Scoil Phádraig play a global game in the heart of Westport

SOME members of Scoil Phádraig’s Connacht title-winning 5-a-side-soccer teams didn’t speak English this time last year.

Today, they are all speaking one language.

Syrian, Ukrainian and Hungarian will be among the nationalities representing the school when both their boys and girls soccer team step onto the Aviva tomorrow.

But background, skin colour and nationality all go out the window with the camaraderie that soccer has kindled in this group of Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Class students.

The girls were the first to experience that when they won the 2023 FAI Schools’ Primary 5-a-side All-Ireland final.

They're back in the final again this year along with a boys team who are living the dream but have not yet seen it come true.

“The boys last year obviously saw all this happening and were as talented, I think, individually,” says Gerard Murphy, who has coached both teams to the final.

“They were never a team. From day one they'd be arguing. I remember the West Mayos last year, literally, someone made a mistake and arms up in the air…now the following year they've grown up so much.”

Their school’s motto is ‘Ar aghaidh le chéile’ - one that they are living and breathing.

From coach Murphy, to their teachers and mentors Colm Carney and Sharon McGreal, there are no bit-part or fringe figures on either team.

And that’s the way it’s always been.

“That's one thing that Ger and Sharon and Colm have done is to make sure that everybody got a game so they can make sure that everyone played in a final,” explains Scoil Phádraig Principal, Fergus Sheoighe.

“And even last year in the Aviva, everyone got a game. It was narrow, but every girl got a game, so they can say, all eight players, ‘I played in the Aviva stadium’. And I think that says an awful lot about our school.”

Whatever the outcome of tomorrow’s finals, Scoil Phádraig can still take enormous pride in what they have achieved.

But the thought of bringing even one more All-Ireland title to banks of the sweet Carrowbeg already still has everyone on the edge of their seats.

“There was an unbelievable atmosphere in the town and it felt like the whole town came out to support us that night,” says Colm, recalling the girls' 2023 All-Ireland final victory.

“And that support has stayed with us, and is carrying us and bringing us now to Dublin again, and for that we are so thankful.”

“That feeling of walking out of the tunnel and onto the Aviva yesterday. I won't forget that for a long time,” adds Sharon McGreal, the unofficial ‘mammy’ of the group.

“It was just spine-tingling stuff, it was just such a proud moment for us as a school.”

There’s those who will argue, particularly in Mayo, that getting to the final shouldn’t be over-celebrated. “You have to go and win the thing,” say some.

(If they win the two cups, they’ll be emulating the Bohola NS that won the ‘A’ cups back in 2006 - the only school ever to do so).

But days like these are to be treasured, regardless of whether you win or lose.

“It's not always easy in the school,” notes Sharon with a disarming honesty.

“We have all different nationalities, we have a whole broad socioeconomic base, there's a lot of educational needs. Not every day is a glory day, but it really felt that we had arrived that day and it ended so well, with the icing on the cake.”

Now they’re about to do it all over again.

FIXTURE

FAI Schools Primary 5s National Finals, Wednesday May 29, Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 11.30am