As the Republic of Ireland Senior squads gear up for their respective outings, so too, do our future generation of young starlets, as the countdown to the FAI Schools Primary 5s National Finals takes centre stage.
Aviva Stadium, Dublin will host the event on Wednesday, June 11 with six National titles up for grabs with the mainstream schools and one National title for the Football for All category. There is also a new participation initiative to provide more football opportunities with a division created for four Football for All schools.
The various sections will see the schools divided into provincial representatives in small, medium and large schools’ divisions. The girls are encouraged to play with the boys in the ‘A’ Cup, ‘B’ Cup and ‘C’ Cup sections but there is a separate competition for girls only; ‘A’ Girls Cup for small schools, ‘B’ Girls Cup for medium schools and the ‘C’ Girls Cup for large schools.
The event will see 256 children from 30 schools, with 32 teams participating in the final stages of the competition following four months of fun filled nationwide activity. The qualifying schools have come through their local County events, Regional and/or Provincial qualifiers to reach this stage of the competition with excitement mounting around the local areas.
This year the programme featured 2,060 schools with a total of 44,104 children participating which is a new record for the Primary5s programme which has been in existence since the mid-1990s.
A unique situation this year will see five sets of twins participating in the competition. Lankill NS, Mayo take part in the Girls ‘A’ Cup and they’ve two sets of twins involved, as Abbie & Sophie Collins play alongside Shona & Karla Gibbons. While Jesse & Theo Best star for Rathmore NS in the ‘A’ Cup. Catherine McAuley School have Mia & Patrick O’Dwyer featuring while Ava & Beth McGowan line out for Scoil Íosagáin in the Girls ‘C’ Cup.
16 counties will be represented in the Aviva with Cork, Donegal and Dublin leading the charge with 4 representatives each. The rebel County, Cork will hail from Baltimore, Douglas, Glanmire and the City. The Donegal army are in a unique position with Buncrana’s Scoil Íosagáin qualifying in three divisions, competing in the ‘C’ Cup, Girls ‘C’ Cup and Football for All Cup as well as Scoil Náisiúnta an Choimín. While the Capital, Dublin, have schools from Cabra, Crumlin, Diswellstown and Lusk lining out.
Galway and Monaghan have 3 teams in action. Kilkenny, Roscommon and Limerick will see two schools each selected. Meanwhile, Kildare, Cavan, Clare, Meath, Tipperary, Mayo, Wicklow and Wexford will each have one representative. The action will commence at 11.30am with the small and medium boys and girls sections kicking us off (‘A’ Cup, Girls ‘A’ Cup, ‘B’ Cup, Girls ‘B’ Cup). This will be followed up by the large schools, boys and girls (‘C’ Cup, Girls ‘C’ Cup) and two Football for All (Qualifiers & Participation) divisions at 3pm.
There are six schools returning this season with Marshalstown NS looking to defend their Girls ‘B’ Cup title while St. Leonard’s NS (Girls ‘A’ Cup) and Kentstown NS (‘B’ Cup) will look to improve on their third place finish from twelve months ago. Three of the four Football for All qualifiers are participating again with Catherine McAuley School defending their title alongside 2023 Champions Scoil Eoin, Crumlin with 2024 runners up Scoil Íosagáin so the calibre will be impressive.
Let’s take a closer look at the thirty two teams that will be competing on Wednesday…
The ‘A’ Cup has Glanduff NS, Roscommon (Connacht), Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh, Wicklow (Leinster), Rathmore NS, Baltimore, Cork (Munster) and St. Mary’s NS, Threemilehouse, Monaghan (Ulster) all in the driving seat for National honours. Three schools are newcomers to this stage of proceedings so the excitement among the traveling parties will be at fever pitch come match day. The Monaghan side were at the National stages in 2005 when they competed in the ‘B’ Cup and came fourth on that occasion. Who will be crowned the new ‘A’ Cup Champions for 2025? Whatever the outcome, it will be a memorable outing for all involved with plenty of skilful players eager to impress.
