Boys from Bishop Ahern NS, Leamlara, Co Cork at the soccer blitz. The FAI Primary 5’s schools soccer competitions are running across Ireland. Sixteen teams from Cork Primary schools took park in the local competition on the all-weather pitches at Carrigtwohill Community Park, on Friday 1st March 2024, run by FAI football development officer Derek Coughlan (tel 086- 0831076) . Pic Larry Cummins. PR from FAI website- This year’s programme has seen an increase of 205 schools sign up with a rise of 75 per cent participation rate in Cavan, Louth, Meath, Tipperary and Waterford. The Football for All section has also expanded this year with 30 schools entered – a 46 per cent increase on last year. The Primary 5s is a 5-a-side competition which is open to boys and girls from 4th, 5th and 6th class, and puts emphasis on fun and inclusivity. The blitz day format is co-ordinated at local level with the assistance of a network of FAI Development Officers and local primary school teachers. These personnel co-ordinate events at county level with qualifying schools progressing to regional, provincial and National Finals. The programme will see 2,007 schools engaged in the competition with 41,712 students participating this season with a remarkable 45 per cent of those participants female.