Connacht 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 16,400 children participate last year: The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with 1,005 schools involved in 2010:
176 children from 22 schools in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon will participate in the Connacht Provincial Finals which will be held in the impressive surrounds of Shiven Rover AFC, Newbridge, Galway on Wednesday next, 11 May:
The FAI Schools 5-a-side is the biggest and best competition in the 2011 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes: While FAI Schools 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 spoils were shared in equal measure in 2010 as both Mayo & Galway qualified two Schools each while Roscommon clinched the other title up for grabs in the Provincial decider:
In fact two Connacht Schools won All Ireland titles last season with Barnacaroll NS and Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge winning the prestigious accolades in the “A” Schools Section and Girls “B” Section respectively: The remaining three Connacht Schools coincidental ALL picked up runners up spots in their categories as it proved to be a great year for the Connacht schools with Cornafulla NS, Scoil Chaitronia, Renmore and Cragggh NS all doing their Province proud:
Scoil Mhuire of Clarinbridge will be back again to defend their 2010 Provincial & All Ireland crown in the Girls “B” Section and obliviously the School hopes to replicate their All Ireland winning performance in capturing gold again in Tullamore in three weeks time: A third time to win top spot is their focus as the Galway School were worthy winners of the Girls “A” Section in 2007 and also did well in 2009 with a third place finish in the Girls “B” Section:
2011 will see the emergence of some new schools at the Provincial Finals which is a wonderful addition and demonstrates the tremendous work being done at grassroots level by the FAI’s team of Development Officers:
Barnacaroll NS, Mayo won the “A” Section title and more importantly the All Ireland title last season: Mayfield NS take the mantel this time around and have high expectations to fill if they are to match their colleagues in Barnacaroll this year:
The Girls “A” Section was captured by Craggah NS, Mayo last season: The School were unfortunate not to qualify this season but have the talented Newport NS qualifying in their place: They are accompanied by Kilkerrin NS, Galway, St: John’s NS, Sligo, Runamoate NS, Roscommon and Fenagh NS, Leitrim in an evenly matched category:
Cornafulla NS claimed the “B” Section in 2010 but failed to advance this time as we will see their title relinquished with Brierhill NS, Galway, Scoil Phádraig, Ballina, Mayo, St: John’s NS, Sligo , Summerhill NS, Roscommon and Four Masters NS, Leitrim all in contention for the silverware:
Another school making a welcome return are reigning champions Scoil Chaitronia, Renmore in Galway who are up against the impressive St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar in the “C” Section decider which only has the two schools in contention: The Mayo school have also had an impressive history in this competition with an All Ireland medal in the same category in 2009:
The Girls “B” Section sees some familiar schools coming together again as Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway, Roscommon’s Cornafulla NS and Mayo’s Foxford NS will return for another Provincial appearance in Shiven Rovers: The trio of schools should have an interesting test as they come up against newcomers Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Ballymote, Sligo, and Marist Girls NS, Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim: Can Clarinbridge pull off yet another Provincial title?
Galway will also be represented by Windfield NS in the “A” Cup for small schools and Kilkerrin NS in the Girls “A” Section:
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 Jersey 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, 1 June:
CONNACHT PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
‘A’ Cup
TEAMS
Windfield NS, Galway
Midfield NS, Mayo
Maugherow NS, Sligo
Tarmon NS, Roscommon
Aughava NS, Leitrim
Girls ‘A’ Cup
TEAMS
Kilkerrin NS, Galway
Newport NS, Mayo
St: John’s NS, Sligo
Runamoate NS, Roscommon
Fenagh NS, Leitrim
‘B’ Cup
TEAMS
Brierhill NS, Galway
Scoil Phádraig, Ballina, Mayo
St: John’s NS, Sligo
Summerhill NS, Roscommon
Four Masters NS, Leitrim
Girls ‘B’ Cup
TEAMS
Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway
Foxford NS, Mayo
Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Ballymote, Sligo
Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Marist Girls NS, Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim
‘C’ Cup
TEAMS
Scoil Chaitríóna, Renmore, Galway
St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar, Mayo
(No Sligo, Roscommon or Leitrim qualifiers)
END