DRAW: U13/U15 SFAI Subway Championship and Plate National semi-final draws

The draw for the U13/U15 SFAI Subway Championship and Plate national semi-finals took place this evening in Abbotstown, following a meeting of the SFAI Executive Committee.

The fixtures are to be played on the weekend of February 8th/9th ahead of the national finals which will take place in Mullingar on the weekend of  February 22nd/23rd.

Both the Leinster and Ulster Finals have already taken place, as have three of the four finals in Connacht, while the finals in Munster are set to take place on February 2nd.

The draw is as follows:

U13 SFAI Subway Championship National Semi-Finals

1 Cork/Waterford v Mayo SL

2 DDSL v Sligo/Leitrim

Final: 1 v 2

U13 SFAI Subway Plate National Semi-Finals

1 Clare/Limerick Desmond v Donegal

2 NDSL v Galway SL

Final: 1 v 2

U15 SFAI Subway Championship National Semi-Finals

1 Drogheda SCL v Donegal SBL

2 Cork/Limerick District v Galway SL

Final: 1 v 2

U15 SFAI Subway Plate National Semi-Finals

1 Mayo SL/RDYSL v Inishowen YSL

2 Clare/Cork v Carlow JDL

Final:1 v 2

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U13/U15 Munster SFAI Subway Plate semi-final details ahead of busy weekend

The U13/U15 Munster SFAI Subway Plate semi-finals will take place this weekend, with several ties being played across the province.

With all games penned in for Sunday 19th January, the winners will go forward to the Munster finals which are scheduled for the weekend of February 2nd.

In the U13 Munster SFAI Subway Plate, South Tipperary will welcome Clare SSL to Canon Hayes Park (KO 12 noon), while Limerick Desmond will take on Limerick County in UL (2pm).

Meanwhile, in the U15 competition, South Tipperary will again face Clare SSL in Canon Hayes Park (2pm), while Cork (SL) United and Kerry SBGL will face off in Lakewood at 12 noon.

The winners will then play on February 2nd, and there will be a quick turnaround as the national semi-finals are penned in for the weekend of February 8th/9th.

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Ballyare to host U13/U15 Ulster SFAI Subway Championship and Plate Finals double-header

Ballyare will host two U13/U15 Ulster SFAI Subway Championship and Plate Finals next week, with the games taking place on Saturday 18th January and Tuesday 21st January.

The first Ulster final was played last Sunday in Cootehill, with Sligo/Leitrim beating the CMUL 3-2 in a thrilling tie – video highlights below.

On Saturday, Donegal and Inishowen will play for the U15 Ulster SFAI Subway Championship title – KO 2pm.

The group stages saw both teams pick up a win and a draw, and with their group tie ending 0-0, Saturday’s game will be very well contested.

Tuesday will then see the U13 Ulster SFAI Subway Plate Final between Donegal and Inishowen take place – KO 6.30pm.

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U13/U15 Connacht SFAI Subway Championship and Plate Finals set for this weekend

Three of the four U13/U15 Connacht SFAI Subway Championship and Plate Finals will take place this coming weekend, in both Eamon Deacy Park in Galway and Solar 21 Park in Mayo.

On Saturday, Mayo SL and Longford will play for the U13 Connacht SFAI Subway Championship in Solar 21 Park – KO 3pm.

The group game between the two sides ended with Mayo SL winning 2-0, but there was not much between the two teams, and Saturday’s clash promises to be an entertaining one.

Meanwhile, on Sunday in Eamon Deacy Park, Galway SL will face the RDYSL in the U13 Connacht SFAI Subway Plate Final – KO 12 noon.

Both teams found it tough in the group stages, but the Plate Final offers them the chance to move into the national stages next month.

Following that game, the U15 Connacht SFAI Subway Championship Final between Galway SL and Longford SL will take place – KO 3pm.

Galway topped their group with three wins from three, while Longford only lost to Galway in the group stages – Sunday will offer last season’s SFAI New Balance Kennedy Cup third place finishers the opportunity to address that.

The Mayo v RDYSL U15 Connacht SFAI Subway Plate Final is set to be played the following week, with details to be confirmed in due course.

Best of luck to all taking part this coming weekend, enjoy the football and the occasion.

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Details for U13/U15 Leinster SFAI Subway Championship and Plate Finals confirmed

The pairings and details for the U13/U15 Leinster SFAI Subway Championship and Plate Finals have now been confirmed following today’s games.

