Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5-a-side CONNACHT Finals

Galway, Mayo, Roscommon experience success in Connacht

Schools from Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon participated in the Connacht Provincial Finals which were held in the marvelous surrounds of Shiven Rover AFC, Newbridge, Galway on Wednesday, 12 May:

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:

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:

The Mayo Schools dominated proceedings last year as they captured three out of five Connacht Section Winners medals that were up for grabs in the Xtra/vision FAI Schools 5 A Side competition: In fact out of the three Mayo teams that qualified for the All Ireland, two schools captured gold with Derrywash NS in Co: Mayo winning the “A” Section and St: Patrick’s NS, Castlebar winning in the “C” Section:  While Breaffy NS secured a silver medal in the “B” Schools Section: The other counties did themselves very proud with Gorthaganny NS, Roscommon and Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge claiming a respectable third in the Girls “A” Section and Girls “B” Section:

The only team to make a welcome return from last year was Scoil Mhuire NS, Clarinbridge, Galway but equally significant for Timmie Glavey’s team was the Provincial title which they so desperately wanted to defend:

This year saw the emergence of some new schools at the Provincial Finals which was a great addition and demonstrates the tremendous work being done at grassroots level by the FAI’s team of Development Officers:

More importantly, as the Cup competitions were to unfold was the equal spread of Cup winners as Galway and Mayo both claimed two titles each while Roscommon captured the fifth: A good geographical spread of winners in Connacht this season:

Flying the flag for Mayo and first to qualify was Barnacarroll NS in the “A” Schools Section with Clontuskert NS in Roscommon claiming a hard earned runner’s up prize:

Craggagh NS in Mayoqualified in the Girls “A” Schools Section while Dunmore NS in Galway came second:

 

Roscommon’s Cornafulla NS won the “B” Schools Section in formidable style with host County Barna NS coming a close second:

Scoil Mhuire of Clarinbridge, Galway won the Girls “B” Schools Section defending their crown with honour: The School will be hoping for a match winning display in the All Ireland series:

The final team to qualify out of Connacht, were, Scoil Chaitriona, Renmore, Galway in the “C” Schools Section for large schools: Only three teams contested this section with Scoil Phadraig, Ballina, Mayo and Abbey NS in Roscommon all in contention: The Mayo side came runners up in an exciting finale to the day’s proceedings:

The five Provincial Finalists will now travel to the National Finals which will be held in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Wednesday, 26 May:

 

OVERVIEW:

Section “A” Schools:                       Barnacaroll NS, Mayo

Section “A” Girls Schools:             Craggagh NS, Mayo

Section “B” Schools:                        Cornafulla NS, Roscommon

Section “B” Girls Schools:              Scoil Mhuire Clarinbridge, Galway

Section “C” Schools:                       Scoil Chaitriona, Renmore, Galway

 

CONNACHT PROVINCIAL FINALISTS:

 

‘A’ Cup

TEAMS

Boleybeg NS, Galway

Barnacarroll NS, Mayo   

Sooey NS, Sligo

Cloontuskert NS, Roscommon

Aughnasheelin NS, Leitrim

 

Winners: Barnacaroll NS, Mayo

Players: Patrick Barry, James McCormack, Rossa Vahey, Conor Diskin, Ciaran Canavan, Evan Slattery, Jarlath Ruane, Mark Keane

Teacher: Gerard Egan

Runners Up: Clontuskerk NS, Roscommon

 

Girls ‘A’ Cup

TEAMS

Dunmore NS, Galway

Craggagh NS, Mayo   

Strandhill NS, Sligo

Clonakilla NS, Roscommon

The Hunt NS, Leitrim    

 

Winners: Craggagh NS, Mayo

Players:Lisa Begley, Aoife Begley, Katie Dwyer, Jessica Nolan, Rachel King, Katie McNicholas

Principal: Danny Charlton

Runners Up: Dunmore NS, Galway

 

‘B’ Cup

TEAMS

Barna NS, Galway

Scoil Rafteirí, Castlebar, Mayo   

Strandhill NS, Sligo

Cornafulla NS, Roscommon

Leitrim Village NS, Leitrim

 

Winners: Cornafulla NS, Roscommon

Players: Ronan McAlary, David McManus, Gary Nicholson, Ciaran Lennon, Kieran Connaughton, Ian Naughton, Eoin Hannon, Harry O’Rourke

Teacher: Sean Glennon

Runners Up:Barna NS, Galway

 

Girls ‘B’ Cup

TEAMS

Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway

Foxford NS, Mayo

Scoil Ursula, Sligo

Cornafulla NS, Roscommon

Marist Girls NS, Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim

 

Winners: Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, Galway

Players:Rebecca Callanan, Roisin Leen, Saoirse Burke, Niamh Murphy, Ciara Murphy, Carroll Daly, Katie Joyce, Annika Lipsius

Teacher:Timmie Glavey

Runners Up: Cornafulla NS, Roscommon

 

‘C’ Cup

TEAMS

Scoil Chaitríóna, Renmore, Galway

Scoil Phádraig, Ballina, Mayo

Abbey NS, Roscommon

(No Sligo or Leitrim qualifiers)

 

Winners: Scoil Chaitriona, Renmore, Galway

Players: Ross Burn, Dean McKeon, Robert Carroll, Ross Doyle, Aidan Coyle, Connor Malonfy, James Lillis, Yuri Petreachen

Teacher:Richard Delaney

Runners Up: Scoil Phadraig, Ballina, Mayo