10/09/2026
SAFIB Rod Houston Cup
Schools Association Football International Board (SAFIB)
First Year Girls National Cup Finalists (Under 14)
Presentation College, Athenry set for showdown in Lilleshall
Thursday, September 10, 2026
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY will represent FAI Schools next week in the SAFIB Rod Houston Cup in Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire (Mon, Sept 14 to Wed, Sept 16).
The Galway girls will enjoy a record third appearance at this annual event. They competed initially in 2022 while they followed this up the following season, in 2023 winning out the prestigious competition.
Athenry represent Ireland on merit having won last season’s FAI Schools First Year Girls National Cup title last May in an exciting five goal thriller defeating St. Mary’s High School, Midleton 3-2 at Jackman Park, Limerick.
Joe Finnerty’s crew will relish next week’s challenge as they compete against Welsh stars Ysgol Glan Clwyd who return to this level of competition having featured a few seasons ago. Penarth scholars Stanwell School will look to turn on the style having come second last season. While newbies Our Lady Catholic High School, Preston will make up the quartet, with their first taste of competition at this level.
The Republic of Ireland have a good record in this tournament since its inception ten years ago, winning 4 out of the 8 titles on offer.
Twelve months previously St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh came third with one win, one draw and one defeat in a highly competitive contest. The Irish girls drew 1-1 in their opening game against Stanwell School, Penarth but the penalty shoot-out saw Stanwell collect a bonus point winning out 4-3 on spot kicks. The penultimate game saw St. Mary’s win out 5-0 against Welsh outfit Caerleon CS, Newport while their final game saw them go 3-1 down to eventual winners Surbiton High School, Surrey.
Salthill’s Salerno Secondary School captured the title two years ago with a phenomenal display netting 27 goals in 3 games, only conceding 2. They defeated Caerleon in the opening match with a comprehensive 11-0 scoreline which was followed up by a 14-1 victory over Northern Ireland newcomers Kilkeel High School of Down. The last outing was much more competitive with the Galway students 2-1 victors against Shenfield High School, Essex.
Presentation College, Athenry claimed top spot in 2023 with a 2-0 win over Welsh side Caerleon Comprehensive School on the opening day. They followed this up with a slender 1-0 victory over South Hunsley High School from England and clinched gold with an all-Irish affair as they stuck two unanswered goals past third place finishers Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny.
Athenry had made their debut in 2022 coming third with South Hunsley High School capturing the trophy that season.
2019 saw Carndonagh Community School lift the crown. They secured the gold medal with a 3-1 victory over Welsh outfit Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Saint Asaph. Conor Doherty’s side were in a commanding position heading into the final game following comprehensive victories over their English counterparts, defeating Crompton House School 4-2 in the opening game. This was followed up with an impressive 4-0 win over Shenfield High School, Essex in the penultimate outing.
In 2018, Westport’s Sacred Heart School made the journey to Lilleshall. The Irish girls had convincing wins over the other title contenders St. Ivo School and Ysgol Cymraeg Bro Morgannwg of Barry, so it was winner takes all on the third day of action. Bohunt School, Wokingham dispatched the Westport side 2-1 in a tantalising conclusion to ensure a runners-up spot for the Republic of Ireland representatives.
2017 Champions, Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny had a phenomenal tournament with the Cats notching up 32 goals in three games, only conceding twice to lift the title in remarkable fashion with Senior International Ellen Molly playing an instrumental role in their success.
In 2016, Ursuline College in Sligo were runners up to eventual winners St. Ivo School in the very first tournament decider.
TOURNAMENT FIXTURES
The first series of games will take place on Monday afternoon (September 14) which will see Our Lady Catholic High School, Preston pipped against Ysgol Glan Clwyd at 4pm while last season’s runners up Stanwell School, Penarth take on Republic of Ireland outfit Presentation College, Athenry with a 5.15pm kick off scheduled.
Day two will see an early start for Stanwell as they face Our Lady Catholic High School at 10am while Ysgol Glan Clwyd entertain Athenry at 11.15am.
Wednesday’s fixtures have the Republic of Ireland representatives doing battle against Our Lady Catholic High School while Stanwell School play Ysgol Glan Clwyd in all Welsh affair as both games kick off simultaneously at 10.30am.
The table toppers will be awarded the Rod Houston Cup following the final series of games as well as the Nigel Brown Trophy will be presented to the most improved / inspirational player.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY | Amelia Doherty, Cerys Johnston, Sophie Coen, Molly Moran, Abbie Cussen, Mia Lawless, Lucy McDonald, Clodagh Collins, Keelin Murtagh, Roisin Hannon, Roisin Sammon, Aoibhinn Burke, Laoise Larkin, Lillie May Forde, Ailbhe Brady, Kayla Poniard.
MANAGEMENT | Joe Finnerty, Dom Coll, Áine Hynes
SAFIB Rod Houston Cup (U14 Girls’ Tournament)
Venue | Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire
FIXTURES
Monday, September 14
Our Lady Catholic High School, Preston vs Ysgol Glan Clwyd KO 4pm
Presentation College, Athenry vs Stanwell School, Penarth 5.15pm
Tuesday, September 15
Stanwell School vs Our Lady Catholic High School KO 10am
Ysgol Glan Clwyd vs Presentation College, Athenry KO 11.15am
Wednesday, September 16
Our Lady Catholic High School vs Presentation College, Athenry KO 10.30am
Stanwell School vs Ysgol Glan Clwyd KO 10.30am
BACKGROUND
The Cup is named after Mr. Rod Houston. Rod is a retired School teacher and was President of the Scottish Schools FA for many years. He held the position of Treasurer and Secretary of the Schools Association Football International Board (SAFIB) and is honoured to be associated with this competition that promotes girls’ football to a larger audience. This competition has been in existence since 2016.
