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.
The competition is run across six divisions, ensuring that schools of all sizes are catered for. Boys and girls are encouraged to play together but there is a separate competition for boys and girls dependent on school enrolment numbers.
This year saw 4 Inishowen schools make the cut as well as qualifiers from Donegal and Monaghan. Flying the flag for Inishowen in the Aviva will be St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, St. Brigid’s NS, Glenmakee and Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana. Alongside them representing Ulster will be our Donegal Champions, Scoil Chroine, Dungloe and Monaghan Champions, Latnamard NS.
SPAR ‘A’ Cup (Small Schools, boys/mixed teams)
Winners Latnamard NS finished their provincial campaign with a 100% record with two clean sheets to boot. Key player Eanna Carolan got the Monaghan side off to a flyer against St. Patrick’s NS, Castletara, Cavan, as he scored two goals in the 3-0 victory. He was also on the scoresheet again in the crunch game against Donegal side Scoil Phadraig Dobhair with Cian Greenan scoring two in the 3-2 victory against the scholars from the North West.
Based on the head-to-head, victory was assured for Latnamard NS going into the final game, but they did not relent and signed off in style with a 6-0 victory against St. Boden’s NS, Culdaff, Inishowen with Greenan getting a hat-trick and Carolan a brace as both players completed their tallies at five goals apiece. Scoil Phadraig Dobhair would pip St. Patrick’s NS, Castletara to the runners-up spot in the final game with a 2-1 victory, thanks in part to goals from James Ó Baoill and Crónán Mac Pháidín.
SPAR ‘B’ Cup (Medium Schools, boys/mixed teams)
The ‘B’ competition went right down to the final whistle as St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Buncrana from Inishowen took the fortune of the head-to-head tiebreaker to come out on top. In retrospect, the crucial game was in fact the opening tie between St. Oran’s NS and eventual runners-up Scoil Rois, Carrickmacross, Monaghan. In a tightly contested game, the youngsters from Carrickmacross were the superior side in the first half with Maitiú Ó Cearbhalláin on the scoresheet. St. Oran’s NS showed resilience however and fought back with Luke O’Donnell and Kai Bardini scoring the deciding goals. The Inishowen side would hit a stumbling block in their second game in the shape of Donegal rivals SN Fhionnain An Falcarrach who defeated them 6-2 with Tiernan McGinty the star player scoring five of the six goals.
Including Killygarry NS, Cavan, all four schools were level heading into the final game. St. Oran’s dealt their case for a place in the National Finals with a 3-1 win over Killygarry NS with Bardini, O’Donnell and PJ Doherty all scoring. Based on that result SN Fhionnain An Falcarrach only required victory in their last game to overtake their Inishowen rivals. However, a double from Niall Ó Miacháin and efforts from Roibéard Mac Camhaoill and Déaglán Ó Loingsigh gave Scoil Rois the points in a 4-0 victory and ensured they finished as runners-up and surprisingly SN Fhionnain An Falcarrach finishing bottom of the group as they were defeated 3-1 in their opening game by Killygarry NS.
SPAR ‘C’ Cup (Large Schools, boys/mixed teams)
In a group that entertained onlookers with high tempo play, filled with great demonstrations of technical ability, it was Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana of Inishowen who prevailed with three victories from three games on the day. In an opening game where neither side were short of confidence for shooting from all angles, a double from Danny McDaid and a single effort from Ciaran McIlroy delivered a 3-1 victory for Scoil Iosagain despite Jack McArdle’s goal for St. Mary’s BNS, Monaghan Town.
Passage to the National Finals was assured in their second game when the talented McDaid scored a hat trick along the way to a 6-3 victory over eventual runners up, St. Felim’s NS, Cavan Town. There was no stopping the Inishowen schools momentum going into the final game where McDaid made it six goals for the day along with Daire McColgan’s strike in the 2-0 victory over St. Patrick’s NS, Lurgybrack. St. Felim’s NS would seize the runners-up spot with a 4-2 defeat of St. Mary’s Boys NS, who ended the day in third position.
SPAR Girls ‘A’ Cup (Small Schools, girls only)
There was a small surprise as previous finalists Scoil Mhuire Caiseal were knocked out by the scintillating St. Brigid’s NS, Glenmakee, Carndonagh of Inishowen, who will have to be feared on May 30 in the Aviva Stadium as they ripped apart the opposition. They made light work of their counterparts from Latnamard NS, Monaghan with an 8-0 win in the opening round. A hat-trick from Seaneen Crumlish was the highlight for St. Brigid’s, with Ellie Long hitting a double and individual efforts from Ailish Doherty, Imogen Diver and Erin Grant capping off a fine display. Long would take centre stage in the next two games, as she would score four past Ballynarry NS, Ballyheelan, Kilnaleck, Cavan in a 6-2 victory, and five past Scoil Mhuire Caiseal in a 7-1 victory to complete the day.
