North Leinster Primary Schools final set for MDL

Twenty two schools amounting to 192 students will travel to the MDL Grounds, Navan tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd May, with the hope of being named FAI Primary School 5s North Leinster champions for 2023.

These regional finalists came through rigorous qualifying stages at County level events before making it to this decider.

An impressive array of players will line out pitch-side with schools from Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath all in the mix. They’ll be looking to progress to the Leinster Finals which are scheduled for Wednesday, May 10 in the same venue.

This season’s 22 schools; 24 teams (St Mary’s NS, Drogheda have qualified in both the ‘C’ Cup and the Girls ‘C’ Cup and St. Colmcille’s NS, Longford have qualified in the ‘A’ Cup and the Girls ‘C’ Cup) 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 ‘A’ Cup (0-25 boys) while the medium schools will participate in the ‘B’ Cup (26-80 boys) and the large schools will tog out in the ‘C’ Cup (81+ boys).

Boys and girls are encouraged to play together but there is separate competitions for girls only.

The event saw 41,384 children participate this year. The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with an impressive 1,802 schools involved in 2023 with 5,173 teams engaged in the programme. This resulted in 43% female participation this season.

Richard Smith, FAI Development Officer for Meath will co-ordinate the event.

LIST OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

‘A’ Cup (Small Schools)

Longford St Colmcille’s NS

Louth Muchgrange NS

Meath St Brigid’s NS

Westmeath Milltown NS

‘A’ Girls Cup (Small Schools)

Longford Fermoyle NS

Louth Bellurgan NS

Meath Drumconrath NS

Westmeath Ardnagrath NS

‘B’ Cup (medium schools)

Longford St Mary’s NS

Louth Scoil San Nicholar Monastery

Meath Dangan NS

Westmeath Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn

‘B’ Girls Cup (medium schools)

Longford Scoil Mhuire NS

Louth Scoil Naomh Bhride, Dunleer

Meath Bohermeen NS

Westmeath Holy Family NS, Mullingar

‘C’ Cup (large schools)

Longford St Teresa’s NS, Killoe

Louth St Mary’s NS, Drogheda

Meath St Stephen’s NS

Westmeath St Colman’s NS

‘C’ Girls Cup (large schools)

Longford St Colmcille’s NS

Louth St Mary’s NS, Drogheda

Meath St Colmcille’s SNS

Westmeath St Etchen’s NS

Follow the action on social media via #Primary5s or at www.faischools.ie and www.Primary5s.ie.

FAI Primary School 5s Programme

PROVINCIAL

Connacht Final: May 9 Solar21Park, Milebush, Castlebar, Mayo

Munster Final: May 9 & 10 Cahir Park AFC, Tipperary

Ulster Final: May 10 Aileach FC, Burnfoot, Inishowen, Donegal

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

NATIONAL

National Final: May 31 Aviva Stadium, Dublin