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 Tuesday, June 9 with six National titles up for grabs in the mainstream schools and one National title for the Football for All category. There is also a 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 29 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 1,961 schools with a total of 47,760 children participating which is a new record for the Primary5s programme which has been in existence since the mid-1990s.
It’s a rare occasion to see four sets of twins participating in the competition in the Girls ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Cup with another pairing in the FFA division. Lankill NS, Mayo take part in the Girls ‘A’ Cup and they’ve Abbie & Sophie Collins participating for a second consecutive season with Dad Patrick coaching from the sideline. The Football for All Section have repeat offenders Mia & Patrick O’Dwyer participating again for Catherine McAuley School and they’ll be hoping to cause some trouble for their opponents. Raphoe Central NS will see Amanda & Catherine Caldwell feature in the Girls ‘B’ Cup while Scoil Náisiúnta Róis have Katie & Matilda McGlynn lined out in the Girls ‘C’ Cup.
12 counties will be represented in the Aviva with Donegal leading the charge with 9 representatives togging out on matchday. The reason for the large representation is that no Monaghan or Cavan schools qualified this year in the six mainstream sections while there were three schools selected in the two Football for All sections. Dublin and Galway have 4 schools each involved. Limerick and Waterford have 3 each while Mayo and Tipperary have two schools each. Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Wexford, and Wicklow will each have one representative.
The Donegal army are in a lovely position with Scoil Íosagáin qualifying in two divisions: the ‘C’ Cup and Girls ‘C’ Cup. In fact, the Buncrana outfit were across three divisions last season with the school capturing gold in the Football for All Cup. While Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail have repeated the sequence in the ‘A’ Cup and Girls ‘A’ Cup in 2026. The Moville lads first and only appearance at this level saw them lift the ‘A’ Cup trophy in 2024.
Tuesday’s action will commence at 11.30am with the large schools, boys and girls sections kicking us off (‘C’ Cup, Girls ‘C’ Cup) alongside the two Football for All (Qualifiers & Participation) categories. This will be followed up by the small and medium schools, boys, and girls (‘A’ Cup, Girls ‘A’ Cup, ‘B’ Cup, Girls ‘B’ Cup) divisions at 3pm.
Amazing there are three schools (4 teams) returning this season with Lankill NS looking to impress in the Girls ‘A’ Cup while Scoil Íosagáin boys and girls return to the fray in the ‘C’ Cup and ‘C’ Girls Cup, respectively. Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Gaillimh boys follow in the girls’ footsteps as the fly the flag for the school. The Galway girls were runners up last year to Limerick’s Monaleen NS. Can the lads go one better this season. I’m sure Fergal Ó Mainín will have them well reversed.
Three of the seven Football for All schools are returning with two teams from Limerick’s Catherine McAuley School as well as Scoil Eoin, Crumlin and Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra togging out. It’s always nice to introduce new schools to this level of competition and we’re delighted to have three schools from Donegal signed up with St. Aengus’ School, Bridgend, Letterkenny Educate Together NS and Scoil Cholmcille, Letterkenny all in the mix flanking Dublin outfit St. Peter’s Special School, Rathgar.
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Let’s take a closer look at the thirty-two teams that will be competing on Tuesday…
The ‘A’ Cup has Scoil Cholmáin Tuairíní, Gaillimh (Connacht), Tang NS, Westmeath (Leinster), Knockanore NS, Waterford (Munster), and Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail, Moville, Donegal (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 Moville side were at the National stages two years ago winning the ‘A’ Cup in fine style. Can they complete an historic second title in their second appearance at the Dublin venue? Or will the relevantly unknown quantity surprise us when the action concludes?
The ‘A’ Girls Cup will feature some extraordinary footballing prowess with Lankill NS, Aughagower, Westport, Mayo (Connacht), Kilbeg NS, Meath (Leinster), Cloneen NS, Tipperary (Munster), and Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail, Moville, Dún na nGall (Ulster) in the melting pot for the small schools’ girls’ section. The Mayo girls appeared twelve months ago recording a third-place finish. They may just hold the favourites tag with an astonishing six of the eight players returning with mentors Jennifer McNeill and Patrick Collins. Jennifer McGuire, Roisin O’Malley, Áine Hughes, Sophie Collins, Abbie Collins, and Holly Vahey will use the experience gained last time out. Two debutants include Kilbeg NS and Cloneen NS who will soak up the wonderful atmosphere of matchday. Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail also have the boy’s team qualified so it could be double celebrations on the cards for mighty Moville. All four teams will provide a scintillating assortment of entertainment to this group.
