The finalists for the U13/U15 SFAI Subway Championship and Plate National Finals have now been confirmed following outstanding games being played this week.

All four finals in both the Championship and Plate competitions will be played at the home of Mullingar Athletic in Gainstown.

SFAI affiliated leagues have been competing since October in their provincial groups, and following the National semi-finals the focus quickly turns to Mullingar.

Saturday beings with Clare SSL and Galway SL facing off in the U13 SFAI Subway Plate National Final, and both teams have already proved their quality, with some impressive victories on their way to the final.

Clare narrowly overcame a very good Donegal SL team in their semi-finals, while galway travelled to the NDSL and returned home with a 2-0 win

Mayo SL and Carlow JDL will compete for the U15 SFAI Subway Plate, and Carlow will be aiming to make it two National Plate titles in a row having beaten North Tipperary in last season’s showpiece event.

On Sunday, one of the most eagerly anticipated ties of the weekend will see Cork SL and the DDSL go head-to-head in the U13 SFAI Subway Championship Final, which is a repeat of last year’s U12 National semi-final.

Cork SL went on to beat Donegal SL in the final, and Sunday’s tie promises to be one full of quality and good football as the two teams aim to win the Liam Miller Cup.

Cork SL also feature in the U15 SFAI Subway Championship Final, and they will play against Donegal SL 0- they beat a very strong Drogheda SCL team in their semi-final, while Cork SL beat Galway SL this week.

See the fixtures for the weekend ahead below…

Saturday 22nd February 2020

U13 SFAI Subway Plate National Final 12.30pm KO

Clare SSL v Galway SL

U15 SFAI Subway Plate National Final 3pm KO

Mayo SL v Carlow JDL

Sunday 23rd February 2020

U13 SFAI Subway Championship National Final (Liam Miller Cup) 12.30pm KO

Cork SL v DDSL

U15 SFAI Subway Championship National Final 3pm KO

Donegal v Cork SL

The DDSL booked their place in the national final of the U13 SFAI Subway Championship last Sunday when they overcame Sligo/Leitrim in Abbotstown.

The sun shone for much of the tie, and the DDSL were in sparkling form, although the visitors proved their worth, with plenty of good football played by both teams.

Below are some highlights from the game….

Despite Storm Ciara, three of the eight scheduled U13/U15 SFAI Subway Championship and Plate National semi-finals did go ahead last weekend, with Clare SSL, Galway SL and Donegal SL all booking their places in Mullingar.

On Saturday the Donegal U15 side brought Drogheda SL’s historic run in the SFAI Subway Championship to an end, winning 2-1 in Drogheda IFE.

Robbie Murphy bagged both goals on a day when the blustery conditions did not deter either team from trying to play the game in the right way.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Galway SL travelled to the NDSL in the U13 SFAI Subway Plate National semi-final and returned home with a 2-0 victory after extra time.

They will play Clare SSL in the national final after they overcame Donegal SL on Sunday in Frank Healy Park.

Like Galway’s tie with the NDSL, extra-time was required in Ennis, and a breakaway attack saw the homeside score the all-important goal to win the game.

The other ties scheduled for last weekend, which were postponed due to Storm Ciara, will be played this coming weekend (Feb 15th/16th), with details below:

U13 SFAI Subway Championship National Semi-Finals

Cork SL v Mayo (16th February, 4pm, Ballea Astro, Carrigaline)

DDSL v Sligo/Leitrim (16th February, 12pm, Abbotstown)

U15 SFAI Subway Championship National Semi-Finals

Cork SL v Galway SL (16th February, 12pm, Ballea Astro, Carrigaline)

U15 SFAI Subway Plate National Semi-Finals

Mayo v Inishowen YSL (15th February, 2pm, Milebush)

Cork SL v Carlow (16th February, 1pm, Moneygourney)

Mounthawk Park and Frank Healy Park will host the U13/U15 Munster SFAI Subway Championship and Plate Finals this Sunday, 02^nd of February.

