh O Donnell Orla McGuinness, Danielle McDevitt Amy Boyle Carr Shana Quinn:
Teacher: John McCann
Rashenny NS: Mary T: McLaughlin, Mary J: Doherty, Kathy Doherty, Laura Devlin, Saoirse Farren, Aileen Doherty, Ciara Park, Orla Sweeney
“B” CUP
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia
Latton NS, Monaghan
Kilmacrennan NS, Donegal
St: Mura’s NS, Tooban, Inishowen
St: Mura's NS, Tooban: Kieran Brady, Ciaran Bradley, Matthew Mc Dermott, Denver Kelly, Charles Mc Daid, Adam Duffy, Oran Mc Colgan, Oisin Hegarty
Teacher: Colm Davis
Kilmacrennan NS: Kieran Black, Zach Gorman, Stephen Black, Conor Black, Steve McDaid, Shane Doherty, Anthony Grant, Caolán Gallagher
GIRLS “B” CUP
St: Anne’s NS, Bailieborough
Gaelscoil Ultain, Muineachain
Scoil Aodh Rua agus Nula, Donegal Town
Scoil Iosagain, Moville
St: Anne’s NS, Bailieborough: Leanne Kiernan, Emma Feeney, Donna McGuirk, Caoimhe McFadden, Emma Lynch, Rebecca McDaid, Kelly McEntee, Holly Hudson
Teacher: Deirdre McCormack
Gaelscoil Ultain, Muineachan:
Scoil Eoghain, Moville: Allaire Mc Gonagle, Shauna Mc Ginley, Aishleen Mc Guinness, Caraigh Mc Guinness, Michelle Logue, Emma Holmes, Sinead Mc Guinness, Ciara Harkin
Teacher: Emma Doherty
Scoil Aodh Rua agus Nula, Donegal Town: Aine Gallaghe, Fiona Shovlin, Katie Conernery, Ellie Muldoon, Cliodhna Thomas, Leah O' Donnell, Maeve Eccles, Orla Coughlan:
“C” CUP
St: Felim’s NS, Cavan
St: Mary’s - St: Joseph’s, Monaghan
Woodlands NS, Donegal
Buncrana NS, Inishowen
Woodlands NS: Shaun Curran, Peter O'Donnell, Joseph Doherty, Michael McGroary, Brian Diver, Anthony Diver, Emmett Gallagher, and Patrick Tobin:
Teacher: Kieran Shiels
END