Donegal footballers Caoimhe Walsh and Siobhan Sweeney attended the launch of the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Post Primary Schools competitions for the 2017/18 season.
Walsh plays for Derry City Ladies, who recently won promotion to the Northern Ireland Women’s Premier League, while Sweeney lines out for Bonagee United in the North West Women’s Super League.
Walsh and Sweeney are both students at Mulroy College, Milford. They are the holders of the Senior ‘B’ Girls National Cup title for small schools.
The interest in schools football has increased over the last number of years with 38,000 players from 510 schools participating nationwide last year.
29 August 2017; Pictured at the launch of the Bank of Ireland Post Primary Competition are, back row from left, Republic of Ireland Women’s International Leanne Kiernan, St. Laurence College Co. Dublin players Katie Doyle and Clara Mulligan, Mulroy College, Co. Donegal players Caoimhe Walsh and Siobhan Sweeney, and former Republic of Ireland International Stephen Hunt. Front row, from left, are Rochestown College Co. Cork players Rory Doyle and Colin O’Mahoney, and Saint Joseph’s Patrician College – The Bish Co. Galway players James Egan and Gary Higgins, at FAI Headquarters Abbotstown, Co Dublin. Photo by Cody Glenn/Sportsfile
Seán Carr, FAI Schools Chairman said, “This is Bank of Ireland’s fourth year as sponsor of the FAI Schools Post Primary Schools competitions. Since the inception of our sponsorship agreement, we had great interaction from the participating schools. We look forward to seeing lots more children enjoying the schools football schedule throughout the academic year, being active, competing on an equal footing and having fun together”.
The numerous Cup and League competitions offer huge variety with small and large schools catered for. There are various divisions that accommodate boys and girls from First Year right through to Leaving Certificate.
The FAI Schools programme is co-ordinated at provincial level and schools are encouraged to sign up now for the forthcoming season as competitions will be commencing at the end of September.
Greencastle native Roma McLaughlin was among the international players present at the launch. McLaughlin featured for Moville Community College in FAIS competitions. She has completed the FAI / ETB Player Development Course in Clondalkin and was a key member of the Shelbourne Ladies team that played in the Champions League in the last week.
John O’Shea, Daryl Horgan and David Meyler were also at the launch at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown.
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