The ‘A’ Girls Cup will feature two debutants this season with Lankill NS, Aughagower, Westport, Mayo (Connacht), St. Leonard’s NS, Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny (Leinster), Cloughjordan NS, Tipperary (Munster) and Scoil Náisiúnta an Choimín, Dún na nGall (Ulster) in the melting pot for the small schools’ girls’ section. St. Leonard’s appeared three times before with a fourth place finish in the ‘A’ Cup in 2010 and a silver medal in 2015 while capturing third in 2024 in the same division. The Cats may just hold the favourities tag with seven of the eight players returning with mentors Mary Moylan & Mick Lyons. All four teams will provide a scintillating assortment of skills to the contest as all provincial winners were exceptional this season with some stand out performances particularly in their County qualifiers. This group will definitely be worth viewing.
The ‘B’ Cup will see a broad geographic remit covered as Cornafulla NS, Roscommon (Connacht), Kentstown NS, Meath (Leinster), Clonmany NS, Newmarket on Fergus, Clare (Munster) and Scoil Bhríde, Mullaghrafferty, Monaghan (Ulster) try to make a top of the table finish. Kentstown came third last season as teacher Seán McKiernan will have Oisín Melia at his disposal again this year. Cornafulla were involved at National stages in 2010 with a runner up spot in the same division while Scoil Bhríde competed in the ‘A’ Cup in 2017 picking up a third place finish. The Clare crew will make their debut at this level and will relish the opportunity to show their talent.
Scoil Fhursa, Galway (Connacht), Marshalstown NS, Wexford (Leinster), Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil, Cork (Munster) and S. Felim’s NS, Ballinagh, Cavan (Ulster) make the cut for the medium schools in the ‘B’ Girls Cup which should serve up some delightful football if the Provincial Finals were anything to go by. A first time appearance for the Cork, Galway and Monaghan scholars, who will come up against the defending Champions Marshalstown NS. Teacher Marie Claire Morrissey has half the squad back with Emily Redmond, Abi Doyle Kinsella, Wallis Ashmore and Nina Naughton all eligible. Will experience be enough or can the new kids on the block upset the odds!
An array of talent will be on show in the ‘C’ Cup for large schools. All four teams will be at full strength for the final showdown. Scoil Íosa, Oranmore, Galway (Connacht), Lusk SNS, Dublin (Leinster), Scoil Nicoláis, Frankfield, Cork (Munster), and Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Donegal (Ulster) will take to the field. Scoil Íosa will follow in the footsteps of neighbours Carnmore NS and Scoil Iósaif Naofa as both Oranmore schools participated at the Nationals previously but a new venture for this young outfit. Lusk are also debutants this season so it will be interesting to see how this impressive squad do. It’s great to welcome back Scoil Nicoláis following a brief hiatus as the school took part in 2016 and 2017 in the Girls ‘C’ Cup with both teams picking up a fourth place medal. Scoil Íosagáin are in familiar territory having featured in the boys, girls and Football for All categories on eight different occasions over the years with a double appearance for their girls and boys back in 2018.
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Galway (Connacht), St. Patrick’s NS. Diswellstown, Dublin (Leinster), Monaleen NS, Limerick (Munster) and Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Donegal (Ulster) are in the final select for the large schools’ girls’ division, the ‘C’ Girls Cup. The Galway girls collected silver two years ago in this Cup competition. Monaleen were involved at the elite stages in 2023 when the lads came third. While the archives also tell us that the Limerick scholars were crowned Girls ‘B’ National Cup Champions in 2012. The last appearance for the Buncrana girls was in 2019 when they were named runners up that day. It’s wonderful to have some new faces join us this year with St. Patrick’s NS enjoying a debut in the Aviva.
