The St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge panel celebrate their Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ final victory over Naas CBS in Tullamore last year. Photo: John McCauley.

Local schools set to begin Leinster campaigns

Moate Community School are set to begin their Leinster Schools SF 'A' campaign with a home game against St Mel’s College, Longford tomorrow (Thursday). The first round encounter will take place at the Moate CS pitch (throw-in 1pm).

Marist College and Athlone Community College will play their opening round games next Tuesday, November 16. Kiltoom is the venue for the Marist's game against St Mary's SS, Edenderry, while Athlone CC are at home to St Patrick's CS, Navan.

Br Bosco Cup holders St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge and Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar are the other Westmeath schools competing in the championship. Both of those schools have byes in the opening round.

A total of 18 individual schools are taking part in the 2021-22 competition, with these teams having been drawn into six groups of three (see groups below).

Two of the group winners will receive a bye into the quarter-finals. The remaining ten teams who qualify for the knockout stages will play off for five quarter-final places.

In addition to the teams already mentioned, the other schools taking part are as follows: St Mary’s, Knockbeg College; Coláiste Eoin; St Benildus College; Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore; Maynooth SLS; Naas CBS; Patrician College, Newbridge; Scoil Mhuire, Clane; Good Counsel College and St Peter’s College, Wexford.

Six 'group teams' originally entered the competition, but West Wicklow Schools, East Wicklow Schools and Carlow Schools have all withdrawn.

As a result, Dundalk Schools will meet Wexford Schools in a semi-final and the winners will meet Louth Schools in the group teams final. The winner of this final will qualify for the overall quarter-finals. However, if a group team goes on to win the Leinster title, the defeated finalists will represent the province in the All-Ireland series.

Group A

St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan

Athlone Community College

St Joseph’s SS, Rochfortbridge

Group B

St Mel’s College, Longford

Moate Community School

Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore

Group C

St Mary’s SS, Edenderry

Marist College, Athlone

Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar

Group D

Coláiste Eoin

Naas CBS

Maynooth SLS

Group E

Patrician College, Newbridge

St Mary’s, Knockbeg College

Scoil Mhuire, Clane

Group F

St Peter’s College, Wexford

St Benildus College

Good Counsel College

Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ Round 1 results

St Mary’s, Knockbeg College 3-12, Patrician College, Newbridge 2-13

Naas CBS 3-14, Coláiste Eoin 0-5

St Benildus College 2-8, St Peter’s College 1-11.

Upcoming fixtures

Thursday, November 11

Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ Round 1

Moate CS (1pm) Moate CS v St Mel's College

Saturday, November 13

Group Teams semi-final

Darver (1.30pm) Dundalk Schools v Wexford Schools

Tuesday, November 16

Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ Round 1

St Brigid's, Kiltoom (1pm) Marist College, Athlone v St Mary's SS, Edenderry

Athlone (1:30pm) Athlone CC v St Patrick's Classical School, Navan