In the U13 Leinster SFAI Subway Championship Final, the DDSL will face Wexford DSL, with the Dubliners beating Midlands SL 3-0 today and Wexford beating Carlow JDL 2-0

Meanwhile, in the U13 Leinster SFAI Subway Plate Final, the NDSL will play NECSL. The NDSL booked their place in the final today, beating Drogheda SCL, while the NECSL overcame Kilkenny in a thrilling tie.

The U15 Leinster SFAI Subway Championship Final promises to be a cracking event, with Wexford DSL taking on Drogheda SCL.

Today Wexford beat the DDSL while Drogheda SCL continued their impressive form to eliminate NDSL.

Finally, the U15 Leinster SFAI Subway Plate Final will be contested by Carlow JDL and Midlands SL.

Carlow’s place was secured with a 3-0 victory over Kilkenny DSL, while Midlands travelled to Wicklow and returned home with the win.

This season’s Leinster Finals will be hosted by the DDSL in Abbotstown, with the confirmed fixtures below:

Sunday 19th January – Abbotstown

U13 Leinster SFAI Subway Plate Final

NDSL v NECSL 10am

U13 Leinster SFAI Subway Championship Final

DDSL v Wexford  12 noon

U15 Leinster SFAI Subway Championship Final

Wexford v Drogheda 2pm

U15 Leinster SFAI Subway Plate Final

Carlow v Midlands 4pm

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SFAI Subway Championship and Plate resumes with bumper weekend ahead

The knockout phase of the U13 and U15 SFAI Subway Championship and Plate competition will begin this weekend (January 11th/12th), with many provincial semi-finals and finals taking place across the country over the next month.

With the national semi-finals in both the U13/U15 SFAI Subway Championship and Plate scheduled for the weekend of February 8th/9th, it promises to be a busy period for those involved ahead of the national finals at the end of next month.

The Subway Championship and Plate competitions have grown considerably in recent years, with 101 teams from 31 schoolboys entering this season.

On Sunday the CMUL will welcome Sligo/Leitrim to Cootehill in the U13 SFAI Subway Championship Final.

The CMUL claimed both the Ulster and National SFAI Subway Championship U13 titles last season, and they will be up against it when they take on Sligo/Leitrim on Sunday following a strong showing from them in the group stages.

Elsewhere, there are semi-finals in both the Leinster and Munster SFAI Subway Championship and Plate competitions, with double-headers in Carlow and North Tipperary, while several games also take place in University of Limerick.

Below are the fixtures, best of luck to all taking part, enjoy the football and the occasion.

U13 Subway Leinster Championship Semi-Finals

DDSL v Midlands SL – Abbotstown 12 noon

Carlow JDL v Wexford DSL – Parkville United 12.30pm

U13 Subway Leinster Plate Semi-Finals

NDSL v Drogheda SCL – Oscar Traynor Centre 10am

Kilkenny DSL v NECSL – Derdimus Park 2pm

U15 Subway Leinster Championship Semi-Finals

Wexford DSL v DDSL – Curracloe

Drogheda SCL v NDSL – Albion Rovers 2pm

U15 Subway Leinster Plate Semi-Finals

Carlow JDL v Kilkenny DSL – Parkville United 2pm

Wicklow DSL v Midlands SL – Arklow Town 3pm

U13 Subway Munster Championship Semi-Finals

Cork SL v Kerry SBGL – Ballea Astro 2pm

Limerick District v Waterford SFL – University Limerick 2pm

U13 Subway Munster Plate Semi-Finals

North Tipperary v Limerick County – Brickfields (Nenagh) 12 noon

Clare SSL v West Cork SL – Frank Healy Park 1pm

Limerick Desmond v WWEC – University Limerick 2pm

U15 Subway Munster Plate Quarter-Finals

Cork SL v Limerick Desmond – Ballea Astro 12 noon

Limerick District v Waterford SFL – University Limerick 2pm

U15 Subway Munster Plate Quarter-Finals

North Tipperary v South Tipperary – Brickfields (Nenagh) 2pm

U13 Subway Ulster Championship Final

CMUL v Sligo-Leitrim – Cootehill 2pm

U12 Subway Connacht Championship Group Game

Galway v Athlone – Eamon Deacy Park 2pm

RDYSL v Mayo SL – Leacarrow 1pm (Saturday 11th January)

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Details for U13/U15 SFAI Subway Championship and Plate National Finals confirmed

The details for the U13 and U15 Finals of the SFAI Subway Championship and Plate have been confirmed, with Gainstown in Mullingar set to host four games.

The ties will be played on the weekend of February 22nd/23rd at the home of Mullingar Athletic.

Last season’s thrilling finals saw the CMUL clinch the new Liam Miller Cup when they overcame Mayo in the U13 SFAI Subway Championship Final, while the DDSL claimed the U15 title when they beat Waterford.

