Dundalk Institute of Technology hosts All-Stars selection

Wednesday 7th May saw the hosting of the fourth annual FAI Schools/DkIT/Independent Newspapers North East Senior League All-Stars Selection.

Almost 100 guests, including representatives of Independent Newspapers, the FAI Schools Leinster Branch and Dundalk Institute of Technology, gathered to celebrate as the cream of the North East League crop was presented with a commemorative kit marking their selection.

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Soccer in the North East region started in 1984 when the late, great Dave Colgan, a teacher in St. Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda, called a meeting of interested teachers in the old Europa Hotel in Drogheda.

Dave booked a room that held thirty, but only four showed up! Nonetheless, it was a start, and the competition commenced in 1985 with six schools competing, from Drogheda, Dundalk and Meath.

Over time the region has grown rapidly and there are now thirty-four schools playing soccer in the region, which covers Louth, Meath and North Dublin.

Across Leinster, 315 schools are competing in boys' and girl’s competitions at second level this season.

DkIT is the perfect venue and partner for these awards, as the institute offers specific sports scholarships to students that choose to pursue their third-level courses there.

The selection of thirty-two players covered both the Division One and Division Two/Three competitions, with team mentors and the public voting. Almost eight thousand votes were cast in the online poll.

The Division One selection covered eight different schools, with Senior League Champions Ratoath College prominent, as well as De La Salle College, Dundalk, Ashbourne C.S. and Colaiste na Mi, Navan.

The Division Two/Three selection covered eleven different schools, with Bush P.P., Riverstown, Ballymakenny College, Drogheda and Scoil Ui Mhuiri, Dunleer prominent in the selection.

Many of the players selected are also involved with their local League of Ireland academy teams.

Longford Town FC player, Jamal Ibrahim, who is also a DkIT student and sports scholarship recipient, was on hand to present the commemorative jerseys to the selected students, with kits provided by O’Neills and Leinster sponsors Bodibro.

Further details of the DkIT Sports Scholarship Scheme are available here: https://www.dkit.ie/study/student-fees-grants-scholarships/scholarships/sports-scholarships.html