The ‘B’ Cup will see a broad geographic remit covered as Scoil Eanna, Bullaun, Galway (Connacht), SN Mhuire, Barntown, Wexford (Leinster), St. Colmcille’s Primary School, Templemore, Tipperary (Munster), and Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin, Leitir Ceanainn, Dun na nGall (Ulster) try to make a top of the table finish. It will be a totally new experience to encounter for a trio of schools lining out on Tuesday. Can they make new headlines this season? Notably the Letterkenny School will make their third appearance. The records divulge that their Gaelscoil pupils qualified back in 2004 in the ‘B’ Schools, while there was a fourth-place finish for the crew in the ‘C’ Girls Cup, more recently in 2023. All teams will take the opportunity to showcase their talents pitch-side as proceedings get underway. It’s an interesting and exciting group if the provincial deciders were anything to go by.
Breaffy NS, Castlebar, Mayo (Connacht), Scoil Cholmáin Naofa, Mucklagh, Offaly (Leinster), Piltown NS, Waterford (Munster) and Raphoe Central NS, Donegal (Ulster) make the cut for the medium schools in the ‘B’ Girls Cup which should serve up some delightful football judging from the earlier rounds. It’s a first-time appearance for the Raphoe side, who will come up against some historic names in this competition. Piltown will be making their sixth appearance (1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2012) with former Women’s International star Karen Duggan featuring in the past. Breaffy NS, Castlebar had Mayo footballer Aidan O’Shea win gold in 2003 for the school in the ‘B’ Cup. What delights will their girls serve up? It’s a fifth appearance for them next week (2003, 2009, 2015, 2018). The Offaly side were third in 2016, won gold in 2019 and third in 2023, all in the ‘B’ Girls Cup, so they’ll notch up a respectable fourth appearance on the National stage next week. What will next Tuesday bring for these future starlets. All eyes will be on this group given the pedigree participating.
There is a gifted group of players on display in the ‘C’ Cup for large schools. All four teams will be at full strength for the final showdown. Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Gaillimh (Connacht), St. Laurence NS, Greystones, Wicklow (Leinster), Scoil Mhuire, Abbeyside, Waterford (Munster), and Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Donegal (Ulster) will take to the field. Fergal Ó Mainín will return as mentor this season as the girls were runners up in 2025 and 2023 in the ‘C’ Girls Cup for Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh. It’s a first-time outing for the lads so it will be nice to see how they progress in the competition. Cuán MacGearailt will follow his older sisters tradition in competing at National level. Lil participated last year, while Íde featured in 2023. Word is their younger sister who is currently in second class is looking to complete an historic quadruple for the MacGearailt clan in a few years’ time! Scoil Íosagáin are in familiar territory having featured in the boys, girls, and Football for All categories spanning over 13 years with a remarkable triple appearance 12 months ago (‘C’ Cup, ‘C’ Girls Cup & FFA). The FFA team winning out last season. While the Buncrana institute made a double appearance for their girls and boys back in 2018. They repeat that faith again in 2026. Kieran Sharkey returns with Evan Friel, Mark McLaughlin, Eoin O’Hagan, and James McKinney. The quartet will bring an abundance of experience this time out. Newbies Scoil Mhuire and St. Laurence won’t be fazed by the calibre of competition as their provincial showdowns demonstrated. It could be the New Kids on the Block that cause an upset in this grouping!
Scoil Náisiúnta Róis, Taylor’s Hill, Galway (Connacht), Belgrove Senior Girls NS, Clontarf, Dublin (Leinster), St. Brigid’s 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 archives tell us that the Taylor’s Hill scholars picked up a runners-up medal in this category in 2017. It’s great to welcome them back following a nine-year hiatus. Former Schools’ International and current Bohs player Sarah McKevitt will have debutants Belgrove SNS well prepared as the Clontarf crew do battle alongside newcomers St. Brigid’s. The Buncrana girls came fourth last year and before that, runners-up spot in 2019, winners in 2018, third in 2016. There will be some sibling rivalry with Emily McKinney lining out for Scoil Íosagáin girls while older brother James will be starring for the Buncrana boys. Cousins Colleen Doherty and Captain Kaci Rae Kelly are involved in Gaynor Cup action in Limerick this week alongside teammate Anna Doherty. Farrah McLaughlin, Kaci Rae, Colleen, and Anna will be ones to watch out for as the quartet make a second consecutive Aviva showing. An incredible accomplishment.