The finals of the SFAI Subway Plate were equally as exciting, and both South Tipperary and Carlow JDL claimed their very first national honours when they beat the Midlands SL and North Tipperary in the U13 and U15 finals respectively.

The 2019/20 competition enters the knockout stages this coming weekend after the groups in Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht were completed before Christmas.

A host of provincial quarter-finals and semi-finals are taking place – the details for those ties are available on SFAI.ie.

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REVIEW: SFAI New Balance Kennedy Cup Final 2019 Highlights

Thanks to Fulltime Productions, highlights packages from the 2019 SFAI New Balance Kennedy Cup were made available over the festive period via the SFAI’s Facebook page.

With multiple camera angles and commentary, the final between the DDSL and Mayo SL featured on New Year’s Day and can be found HERE

Goals from Kevin Zefi and James McManus ensured the DDSL took home the Kennedy Cup in June, and preparations are already well underway for the 2020 tournament which will take place in University of Limerick from June 9th-13th 2020.

Further highlights from 2019 competition are also available on the SFAI’s Facebook page HERE

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UPDATE: Ursula Scully to go forward for election to FAI Board as SFAI representative

The SFAI Executive Committee have tonight agreed to put forward SFAI Council member Ursula Scully of the North Tipperary Schoolchildren’s Football League (NTSFL) as their nomination for the FAI Board.

As current Secretary of the NTSFL, Ursula will go forward as the SFAI’s representative within the constituency of Schoolboys/Schoolgirls, with representatives of the schoolgirls game also entitled to put a candidate forward.

Ursula has played an integral role in the NTSFL for many years, she has volunteered at the SFAI New Balance Kennedy Cup and SFAI Subway Finals, and was also one of 32 participants to begin the FAI’s Women in Football – Emerging Leaders Programme earlier this month, which was set up in partnership with UEFA and FIFA.

A graduate from the University of Ulster in Food Technology Management, Ursula went on to work with Kerry Group as a Quality Services Manager.

Ursula established her own business in 1999 with her husband and continued her further education by Graduating from University of Limerick with a Grad. Dip in Entrepreneurship Management.

Speaking tonight Ursula said: “I am delighted to be selected by the SFAI to go forward for election to the FAI Board.”

She continued: “Should I be elected by the constituency I will represent all schoolchildren throughout Ireland equally.

“Furthermore, I believe my professional background and skillset will be an asset to the FAI Board should I be elected.”

SFAI Chairman John Earley said: “I am delighted that Ursula is going forward as the SFAI’s representative, and should she be elected from the constituency of Schoolboys/Schoolgirls, I have no doubt she will be a valuable asset to the FAI Board.”

He continued: “Ursula has the full backing of the SFAI Executive Committee, and we will support her fully going forward.

***ENDS***

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SFAI nominee Paddy Dempsey withdraws from FAI Board electoral process

DDSL Chairman Paddy Dempsey,  nominated by the Schoolboy Football Association of Ireland to go forward for consideration for election to the board of the Football Association of Ireland has today withdrawn from the process.

The position became available following the resignation of SFAI Chairman John Earley from the FAI Board last Thursday.

Dempsey, a former UEFA referee and now chairman of the biggest league under the FAI’s jurisdiction with 25,000 players, was unanimously approved at Saturday’s  SFAI Council meeting which was held in the Carlton Hotel at Dublin Airport.

Schoolboys and Schoolgirls are paired in a football constituency for electoral purposes to the FAI Board, with the representatives of schoolgirls football entitled to also put forward their own nominee.

Following his selection on Saturday and in discussion with family and friends Paddy Dempsey has now withdrawn his name from the process.

 “I was honored to be nominated by my colleagues within the Schoolboy Football Association of Ireland,” said Dempsey. “But, on reflection, I now appreciate that because of family and work commitments, I would not be able to devote my full commitment to a role which is sure to be demanding.”

“I recognise that the game and those elected to the Board of the Football Association of Ireland requires a huge demand on their time and energies.

“In the interests of providing clarity, I’m making this decision now so that the SFAI can look for a suitable alternative at the earliest opportunity. I would like to place on record my gratitude to all my SFAI colleagues on council and executive for their support of my nomination and hope they will be understanding of the reason why I must  withdraw my name at this time.”

SFAI Chairman John Earley commented: “I want to thank Paddy Dempsey allowing his name go forward for consideration as a member of the board of the Football Association of Ireland, but we fully respect his decision and the reason behind his withdrawal from the process.”

***ENDS***

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