ROLL OF HONOUR
2016 | St. Ivo School, Huntington (Runners Up Ursuline College, Sligo)
2017 | Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny
2018 | Bohunt School, Wokingham (Runners Up Sacred Heart School, Westport)
2019 | Carndonagh Community School, Donegal
2020 | NA (COVID-19)
2021 | NA (COVID-19)
2022 | South Hunsley High School (Third Place Presentation College, Athenry)
2023 | Presentation College, Athenry, Galway (Third Place Loreto SS, Kilkenny)
2024 | Salerno Secondary School, Salthill, Galway
2025 | Surbiton High School, Surrey (Third Place St. Mary’s SS, Nenagh)
PREVIOUS IRISH REPRESENTATIVE SQUAD LISTS
2016 | URSULINE COLLEGE, SLIGO | Megan Byrne, Emma Corcoran, Allanah Gallagher, Shona Dalton, Oda Carty, Sophie McDonagh (Captain), Helen Monaghan, Aoife McLaughlin, Laura Oates, Cathy Harrison, Sarah Gillen, Sophie McGoldrick, Eden Rooney, Emma Shanley, Ingrid Shiels
TEACHERS | Deirdre Cullinan, Carmel Donelon ASSISTANTS: Darragh Healy & Laura McGinn
2017 | PRESENTATION SS, KILKENNY | Ellie O’Neill, Louise McInerney, Katie Ryan, Caroline Barron, Sarah O’Gorman, Niamh Phelan, Sarah Barcoe, Keara Ryan, Rachel Whelan, Ellen Molloy, Kate Furlong, Emma Shortall, Sarah Hudson, Alannah Cody, Sarah O’Donnell, Aoife Doyle
TEACHERS | Wendy Roche & Monica Kearns
2018 | SACRED HEART SCHOOL, WESTPORT | Katie McNea (Captain), Ella McHale, Aenea Breslin, Sophie Scahill, Ashling Duffy, Sorcha McArney, Aoife Staunton, Leila O’Malley, Maggie Chambers, Laura Moran, Cliodhna Casey, Abi Conway, Maya O’Toole, Emily Chambers, Milly Allen, Eimear Geraghty, Laura Masterson
TEACHERS | Fiona Casey, Annemarie O’Malley ASSISANTS | Declan Moran, Megan Nugent, Jennifer Coughlan
2019 | CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL | Samantha McLaughlin, Suzie Lafferty, Ellie Long, Ailish Doherty, Imogen Diver, Seaneen Crumlish, Cora McCaul, Alanah Brennan, Aisling Doherty, Fiona Dohery. Clara Gill, Aoife McCarron, Erin Grant, Niamh Devlin, Jenna Gallagher, Julia Grant, Rachel McLaughlin, Courtney Gallagher
TEACHERS | Conor Doherty, Kevin McCarron, Danielle Doherty
2022 | PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY | Lauren Kearney, Leah Mullins, Sarah Egan, Soirise Counihan, Niamh Kilgannon, Mollie Noone, Sophie Hogan, Katyln Walshe, Aimria McNamara, Ciara Mullins, Katie Noone, Lauren Gannon, Chloe Taylor Keane, Abbie Donoughue, Jessica McGlynn, Aoibhe Corcoran
TEACHERS | Joe Finnerty, James McDonnell, Emer Kilgannon, Dom Coll
2023 | PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY | Jane Brennan, Cadhla Fox, Aoibhín Hannon, Ailbhe Mannion (JC), Brooke Corcoran, Anna Jordan, Kacie Lally Duffy, Abbie Duffy (JC), Tegan Kilkenny, Lily May Feeney, Sinéad Feeney, Elsa Heaney, Aisling Higgins, Sophie Murray, Angel Gbadamosi, Áine Duffy
TEACHERS | Patrick Conroy, Lucy Smith, Dom Coll
2023 | LORETO SECONDARY SCHOOL, KILKENNY | Sofia Blackmore, Eilish Keating, Stella Butler, Holly Drennan, Cadhla Boylan, Eva Tynan, Anna Keogh, Muireann Kenny, Emily Farrell, Ailbhe Ni Chasaide, Emma Hogan ©, Sophie O’Riordan, Isabel Walsh, Lily Ryan Murray, Aoife Brennan, Evie O’Brien
TEACHERS | Paul McGinley, Barry O’Neill, Karen Costigan, Padraig Fitzpatrick
2024 | SALERNO SECONDARY SCHOOL, SALTHILL | Ciara Coyle, Emily Jean Killeen, Amy McCallaig, Niamh McGauran, Grace Coyle, Rachel O’Grady, Danielle Earley, Ava Rose O’Gorman, Amber O’Leary, Emily Watson, Róisín Heinz-Ward, Tilly Carroll, Anna Murphy, Ava Costello, Orna Dunne, Ana Conway
MANAGEMENT STAFF | Conor Killeen, Conor Quinlan, Dan Stephens, Claire Hogan, Abbie Killeen
2025 | ST. MARY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL, NENAGH, TIPPERARY | Meabh Gleeson, Anna Costello, Jane Power, Caoimhe Kennedy, Abi O’Brien, Hailee Moran Tanner, Jenna McSherry, Milena Halbina, Alanna O’Carroll, Maddie Dean, Tara Hanrahan, Jenny Talbot, Amy Keogh, Daisy Ryan, Abi Carr, Mia Dziewiatka
MANAGEMENT STAFF | Jillian White
Presentation College Athenry
FAI Schools
FAIreland
The Galway Football Association