Cork SL will feature in both Championship Finals in Mounthawk Park, with Waterford SFL and Limerick District SL the opposition in the U13 and U15 showpiece events, respectively.

Beating Kerry SBGL in the their semi-final earned the Cork youngster their place, while Waterford overcame Limerick District in their semi.

Both teams proved their strength in the group stages before Christmas, and this Cork side will be aiming to go one better than last year when they narrowly lost the U12 national final against Donegal.

The U15 Munster SFAI Subway Championship Final between Cork SL (Athletic) and Limerick District SL will be another much anticipated tie, and the winners will feel they have a real chance of making the national finals with a semi-final home draw already confirmed.

Clare SSL will be playing in both the U13 and U15 Munster SFAI Subway Plate Finals in Frank Healy Park on Sunday, with Limerick Desmond and Cork SL (United) their opponents, respectively.

South Tipperary lost to Clare SSL in the U13 Munster semi-final, while the Desmond overcame neighbours Limerick County to earn their place.

Clare SSL also beat South Tipperary in the U15 Munster SFAI Subway Plate semi-final, and they will be up against Cork SL (United) after they narrowly beat Kerry SBGL.

Fixtures

U13 Munster SFAI Subway Championship Final

Cork SL v Waterford SFL – KO 2.30pm (Mounthawk Park)

U15 Munster SFAI Subway Championship Final

Cork SL v Limerick District – KO 12.30pm (Mounthawk Park)

U13 Munster SFAI Subway Plate Final

Clare SL v Limerick Desmond – KO 11.30am (Frank Healy Park)

U15 Munster SFAI Subway Plate Final

Clare SL v Cork SL – KO 2pm (Frank Healy Park)

The Finals of the SFAI North Leinster Skechers Regional Cups will take place this Sunday (2^nd February) in the Oscar Traynor Centre, with five ties being played across the day.

Up first at 10.30am is the U13 Final which will see Dundalk SL’s Bellurgan United face Balbriggan FC.

United come into the tie off the back of an impressive win in the Round of 32 in the SFAI Skechers National Cup last weekend when they hosted Mullingar Athletic.

Meanwhile, Ballbriggan FC will be looking to bounce back from defeat to Cork side Corinthian Boys in the same round of the national competition last Saturday.

The U15 SFAI North Leinster Skechers Regional Cup Final will follow the U13s at 12 noon, with both Balbriggan FC and Bellurgan United again represented.

Bellurgan had a tough test against Midelton FC last weekend in the National Round of 32, eventually losing, while Balbriggan FC travelled to Tramore AFC and returned home with the win.

In the U12 SFAI North Leinster Skechers Regional Cup Final, Skerries Town will take on Baldoyle United on the Paddock pitch, with that game kicking off at 1pm.

Skerries Town will come into the tie full of confidence following a very impressive win in the National Round of 32 last Sunday, while Baldoyle United narrowly lost to Douglas Hall.

Both teams will be very strong, and a good match between two very talented teams is expected.

The U14 SFAI North Leinster Skechers Regional Cup Final will also feature Skerries Town, and they will play Kingscourt Harps, with kick off at 2pm

The day will finish with the U16 SFAI North Leinster Skechers Regional Cup between Ardee Celtic and Rock Celtic, that game will kick off at 4pm on the all-weather pitch.

Last weekend Ardee travelled to Cork and beat St Mary’s 3-0 in the National Round of 32, while Rock Celtic suffered defeat at home to a very impressive Portlaoise team.

Fixtures

U13

Bellurgan Utd v Balbriggan FC – KO 10.30am

U15

Balbriggan FC v Bellurgan Utd – KO 12 noon

U12

Skerries Town v Baldoyle Utd – KO 1pm

U14

Skerries Town v Kingscourt Harps – KO 2pm

U16

Ardee Celtic v Rock Celtic – KO 4pm