Media
- Wednesday February 4th, 2009 @ 21:42
Futsal To Kick-off This Weekend
The third annual FAI National Futsal League competition kicks-off in earnest this weekend at three venues around the country.
Fourteen 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 local 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 who are shaping up very well.
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 Ian Byrne.
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 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.
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.
