PREVIEW | SPAR5s Leinster Finals Day

 

SCU_Data:Schools:Primary 5s:2016 - 2017:Brochure:SPAR FAI Logo.jpg 

 

SPAR5s Leinster Finals down for decision on tomorrow in MDL Grounds

 Wednesday, May 9, 2018

24 schools amounting to 192 students will travel to Navan’s impressive MDL Grounds tomorrow (Thursday, May 10) with the hope of being named SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Leinster Champions for 2018.

These provincial finalists came through rigorous qualifying stages at County level and then regional events before making it to the provincial decider. An impressive ten Counties will be represented tomorrow with Dublin (6 schools), Meath (4), Carlow (3), Kildare (3), Kilkenny (2), Offaly (2), Louth, Longford, Wicklow and Wexford all in the mix.

This season’s 24 schools will line out in six sections based on their school size which is dependent on their enrolment numbers. The small schools will be catered for under the SPAR ‘A’ Cup while the medium schools will participate in the SPAR ‘B’ Cup and the large schools will tog out in the SPAR ‘C’ Cup. Boys and girls are encouraged to play together but there is separate competitions for girls only.

The event saw 31,728 children participate this year. The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with an impressive 1,528 schools involved in 2018.

Colin Donnelly, SPAR Sales Director said, “As a community-based retailer, SPAR encourages a healthy and active lifestyle and is proud to be a supporter of primary schools’ soccer in association with the FAI. SPAR local retailers in Munster have been supporting the programme for four years, which encourages children to enjoy the benefits of exercise in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.”

The SPAR ‘A’ Cup division will see Dunderry outfit Scoil Seosam Naomtha up against Offaly’s Clonlisk NS, St. Mary’s NS, Donnybrook and Scoil Naomh Bríd of Kildare. All four are relatively new to this level of competition so it should make for some interesting billing with the excitement levels at a premium among the travelling supporters.

The SPAR Girls ‘A’ Cup have Churchtown’s Good Shepherd NS lined out against Wexford side St. Fintan’s NS, Bellurgan NS from Louth and Kilkenny’s impressive Scoil Chiaráin Naofa. The quartet have impressed along their County qualifiers so it will be a tight contest in this section.

The SPAR ‘B’ Cup welcome local lads O’Growney’s NS from Athboy, along with two gaelscoils in Gaelscoil Chulain Dolcain of Dublin and Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir of Wicklow accompanied by Kildare’s Scoil Bhríde of Milltown. The last time the Athboy crew appeared at the provincial finals was back in 2012 when they claimed gold and went on to win the National title that season. Can the Meath side do likewise in 2018?

Carlow’s Rathoe NS are joined alongside Scoil Choimcille, Skryne, Kilkenny Schools Project and Dublin ladies Bracken ETNS for an enjoyable outing. This grouping will be one to watch as the Kilkenny squad are looking to defend their title in the SPAR ‘B’ Girls Cup.

The larger schools select have Scoil Assaim, Raheny, our friends Bishop Foley NS, Bunscoil Buachaillí Réalth na Mara and the experienced Scoil Uí Riada of Kildare bidding for a top podium finish in the SPAR ‘C’ Cup competition. Bishop Foley were Leinster Champions in 2011 and 2014 when they last appeared in the provincial stages with runners up medals at the Nationals on both occasions while the Kildare students were runners up twelve months ago. Can they make it gold this time out?

The SPAR Girls ‘C’ Cup are delighted to welcome St. Philomena’s NS from Offaly to the Meath venue with Scoil Mhuire gan Smál NS, Carlow, Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS from the Capital and Newtownforbes starlets Scoil Mhuire of Longford in a promising group. It’s St. Philomena’s first time out at the Leinster showcase and the girls will be buzzing to get playing.  The trio will have to keep a close eye on the reigning Leinster Champions Our Lady of Good Counsel. The Johnstown contingency were exceptional last season picking up provincial and National silverware in the number one spot in the larger schools category. Can David O’Connor’s charges make it two in a row tomorrow afternoon?

Martin O’Neill will be special guest at the MDL event as his appearance pitch-side will coincide with the Republic of Ireland’s squad announcement for the forthcoming friendly fixtures.

 

LIST OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS 

SPAR ‘A’ Cup (Large Schools)

Meath                                                   Scoil Seosamh Naomtha, Dunderry

Offaly                                                    Clonlisk NS

Dublin                                                   St. Mary’s NS, Donnybrook

Kildare                                                  Scoil Naomh Bríd

                                  

SPAR ‘A’ Girls Cup (Large Schools)

Dublin                                                   Good Shepherd NS, Churchtown

Wexford                                               St. Fintan’s National School

Louth                                                    Bellurgan National School

Kilkenny                                               Scoil Chiaráin Naofa

 

SPAR ‘B’ Cup (medium schools) 

Kildare                                                  Scoil Bhride, Milltown

Dublin                                                   Gaelscoil Chulain Dolcain

Wicklow                                               Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir

Meath                                                   O’Growney’s NS, Athboy

 

SPAR ‘B’ Girls Cup (medium schools)

Carlow                                                  Rathoe National School 

Meath                                                   Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne NS

Kilkenny                                               Kilkenny Schools Project, Springfields

Dublin                                                   Bracken ETNS

                                               

SPAR ‘C’ Cup (large schools)      

Dublin                                                   Scoil Assaim, Raheny

Carlow                                                  Bishop Foley National School

Meath                                                   Bunscoil Buachaillí Réalt na Mara

Kildare                                                  Scoil Ui Riada

 

SPAR ‘C’ Girls Cup (large schools)            

Longford                                             Scoil Mhuire, Newtownforbes 

Offaly                                                    St. Philomena’s NS

Dublin                                                   Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS

Carlow                                                  Scoil Mhuire gan Smal NS

 

Follow the action on social media via #SPAR5s or at www.faischools.ie and www.spar.ie.

 

SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme

PROVINCIAL

Ulster Final:        May 2                    John Sherlock Park, Cootehill Harps FC, Co. Cavan

Connacht FinalMay 3                   Solar21 Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Munster Final:   May 8+9              Mounthawk Park, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Leinster Final:   May 10                  MDL Grounds, Trim Road, Navan, Co. Meath

 

NATIONAL 

National Final: May 30                   Aviva Stadium, Dublin

 

For more information 

Diane Fay, FAI Schools   Diane.Fay@fai.ie / 086 0404 952

Kio Lopez, Teneo PSG     Kio.lopez@teneopsg.com / 086 014 4914

 

IMAGES

COUNTY FINALS

Dublin | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1985356608162560

Kildare | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1979088262122728

Offaly | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1986495038048717

Carlow | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1979625975402290 

Kilkenny | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1986489694715918

Longford | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1979609065403981

Louth | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1969223799775841

Laois | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1969189043112650

Meath | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1969210509777170

Wexford | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1979634135401474

Wicklow | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1979616662069888

Westmeath | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1995680297130191

 

REGIONAL QUALIFIERS

North Leinster | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/tab=album&album_id=1985333138164907

Mid Leinster | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1985254804839407

South Leinster | https://www.facebook.com/pg/faischools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1985110081520546

 

END