Ultimate Showdown in Ulster on Wednesday
Republic of Ireland International, Kevin Doyle was in attendance at the Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5-a-side Provincial Finals Launch in Dublin recently: The Provincial Finals are the culmination of three months of competition held at County level which see schools progress to the respective Provincial Finals:
The event saw over 14,000 children participate last year: The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with 952 schools involved in 2009:
160 children from 20 schools in Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal and Inishowen will participate in the Ulster Provincial Finals which takes place in Ballyare FC, Letterkenny home of the Donegal League Headquarters on Wednesday, 19 May:
Tom Bolger, Chairman of FAI Schools stated, “This is our first year with title sponsors Xtra/vision and the competition is growing from strength to strength: 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”:
Ciara Moore, Marketing Manager with Xtra/vision stated: “We are very pleased to be associated with the FAI Schools 5-a-side competition: It is a great opportunity for boys and girls to participate in this national sporting event: The competition is pivotal in promoting teamwork at such a young age and provides fun and entertainment for friends and family alike: We wish all participating Schools the very best of luck in the Provincial Finals“:
The Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5 A Side is the biggest and best competition in the 2010 Primary Schools Soccer Calendar: There are 5 divisions to suit all school sizes: While FAI Schools and Xtra/vision 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, Cavan and Inishowen dominated proceedings with three title wins for Inishowen while Cavan captured the remaining two spots: Butlersbridge NS snatched the Section “A” Schools title while Scoil Naoimh Fhionain, Inishowen captured the Girls Section “A” Cup: Scoil Choilmcille, Newtowncunningham, Inishowen followed with a victory in the Section “B” Schools category while St Mary’s NS, Virginia claimed the Girls Section “B” prize: Inishowen’s Scoil Iosagain Buncrana made it a treble capturing 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 fourth in the All Ireland Finals last year and will be hoping for better this time around: Also making a return to the Provincial Final stage is the experienced St: Mary’s NS, Virginia: The School also finished fourth in 2009: Both these Schools have to defend their Provincial titles which will make for entertaining ties in their group stages
Donegal’s Woodlands National School in Letterkenny will be represented by both a girls and a boys team this year: The girls take part in the Section “B” Girls category while the boys compete in the Section “C” group for large Schools:
Monaghan’s Lisdoonan NS, St: Louis NS and Gaelscoil Ultain will compete yet again for Provincial honours: The three Schools qualified last season with St: Louis NS claiming a valiant runners up place in the Girls “B” Section:
Cavan sees the introduction of three new Schools to the Ulster qualifiers: Ballyhaise NS will participate in the Section “A” group for small schools while Kingscourt NS compete in the Girls “A” Section: Ballyjamesduff are also debutants in Section “B”: The other two Schools have plenty of experience at this level with St: Felim’s NS in Cavan Town enjoying a return and current defending Ulster Champions, St: Mary’s of Virginia completing the pairings for the County:
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 Xtra/vision 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 Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, 26 May:
ULSTER PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:
“A” Schools:
TEAMS
St: Joseph’s NS, Illies, Inishowen
Bunbeg NS, Donegal
St: Mary’s NS, Ballyhaise, Cavan
Lisdoonan NS, Carrickmacross, Monaghan
“A” Girls Schools:
TEAMS
Moville NS, Inishowen
Cashel NS, Donegal
Kingscourt NS, Cavan
Gaelscoil Ultain, Monaghan Town
“B” Schools:
TEAMS
Carndonagh NS, Inishowen
Letterkenny Gaelscoil, Donegal
St: Clare’s NS, Ballyjamesduff, Cavan
Castleblaney NS, Monaghan
Girls “B” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
Woodlands NS, Letterkenny, Donegal
St: Mary’s NS, Virginia, Cavan
St: Louis NS, Monaghan Town
“C” Schools:
TEAMS
Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
Woodlands NS, Letterkenny, Donegal
St: Felim’s NS, Cavan Town
St: Mary’s NS, Monaghan Town
PHOTOGRAPHY: Brian Lawless, Sportsfile
Republic of Ireland International Kevin Doyle withWesley Ó Goidín and Lauryn Ní Bhroin from Gaelscoil na Rilte, Dunshaughlin at the recent launch of the Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5-a-side Provincial Finals: Don’t miss your opportunity to support the schools involved by attending the Provincial and National Finals: The Ulster Final in Ballyare FC, Letterkenny and the Leinster Final will be held in the accommodating MDL Grounds in Navan, both on May 19th: The competition reaches its finale with the National Finals taking place in the impressive Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on May 26th: