ALLIANZ Cumann na mBunscol
BOYS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEAT 9: Cookstown
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thír Eoghain held the ninth and final Heat of its 2020 Boys’ Indoor Football competition in Cookstown Leisure Centre. Seven schools competed in an action-packed day of tremendous football, providing thrills and skills aplenty. What a great day’s action it was…
Teams were drawn into two groups. Section ‘A’ featured 4 schools: St. Patrick’s P.S. Mullinahoe, Ardboe; St. Mary’s P.S. Dunamore; St. Joseph’s P.S. Galbally and St. Mary’s P.S. Pomeroy. These school teams gave their all in a bid to qualify for the heat final but, despite playing great stuff, Dunamore and Galbally didn’t quite make it on this occasion. St. Patrick’s P.S. Mullinahoe, by virtue of their head-to-head win topped the group, with Pomeroy in second place also making the semi-final stage.
Section ‘B’ had 3 teams comprising St. Patrick’s P.S. Donaghmore; Holy Trinity P.S. Cookstown and St. Peter’s P.S. Moortown. Despite displaying plenty of gusto, the Cookstown team narrowly missed-out on qualifying leaving Donaghmore and Moortown reaching the semi-finals.
The scene was now set for our semi-finals and what a treat lay in store. What unfolded was four power-packed performances from all 4 semi-finalists. A skilful St. Patrick’s P.S. Mullinahoe raced into a 4-2 lead before being caught 6-4 by a resolute Donaghmore side. The second semi-final was a 5-goal thriller with a gallant Pomeroy losing out by the odd goal in 5 in a 3-2 reverse to a mighty Moortown effort. Breath-taking stuff!
The final pitched Master John Quinn against Mrs. Helen Lavery managing Moortown and Donaghmore, respectively. Unsurprisingly, after the drama-packed semi-finals, this was a cagey affair between the two unbeaten schools in the tournament. Ultimately, it wasn’t to be for the Moortown men, but they did themselves and their school proud on the day – well done, lads!
A talented St. Patrick’s P.S. Donaghmore, on the other hand, with a tremendous 2-0 win, book themselves a place in the much-coveted Tyrone Indoor Co. Final to be held in Cookstown’s MUSA Indoor Arena on Tuesday 10 March. We wish these gifted lads well. Ádh mór oraibh!
A huge word of thanks goes to our referee Marty Devlin (Stewartstown) and to the friendly staff of the Cookstown Leisure Centre. Patrick McGivern (Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thír Eoghain) ensured the smooth running of the day’s games. To all concerned, Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