The Football for All Cup always generates great interest, now in its fifth outing in the Dublin 4 venue. St. Peter’s Special School, Rathgar, Dublin, Catherine McAuley School, Limerick ‘A’ team, Letterkenny Educate Together NS, Donegal and neighbouring Scoil Cholmcille, Letterkenny, Donegal will compete for the honours in 2026. Last year’s runners up in the qualifier section were Catherine McAuley School, Limerick and they’ll have the O’Dwyer duo, Mia and Patrick, Zaroon Abbasi, and Rhys Johnson all back in contention for Jeremy Fox and Clodagh Carmody’s side. The Munster Champions won the Cup outright in 2024. Can they repeat this again next week? It’s fantastic to see new contenders with St. Peter’s in Rathgar and the two Letterkenny powerhouses playing for the first time ever. It promises to be a great occasion for the players involved.
It’s the second year of 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 with no scores recorded. Scoil Eoin, Crumlin, Dublin, Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra, Dublin, Catherine McAuley School, Limerick ‘B’ team, and St. Aengus’ NS, Bridgend, Donegal all accepted the invite to attend. Scoil Eoin, Crumlin will make a fourth appearance having featured since 2023. They won the FFA Cup in their first season, while recording third place finishes in 2024 and 2025. Richie Doran’s side will line out in the participation section in 2026 for the first time in their short history with John Gaffney making a second consecutive appearance in the Aviva. Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra, Dublin was involved last season in the competitive grouping finishing fourth. Kevin Dudley will return with a new look team as the players anxiously await the big day. The Limerick outfit have a second team participating this season alongside St. Aengus’ who are a new name to add to the history books. I’m sure they’ll delight in the opportunity to entertain the large crowds in attendance.
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.
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. There will be 48 fixtures to be completed throughout an action-packed day of footie.
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LIST OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
‘A’ Cup (small schools)
Connacht Scoil Cholmáin Tuairíní, Gaillimh
Leinster Tang NS, Westmeath
Munster Knockanore NS, Waterford
Ulster Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail, Moville, Donegal
Girls ‘A’ Cup (small schools)
Connacht Lankill NS, Aughagower, Westport, Mayo
Leinster Kilbeg NS, Thomastown, Meath
Munster Cloneen NS, Tipperary
Ulster Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail, Moville, Donegal
‘B’ Cup (medium schools)
Connacht Scoil Éanna, Bullaun, Galway
Leinster SN Mhuire, Barntown, Wexford
Munster St. Colmcille’s PS, Templemore, Tipperary
Ulster Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin, Leitir Ceanainn, Dun na nGall
Girls ‘B’ Cup (medium schools)
Connacht Breaffy NS, Castlebar, Mayo
Leinster Scoil Cholmáin Naofa, Mucklagh, Offaly
Munster Piltown NS, Waterford
Ulster Raphoe Central NS, Donegal
‘C’ Cup (large schools)
Connacht Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Galway
Leinster St. Laurence NS, Greystones, Wicklow
Munster Scoil Mhuire, Abbeyside, Waterford
Ulster Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Inishowen, Donegal
Girls ‘C’ Cup (large schools)
Connacht Scoil Náisiúnta Róis, Taylor’s Hill, Galway
Leinster Belgrove Senior Girls NS, Clontarf, Dublin
Munster St. Brigid’s NS, Limerick
Ulster Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, Inishowen, Donegal
Football for All Cup (qualifiers)
Leinster St. Peter’s Special School, Rathgar, Dublin
Munster Catherine McAuley School ‘A’, Limerick
Ulster Letterkenny Educate Together NS, Donegal
Ulster Scoil Cholmcille, Letterkenny, Donegal
Football for All Cup (participation)
Leinster Scoil Eoin, Crumlin, Dublin
Leinster Holy Family School for the Deaf, Cabra, Dublin
Munster Catherine McAuley School ‘B’, Limerick
Ulster St. Aengus’ NS, Bridgend, Donegal
