Courtesy: FAI Futsal Portal


FAI Futsal League of Ireland begins this weekend

Wednesday, 04 February 2009

FAI National Futsal League preview

The third annual FAI National Futsal League competition kicks-off in earnest this weekend at three venues around the country. 14 clubs will be represented in the national competition, won last year by St Patrick’s Athletic after a thrilling extra-time victory over Bohemians.

The Saints will be one of seven teams in a super division in Leinster, with four places in the quarter-finals on offer.

The St Pat’s line-up will along with some of their young players feature a number of players from the Brasilforall squad that recently won the first annual Emerald Futsal League.

Inaugural champions Shamrock Rovers will kick-off the new campaign at Dublin City University against a youthful Dundalk side.

Sporting Fingal may be newcomers but their squad features several experienced futsal players including player-coach Junior and Rodrigo Di Melo mixed with several Irish futsal internationals including Thomas Morgan and Brendan Dawson.

Wexford Youths are also making their debut this season but they include some members of the St Pat’s side that were crowned champions last year in their line-up including Polish stars Arthur Opeldus and Maciej Lewandowski.

The North West division promises to be competitive once again with Derry City and Sligo Rovers the sides to beat having progressed to the last eight a year ago. However, Finn Harps and Monaghan may emerge as dark horses to qualify from the group.

The Munster region is likely to see last year’s semi-finals Cork City strong challengers once again while newcomers Salthill Devon will look to make their mark alongside Limerick FC.

With a prize fund of €10,000 covering the event, the futsal competition has become an integral part of the Irish football calendar as each club competes for the chance to represent Ireland in the UEFA Futsal Cup in the summer.


FAI National Futsal League fixture list

Saturday, February 7

LEINSTER DIVISION

Venue: Dublin City University

11.00am
Shamrock Rvs v Dundalk

11.50am
Bray Wdrs v Sporting Fingal

12.40pm
St Pats Ath v Wexford Yths

1.30pm
Dundalk v Bray Wdrs

2.20pm
Shamrock Rvs v Shelbourne

3.10pm
Sporting Fingal v St Pats Ath

4.00pm
Wexford Yths v Shelbourne


NORTH WEST DIVISION

Venue: Letterkenny Aura Centre

12.00pm
Finn Harps v Derry City

1.00pm
Sligo Rovers v Monaghan Utd

2.00pm
Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers

3.00pm
Derry City v Monaghan Utd

Sunday, February 8


MUNSTER

Venue: Univ of Limerick

12.00pm
Limerick FC v Salthill Devon

1.00pm
Limerick FC v Cork City

2.00pm
Cork City v Salthill Devon



Saturday, February 14


LEINSTER

Venue: Basketball Arena, Tallaght

11.00am
Shamrock Rvs v Bray Wdrs

11.50am
Dundalk v Sporting Fingal

12.40pm
Bray Wdrs v St Pats Ath

1.30pm
Shamrock Rvs v Wexford Yths

2.20pm
Dundalk v Shelbourne

3.10pm
Sporting Fingal v Wexford Yths

4.00pm
St Pats Ath v Shelbourne


NORTH WEST

Venue: Letterkenny Aura Centre

12.00pm
Finn Harps v Monaghan Utd

1.00pm
Sligo Rovers v Derry City

2.00pm
Finn Harps v Derry City

3.00pm
Sligo Rovers v Monaghan Utd


MUNSTER

Venue: Univ of Limerick

12.00pm
Limerick FC V Salthill

1.00pm
Limerick V Cork

2.00pm
Cork V Salthill



Saturday, February 21

NORTH WEST

Venue: Letterkenny Aura Centre

12.00pm
Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers

1.00pm
Derry City v Monaghan Utd

2.00pm
Finn Harps v Monaghan Utd

3.00pm
Sligo Rovers v Derry City



Saturday, February 28

LEINSTER

Venue: Basketball Arena, Tallaght

11.00am
Dundalk v St Pats Ath

11.50am
Shamrock Rvs v Sporting Fingal

12.40pm
Bray Wdrs v Shelbourne

1.30pm
Dundalk v Wexford Yths

2.20pm
Sporting Fingal v Shelbourne

3.10pm
Shamrock Rvs v St Pats Ath

4.00pm
Bray Wdrs v Wexford Yths


Grand Finals Weekend

Sat/Sun 7/8 March 2009

National Basketball Arena

Quarter-finals

12.00pm
Winner Leinster v R-up N/West = A

1.15pm
R-Up Leinster v R-up Munster = B

2.30pm
Winner N/West v 3rd Leinster = C

3.45pm
Winner Munster v 4th Leinster = D


National Basketball Arena

Semi-Finals

12.30pm
Semi Final 1: A v C

2.00pm
Semi Final 2: B v D

4.00pm


FINAL








Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com