GOALS GALORE!
Another Heat of the Indoor Gaelic Football 5 a-side (Boys) was held in the Station Centre, Omagh Mon 6th Feb. Section 1: St Patricks NTS, Gaelscoil na gCrann, St Scire's Trillick & St Ronan's Recarson. Section2: Our Lady of Lourdes Greencastle, Omagh Integrated, St Lawrences Fintona & St Michael's Dunamanagh.
Matches lasted 5 mins and an exciting feature of the ‘indoor game’ is that the ball was always in play. All out attack was the order of the day with 68 goals scored in 15 matches, however that total would have been much higher if it was not for the outstanding performances of virtually all the goalkeepers present.
St Patricks NTS & St Ronan’s Recarson got the action underway with a keenly contested 2-2 draw. This was followed up with St. Scire’s Trillick edging Gaelscoil na gCrann in a five goal thriller.
St Lawrences Fintona, issued a warning of their intent with a 5-1 victory over Omagh Integrated
P.S. Our Lady of Lourdes Greencastle completed the first round games with an impressive 4-1 victory over St Michael's Dunamanagh.
Round 2: St Scire’s Trillick 5:1 win v St Patrick’s and Gaelscoil na gCrann again just squeezed out another victory v St Ronan’s Recarson 3 goals to 2. The only scoreless match of the day followed with Omagh Integrated P.S. playing St Michael's Dunamanagh. It certainly wasn’t for the lack of attempts on goals but both goalkeepers put in heroic performances. St Lawrences Fintona had a 4-1 victory over Our Lady of Lourdes Greencastle, but the performance of the day came from the Shea McCullagh in the Greencastle goals.
Round 3: Gaelscoil na gCrann inspired by Lorcán Mac Daibhéid & Donnchadh Mac Giolla Uír led their team to a 3:1 victory v St Patrick’s NTS who had impressive players in Oran Preston & Ciaran McBrearty. Matthew Farry hit an impressive hattrick including a stunning volley to lead his team St Scire’s Trillick to a 4-0 win over St Ronan’s Recarson, who had solid performances from Darragh Kelly & Fintan Kearney.
Tom Burns, Jack Cleary & Cormac O Brien showed a great range of skills whilst helping Omagh Integrated P.S. to their second draw of the day when they shared 4 goals with Our Lady of Lourdes Greencastle.
The sections were completed when St Lawrences Fintona just kept a Jack Dooher & Jack Donaghey inspired St Michael’s Dunamanagh at bay with a 2:1 win.
The first semi-final saw an undefeated St Scire’s Trillick take on Our Lady of Lourdes Greencastle. This was arguably the game of the day as scores were tied at 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3. Both teams threw caution to the wind in search of a winner & with 10 seconds remaining a Daire Brogan inspired Greencastle team hit the crossbar and the rebound hit the heel of Senan McElholm in St Scire’s goalkeeper, to edge over the line.
The second semi-final saw Gaelscoil na gCrann push St Lawrences all the way, but they couldn’t breach a stubborn Fintona defence in search of an equaliser, thus going out 2 goals to 1.
After a suitable recovery period for the St Lawrence's players, the final was contested with Our Lady of Lourdes, Greencastle. Lorcan Gallen & Daniel Colton proved real leaders for St Lawrences as they gave a superb team performance to overcome the stubborn resistance of the Greencastle team 5 goals to 2. Undoubtedly, the best team won this heat and we wish them well in the next stage of the competition.
Thanks to Fabian McGlone who was a very impartial referee for all games, however I’m sure that he would agree that his day was made easy due the fact that not a single player or teacher as much as contested a decision throughout the day. Well done to all players especially the victorious St Lawrences squad: Jarlath Donnelly, Sean Og Wilson, Thomas Colton, Odhran Goodman, Daniel Colton & Lorcan Gallen.
@AllianzIreland
