Press Release

Can your club become the “Road to Poland” Champions? 

The Football Association of Ireland and Dublin Local Authority partners have announced details of another major grassroots competition to celebrate the Republic of Ireland’s qualification for Euro 2012. 

This grassroots concept has the objective of increasing female participation levels by identifying girls with an interest in playing football and giving them a pathway to become involved with local clubs.

The Road to Poland grassroots tournament consists of a twin competition for U10 boys and U10 Girls teams & U12 boys and U12 Girls teams with conditions on boys teams entering. To enter the 4-a-side competition, boys clubs must enter BOTH a boys and a girls team, while as many girls teams can enter without entering a boys team.  Teams should  consist of six players per squad. The hope is this might encourage clubs that do not have a schoolgirls section to pilot a team for this tournament and help give girls equal opportunities, whilst growing their club.

The games will be based on promoting passing / multi-goal / fun / good sportsmanship ideas. 

The competition will take place on Tuesday, May 15th , from 6pm-9pm, in the shadow of the Aviva stadium on the Lansdowne Rugby Club all-weather pitch. The lucky winners of each competition will receive tickets for Road to Poland send off game Republic of Ireland v Bosnia. 

To register your club in the Road to Poland grassroots tournament, email roadtopoland@fai.ie . Please include Road to Poland in the subject heading. 

With Giovanni Trapattoni endorsing the competition, FAI Greater Dublin Regional manager Gerry Reardon commented “This is sure to be a great competition.  With the excitement of Euro 2012 and with added focus by clubs and FAI/Local Authority development officers this year on increasing girls football participation we hope this competition leaves a good impression for all the teams taking part.  In Dublin alone over 600 girls participated on our Aviva Soccer Sister Easter programme and this is a fantastic next step to raise profile for girls football with such an exciting summer ahead”. 

All applications must be registered by May 4th. 

For boys clubs who would like to enter the competition who do not currently have a girls section should contact their local FAI Community Development Officer for assistance – information on your local CDO can also be obtained via roadtopoland@fai.ie

Overview:

• Under 10s & U/12s competition
• As many girls teams can enter
• Clubs entering a boys’ team Must enter a girls’ team
• Squads of 6, 4-a-side with experimental ruling*
• Multi-goal, passing-oriented, bonus points for sportsmanship

Times/Venues:

• Lansdowne Rugby Club ASTROTURF (within Aviva Stadium Complex)
• 6pm Registration for 6.30pm Start. Tuesday 15^th May
• REGISTRATION FORMS TO BE RETURNED TO roadtopoland@fai.ie  BY FRIDAY 4^TH MAY 

*Any queries please email roadtopoland@fai.ie

 APPLICATION FORM

The MGL Cup Finals which had been due to go ahead on May 5/6th have been moved to May 20th

Could any team who have reached a Final or Semi Final are asked to email a photo with names to ndsleague@eircom.net Marked for the Attn of Alison

The Finals Line-up so far is

Under 11 eFlow Cup Final – Paddock Pitch 12:00pm

Cabinteely FC (B) vs Enniskerry FC (A)

Under 13 eFlow Cup Final – Main Pitch 3:00pm

East Meath United vs Peamount United

Under 15s Irish Rail Cup Final – Main Pitch 4:30pm

St Josephs Girls vs Peamount United (A)

Under 17 Carlie Fitzgerald Memorial Cup – Main Pitch 6:30pm

St Josephs Girls (Sun) vs Cloghertown United or Eureka Kells or Shelbourne/Peamount Utd

MGL Coach Nominated for prestigious UEFA Coach of the Year Award.

 In Conversation with the FAI Coaching Association-Website Article

Irish Coach of the Year Award – FAI Programme Article (2)

Tuesday 3^rd April 2012

Under 11s 15:30 – Oscar Traynor Road

MGL v Arsenal – Ref John Maher Asst Megan McGuiness & Darryl Kelly

Under 13s 14:00 – Oscar Traynor Road

MGL v Arsenal – Ref Megan McGuiness Assts Darryl Kelly & John Maher

Under 15s 15:00 – Oscar Traynor Road

MGL v Arsenal – Ref Peter Geraghty Assts Marc McKenna & Ronan Kelly

Under 17s 15:00 – Oscar Traynor Road

MGL v Arsenal – Ref Adam Conroy Assts Keith Thornton & Mark Connor

Wednesday 4^th April 2012

Under 13s 18:00 – Oscar Traynor Road

MGL v Cork League – Ref Megan McGuiness

Under 15s 18:30 – Dunboyne AFC Grounds Summerhill Road

Dunboyne v Cork League – Ref Damien Walsh

Thursday 5^th April

Under 11s 09:45 – Oscar Traynor Road

MGL v Arsenal – Ref Conor Davis Assts Megan McGuiness & TBC

Under 13s 11:00 – Oscar Traynor Road

Cork League v Arsenal – Ref Megan McGuiness Assts Conor Davis & TBC

Under 15s 10:00 – Oscar Traynor Road

Cork League v Arsenal – Ref Karl O’Shea Assts Peter Kelly & Marc McKenna

Under 17s 10:00 – Oscar Traynor Road

Ireland Under 17s v Arsenal – Ref Keith Thornton Assts Peter Geraghty & Mark Connor

eFlow (MGL League Sponsors) and the League would like to congratulate Emma Boyle from Castleknock Celtic Under 15s and Rebekah Carroll from Peamount Utd Under 17s on winning this weeks (26th Feb) eFlow Player of the Match awards. Emma won her reward as she was at the heart of her sides 6-0 win over St Josephs Girls while Rebekah had an outstanding performance for Peamount Utd as they were beaten 3-1 by Shelbourne in the Carlie Fitzgerald Qtr Final

Well done Emma and Rebekah

Please see the Evening Herald and The Star for Match reports and pictures

eFlow (MGL League Sponsors) and the League would like to congratulate Sarah Jane Hecker from Templeogue Utd Under 15s on winning this weeks (19th Feb) eFlow Player of the Match award. Sarah Jane won the reward for her outstanding performance in her sides 2-1 loss to Malahide Utd where she scored a cracking volley from 20 yards out.

Well done Sarah Jane

Please see todays (21st Feb) Star for Match report and pictures

The Draws for the Under 11s eFlow Cup, the Under 13s eFlow Cup, the Under 15s Irish Rail Cup and the Under 17s Carlie Fitzgerald Cup were made last week.

The 1st Round games will take place on December 3rd and 4th

The Full Draws are available under the MGL Cup Draws tab

 FEMALE ONLY – FAI KICK START 2VENUE: AUL COMPLEX, DUBLIN DATE: Sat/Sun 19/20th November 2011 (9am-6pm both days)AGE: 16 years + (Must have completed Kick Start 1)COST: €75 (payment on day) CONTACT DETAILS:FAI Development Officer – Sharon Boyle 087 1323260 / sharon.boyle@fai.ieFAI Women’s Programme Assistant – Emma Martin 086 0489868 / emma.martin@fai.ieMetropolitan League – Senior Womens – Mal O’Reilly – 01 6270715 womens.soccer@ireland.com   / Schoolgirls – Tony Gains – 01 8488802 ndsleague02@gmail.com Must pre-register – Book Early to Avoid Disappointment

The Metropolitan Girls League in conjunction with the NDSL are looking for volunteers to participate in the running and organisation of the Metropolitan Girls League i.e; fixture secretaries etc. For more information please contact the NDSL offices on 018488802 or email ndsleague@eircom.net. This requires only a couple of hours per week commitment, no experience is necessary and full training will be given.