The Football for All Cup always generates great interest, now in its fourth outing in the Dublin 4 venue. Defending Champions Catherine McAuley School, Limerick have Aoibhinn McCarthy starring again for Jeremy Fox and Clodagh Carmody’s side. Runners up in 2024, Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Donegal will see Luke Naude, Kayden Doherty, Cillian Doherty and Danny Bradley accompanying mentors Maria Doherty and Jonathan Adair. Scoil Eoin, Crumlin winners in 2023 and third place finishers in 2024 have Gabriella Duff making a third consecutive appearance in the Nationals while Eathan Cooney has also been selected for Richie Doran’s team. Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra, Dublin are in the mix for top spot as the players anxiously await the commencement of the group games.
A new addition for Wednesday is the Football for All participation initiative that will see four schools selected to experience the electric atmosphere of the National Stadium. A fun focus for this element. St. Patrick’s Special School, Kilkenny, St. Mary’s BNS, Maynooth, Kildare, St. Columba’s NS, Douglas, Cork and St. Oliver Plunkett NS, Monaghan all accepted the invite to attend. The Cork side were involved two years ago and it will be an exhilarating time for all these special players togging out.
Everyone is a winner on the day as all 256 players will receive a medal, the seven winning teams will be crowned FAI Schools Cup Champions in their respective sections as well as a FAI Schools Player of the Tournament accolade in each division to be awarded.
The FAI will also provide a prize for the best supported School so make sure that supporters get involved in the action with chants, face painting and mascots welcome with the banners and bunting to show their support for the players involved. Huge numbers will be travelling from around the Country with Scoil Bhríde, Mullaghrafferty, St. Mary’s NS, Threemilehouse, both Monaghan, St. Felim’s NS, Ballinagh, Cavan, Scoil Náisiúnta an Choimin, Donegal, Kentstown NS, Meath, Scoil Íosa, Oranmore, Galway and Lusk SNS, Dublin all boosting massive numbers attending.
Cheer on the Schools from your classroom or office chair if you can’t make the trip to Dublin as you follow the progress on the FAI Schools Facebook and Twitter pages (@faischools) or the FAIConnect app #Primary5s
LIST OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
‘A’ Cup (small schools)
Connacht Glanduff NS, Roscommon
Leinster Gaelscoil Uí Chéadaigh, Wicklow
Munster Rathmore NS, Baltimore, Cork
Ulster St. Mary’s NS, Threemilehouse, Monaghan
‘A’ Girls Cup (small schools)
Connacht Lankill NS, Aughagower, Westport, Mayo
Leinster St. Leonard’s NS, Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny
Munster Cloughjordan NS, Tipperary
Ulster Scoil Náisiúnta an Choimín, Dún na nGall
‘B’ Cup (medium schools)
Connacht Cornafulla NS, Roscommon
Leinster Kentstown NS, Meath
Munster Clonmoney NS, Newmarket on Fergus, Clare
Ulster Scoil Bhríde, Mullaghrafferty, Monaghan
‘B’ Girls Cup (medium schools)
Connacht Scoil Fhursa, Gaillimh
Leinster Marshalstown NS, Wexford
Munster Gaelscoil Ui Drisceoil, Corcaigh
Ulster St. Felim’s NS, Ballinagh, Cavan
‘C’ Cup (large schools)
Connacht Scoil Íosa, Oranmore, Gaillimh
Leinster Lusk SNS, Dublin
Munster Scoil Nicoláis, Frankfield, Cork City
Ulster Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Inishowen, Donegal
‘C’ Girls Cup (large schools)
Connacht Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Gaillimh
Leinster St. Patrick’s NS, Diswellstown, Dublin
Munster Monaleen NS. Limerick
Ulster Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Inishowen, Donegal
Football for All Cup
Leinster Scoil Eoin, Crumlin, Dublin
Leinster Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra, Dublin
Munster Catherine McAuley School, Limerick
Ulster Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Inishowen, Donegal
Football for All (Participation Initiative)
Leinster St. Patrick’s Special School, Kilkenny
Leinster St. Mary’s BNS, Maynooth, Kildare
Munster St. Columba’s NS, Douglas, Cork
Ulster St. Oliver Plunkett NS, Monaghan