Scoil Mhuire Caiseal were assured of a runners-up spot beforehand as they defeated Ballynarry NS 3-2 and Latnamard NS 5-2 with Clodagh Ní Thiaróin scoring five across both games. Ballynarry NS would fill the third spot in the group with a 6-0 win over Latnamard NS with Sarah McSherry scoring six goals across the day.
SPAR Girls ‘B’ Cup (Medium Schools, girls only)
It was victory for Donegal as Scoil Chroine, Dungloe overcame the challenges presented to them and claimed the Ulster title. In their opening encounter with Cavan side Farnham NS, it took the brilliance of Ellie McGravy to separate the sides as her double downed the Cavan team 3-1. Leigha Ní Ghrianna would step up in their second game as she got all three goals in the 3-0 win over the Monaghan outfit Annyalla NS. Following the 1-1 draw between Clonmany NS of Inishowen and Farnham NS in the second round of games, destiny lay in the hands of Scoil Chroine as any result in the final showdown with Clonmany NS would see them safely through. As it turned out, that game would finish 0-0 and with Annyalla NS defeating Farnham NS 3-2 in their final game, Clonmany NS were destined for second place with Annyalla NS taking third.
SPAR Girls ‘C’ Cup (Large Schools, girls only)
All roads from Buncrana will be leading to the Aviva Stadium on May 30 as Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana of Inishowen will join their boys team in the National Finals having secured double Cup success. In an exciting opening game against Scoil Naoimh Fiachra, Illistrin, all of the action occurred in the opening period as Ciara McGee and Jodie Loughrey got the crucial goals for Scoil Iosagain with Erika Gallagher keeping Illistrin within touching distance but finished the game with no reward. The second game was just as entertaining, albeit perhaps not for the opposition, St. Clare’s NS, Cavan as Scoil Iosagain would run out 9-2 winners with Heidi Gill getting a hat-trick.
Needing to avoid a catastrophe in their final game, the Inishowen crew made tough work of seeing off Bunscoil Lughaird Naofa, Carrickmacross, Monaghan and needed an inspired performance from Keri Loughrey to run out 3-2 winners. Scoil Naoimh Fiachra, Illistrin would rally from their opening defeat to take second with goals from Gallagher and Leanne McGettigan delivering a 2-0 win over Bunscoil Lughaidh Naofa and a dazzling 8-1 victory over St. Clare’s NS with Gallagher claiming five. The Monaghan School would fill third place as they got points on the board at the start of the day at the expense of St. Clare’s NS, with Laura McGeown and Aisling Grimes both scoring in the 5-0 win.
The six Provincial finalists will now travel to Dublin for the National Finals which will be held in the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, May 30 (KO 11.30am). We would urge all participating schools to take the day off and travel to the Dublin finale to support their school in what should prove to be a phenomenal day for all involved, players and spectators alike.
It promises to be a fantastic fun filled family day with a “Player of the Tournament” accolade for each section, goodie bags and medals for ALL 192 participants as they’re all winners on the day!
Spectators will be entertained with a super day of action as well as face painting, samba drummers, a well-known DJ to play some great tunes to gear us up for the games and a chance for one special supporter to win an epic prize in the Young Sports Journalist competition. You’ll have to stay tuned on the day to see who will be crowned 2018 SPAR Cup Champions.
Cheer on the schools from your classroom or office chair if you can’t make the trip to Dublin and follow the progress on the FAI Schools Facebook and Twitter pages (@faischools)
Group Winner
SPAR ‘A’ Cup (small schools) Latnamard NS, Monaghan
SPAR ‘B’ Cup (medium schools) St. Oran’s NS, Cockhill, Inishowen
SPAR ‘C’ Cup (large schools) Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Inishowen
SPAR Girls ‘A’ Cup (small schools) St. Brigid’s NS, Glenmakee, Inishowen
SPAR Girls ‘B’ Cup (medium schools) Scoil Chroine, Dungloe, Donegal
SPAR Girls ‘C’ Cup (large schools) Scoil Iosagain Buncrana, Inishowen
Follow the action on social media via #SPAR5s or at www.faischools.ie and www.spar.ie.
SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme
PROVINCIAL
Connacht Final: May 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
