Excitement mounting as provincial stages are set in Ulster Primary 5s

 

PREVIEW | FAI Schools Primary 5s Ulster Finals Day

 

Monday, May 13, 2024

 

 

The stage is set for the FAI Schools Primary 5s Ulster Finals Day as Bailieboro Celtic AFC is set to host the prestigious event on Wednesday, May 15.

 

216 players from 27 teams in 24 schools have qualified fromtheir County Finals showdown to reach the provincial stages as six sections are up for grabs in the boys and girls sections as well as the Football for All pairings.

 

The standard of football in the qualifying rounds was excellent, with the Finals Day expected to exceed this with some extremely good groupings up for decision.

 

Scoil Íosagain, Buncrana have three teams in the mix as the boys and girls compete in the ‘C’ Cup for large schools while their Football for All players are competing also. Coimin NS in Donegal also have two teams in the mix with their boys and girls qualified in the ‘A’ Cup for small schools.

 

 

The Football for All section will see St. Anne’s NS, Corracrin NS and Scoil Íosagáin looking to capture the silverware on offer. 

 

The ‘A’ Cup for boys or mix teams in small schools (0-25 boys) will see Knocktemple NS, Latnamard NS, Gaelscoil Bun an Phobail and Coimin NS all in contention for the Ulster title. While the Girls ‘A’ Cup will see Scoil Mhuire, Lacken, Scoil Mhuire, Threemilehouse, Greencastle NS and Coimin NS all in the mix.

 

 

Another eye catching division is the ‘B’ Cup which will see Butlersbridge NS, Urbleshanny NS, Bridgend NS and St. Eunan’s NS all gunning for glory. The Girls ‘B’ Cup for medium schools (26-80 girls) have an array of talent with St. Michael’s NS, Cootehill,

St Oliver Plunketts Loughmourne, Craigstown NS, Carndonagh and Scoil Mhuire, Ramelton all looking to impress.

 

 

The large schools category (81+ boys), the ‘C’ Cup will have some competition with St. Mary’s NS, Virginia, St. Mary’s BNS, Monaghan Town, Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana and Illistrin NS all lining out for top spot. Likewise, the Girls ‘C’ Cup will serve up a delight with St. Clare’s NS, Cavan Town, St. Louis GNS, Monaghan Town, Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana and St. Mary’s NS, Stranorlar all relishing the chance to progress to the National stage.

 

 

The provincial winners will go on to represent Ulster in the FAI Schools Primary 5s National Finals which is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin

 

 

What’s it all about?

 

The 5-a-side competition which is open to boys and girls from 4th, 5th and 6th class, and puts emphasis on fun and inclusivity. The blitz day format is co-ordinated at local level with the assistance of a network of FAI Development Officers and local primary school teachers. These personnel co-ordinate events at County level with qualifying schools progressing to Regional, Provincial and National Finals.

 

 

The programme will see 2,025 schools engaged in the competition with 42,064 students participating this season with a remarkable 45% of those participants female.

 

 

There are 6 divisions to suit all school sizes with small, medium and large schools all catered for. While the programme encourages 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.

 

LIST OF PARTICIPAING SCHOOLS

 

Football for All (Special Schools)

Cavan                  St. Anne’s NS

Monaghan          Corracrin NS

Inishowen          Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana

 

‘A’ Cup               Small Schools (Boys / Mixed Teams)

Cavan                  Knocktemple NS

Monaghan          Latnamard NS

Donegal              Coimin NS

Inishowen          Gaelscoil Bun an Phobail

 

Girls ‘A’ Cup    Small Schools (Girls Only)

Cavan                  Scoil Mhuire, Lacken

Monaghan          Scoil Mhuire, Threemlehouse

Donegal              Coimin NS

Inishowen          Greencastle NS

 

‘B’ Cup               Medium Schools (Boys / Mixed Teams)

Cavan                  Butlersbridge NS

Monaghan          Urbleshanny NS

Donegal              St. Eunan’s NS, Raphoe

Inishowen          Bridgend NS

              

Girls ‘B’ Cup    Medium Schools (Girls Only)

Cavan                  St. Michael’s NS, Cootehill

Monaghan          St. Oliver Plunketts, Loughmourne

Donegal              Scoil Mhuire, Ramelton

Inishowen          Craigtown NS, Carndonagh

 

‘C’ Cup               Large Schools (Boys / Mixed Teams)

Cavan                  St. Mary’s NS, Virginia

Monaghan          St. Mary’s BNS

Donegal              Illistrin NS

Inishowen          Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana

 

Girls ‘C’ Cup     Large Schools (Girls Only)

Cavan                  St. Clare’s NS

Monaghan          St. Louis GNS

Donegal              St. Mary’s NS, Stranorlar

Inishowen          Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana

 

Schedule of Events: #Primary5s

Provincial

Ulster Finals:                    May 15, 2024, Bailieboro Celtic AFC, Cavan

Leinster Finals:                May 15, 2024, MDL Grounds, Trim Road, Navan, Meath

Munster Finals:                May 15 (Girls) & May 16 (Boys) 2024, Cahir Park AFC, Tipperary

Connacht Finals:              May 15, 2024 (Girls & FFA) & May 16 (Boys) 2024, Milebush, Castlebar, Mayo

National

National Finals:                May 29, 2024, Aviva Stadium, Dublin