The All-Ireland Schoolboy Championships take place this week in Cookstown from 21–23 October. Over three days, five Leinster teams will compete for the title of All-Ireland champions!

With a tournament full of quality and some exciting games ahead, we take a look at the fixtures, preview the competing Leinster teams and hear from inside the camps ahead of three days of competitive hockey.

Tournament Groups

There are four groups in this year’s competition, with the Leinster teams drawn as follows:

• Group A: Wesley College will compete against Newtown School, Cookstown and RBAI.
• Group B: The King’s Hospital and St Andrew’s College will face Bangor Grammar School and Wallace High School.
• Group C: Newpark will compete against Campbell College Belfast, Ashton School and Banbridge Academy.
• Group D: The High School will face Sullivan Upper, Friends’ School Lisburn and Bandon Grammar School.

The teams will compete in a group-stage format, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals of the Herbie Sherman and Tasmanian Shield.

Team Previews

Wesley College

Wesley College head into the competition in strong form, having made an impressive start to their season. Their most recent result was a 2-1 victory over St Andrew’s College.

Wesley also arrive following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, having secured a league and cup double by claiming both league honours and the SB Senior Cup.

Wesley manager Nicole Fulton said:

“Our greatest strength lies in knowing what we are capable of and having the belief, hunger and determination to deliver it. Our focus is firmly on ourselves, our standards, our performance and the intensity we bring to every moment. When we play with confidence, energy and togetherness, we know the level this team can reach. We are really looking forward to three fantastic days of competitive hockey, and making the most of every opportunity.”

St Andrew’s College

This is a relatively young St Andrew’s College side that still boasts plenty of experience, with ten members of the squad returning from last year.

Led by captain Toby Slye-O’Connell, alongside vice-captains Jack Hanna and Nathan Gerrish, the side has been growing in confidence and developing together over recent weeks.

League wins against The King’s Hospital and St Columba’s College followed encouraging performances in early-season friendlies. A narrow 2-1 defeat away to tournament favourites Wesley College brought their preparations to a close, with the squad now focused on their opening game against Wallace High School.

The team is excited for the tournament to begin and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

Newpark

Drawn in Group C, Newpark will be looking to build on a strong 2025/26 campaign as they prepare for this year’s All-Ireland tournament. A second-place finish in the Cup and third place in the league secured automatic qualification and demonstrated the consistency that has been a hallmark of the squad throughout the season.

The school has a proud tradition in this competition and will be aiming to build on a number of increasingly positive performances in recent years as they continue their progress on the national stage.

The side is captained by Irish U18 captain David Rankin, with Joshua Carroll and Leo Pearlman Spencer serving as vice-captains. They form the core of a talented group that also includes goalkeeper Finn Harty, who arrives following Interprovincial success between the posts.

Under the guidance of Ben Marnell, who returns for his second season as head coach, the team will be hoping to build on last year's success and make a strong impression as they look to add another chapter to the school’s proud All-Ireland history.

The High School

The High School will compete in Group D alongside Sullivan Upper, Friends’ School Lisburn and Bandon Grammar School.

The High School’s senior boys are looking forward to competing in Cookstown at this year’s All-Ireland Schoolboy Championships. The team has enjoyed a strong pre-season, including a tournament at Wesley College, before securing qualification with wins over Mount Temple and St Columba’s College.

Having reached last year’s final, the squad will be looking to build on that success, with 11 players returning from last year’s team. The side boasts plenty of experience and depth, while a number of younger junior players will be hoping to gain valuable All-Ireland experience. Coaches Fitz and Dave have the squad well prepared as they look ahead to their opening games on Wednesday.

The King’s Hospital

The King’s Hospital qualified for the 2026 All-Irelands the hard way, coming through two difficult matches against Sutton Park (3-2) and Temple Carrig, winning 3-1 on shuttles after a 1-1 draw.

Head coach Aidan Khares, in his first year with The King’s Hospital, will be looking forward to the challenge of competing against the top schools in the country in Cookstown.

The squad is young, with only four sixth-year students, including captain Davin Lane. While the 2026 tournament may have come a year early for this group, they will be optimistic about progressing from their pool alongside Bangor Grammar School, St Andrew’s College and Wallace High School.

The squad heads into the tournament in good form following two wins in the qualifiers and a recent 3-2 league victory over The High School. Their first league outing of the season ended in a 4-0 defeat to old rivals St Andrew’s, meaning their pool match at the All-Irelands will provide an opportunity to gain revenge for that loss.

If The King’s Hospital are to qualify from the group, much will depend on the creative midfield play of captain Lane and the performances of fifth-year German student Anton Sturken in goal. Sturken was the hero of the play-off final, saving four of Temple Carrig’s five shuttles to secure qualification for this year’s tournament.

Best of Luck to All Teams!

We would like to wish all five Leinster teams the very best of luck ahead of the tournament!

To keep up to date with results and the teams’ progress throughout the competition, keep an eye on Leinster Hockey’s social media channels, alongside Hockey Ireland’s platforms.