While the football world focused on the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham, a different kind of championship atmosphere filled Mary Immaculate College (MIC) on Wednesday, 21 May, as the annual League of Legends soccer blitz kicked off for the 14th consecutive year.
A fantastic day of football saw over 130 boys and girls from 14 local Fifth and Sixth classes take to pitches, showcasing their skills, teamwork and love of the game.
The League of Legends is a collaborative initiative between the Transforming Education through Dialogue (TED) Project—an MIC programme that engages directly with primary and post-primary schools— and the PLUS (Primary Liaison with University Services) Network, which brings together representatives from 14 local schools. Based in the Curriculum Development Unit of the College, the TED Project works with these schools on a range of activities and programmes throughout the academic year.
Now a firm favourite in the school calendar, the annual blitz aims to strengthen partnerships between MIC and local schools while giving pupils the opportunity to experience a third-level campus and enjoy the College’s sports facilities.
This year’s tournament was held across four pitches on MIC’s sports field, with teams battling it out through a series of matches until the final two in both the girls’ and boys’ competitions emerged.
In the first final, St Anne’s, Rathkeale took on Our Lady Queen of Peace National School for the second consecutive year. After a closely fought match, it went to penalties, with Clodagh named ‘Player of the Match’. In a tense shootout, Our Lady Queen of Peace NS, led by their captain Amber, secured a 3-2 victory.
The second final of the day saw reigning champions Scoil Iosagáin CBS Primary School face Our Lady Queen of Peace National School. In another tight contested match, Scoil Iosagáin CBS scored late and held on during a tense finish to claim a 1-0 win. Led by captain Ali and goalkeeper Yousaf—who was named ‘Player of the Match’—Scoil Iosagáin CBS has now won the boys division for a remarkable fifth year in a row.
The winners and runners-up were honoured at a post-tournament ceremony, where they were presented with trophies and medals by Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC, alongside awards for the Players of the Match from each final.
Other schools competing at this year’s League of Legends were: Corpus Christi National School, Le Chéíle National School, Our Lady of Lourdes National School, Presentation Girls School, St Anne’s Girls School, St John’s Girls and Infant Boys School, St John the Baptist, St Joseph’s Boys School and Thomond Primary School.
