Wednesday 19th February 2025
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thír Eoghain held Heat 5 of its 2025 Girls Indoor Football competition in the MUSA indoor arena in Cookstown.
The schools who attended this heat were:
- Holy Trinity P.S. Cookstown
- St Joseph's P.S. Galbally
- Mary's P.S. Dunamore
- St Mary's P.S. Pomeroy
- St Patrick's Donaghmore
- St Patrick's Mullinahoe
- Peter's P.S. Moortown
With all our teams present the schools were drawn out of a hat into two groups.
Section ‘A’ featured: St. Mary's P.S. Dunamore, St Patrick's P.S. Donaghmore, Holy Trinity P.S. Cookstown and St Patrick's P.S. Mullinahoe.
Section 'B' was made up of the three remaining teams: St Mary's P.S. Pomeroy, St. Peter's P.S. Moortown, St Joseph's P.S. Galbally.
GROUP GAMES
The girls from St Mary's P.S. Pomeroy met St. Peter's P.S. Moortown for our opening fixture. A number of the Pomeroy girls were familiar faces after playing as P6’s last year. They got of to a great start with an early gaol against the Moortown girls. Moortown battled bravely with Lucy Rocks and Kelsey Mar Ryan standing out for their efforts and ability. For Pomeroy Cara McGoldrick was super and certainly had an eye for goal and took every half chance. Caoimhe Mullin started in goal for the Pomeroy girls but moved forward to show she could score them as well as save them. Zoe O’Neill gave a great battling display for Moortown but just couldn’t close the gap as Pomeroy took the first 2 points.
In game two last years winners Dunamore met Donaghmore and served up a great game. Alanna Bradley was a real handful and ensured the Dunamore girls took the lead she was keen to put back to back titles together after they won the title last year. Gabriella Landi helped Donaghmore come back into the game with her determination and hard work. Niamh O’Neill must have been watching the Pomeroy goalkeeper in the first game as she started in nets but came out to score a teriffic goal. In the end the Dunamore girls were just too strong and earned their first points of the day with a win.
St Patrick’s Mullinahoe got their day off to a good start against Holy Trinity P.S. Cookstown with a narrow but well-deserved victory. After an early score against them the Cookstown girls put up a brave fight. Two surnames synonymous with Cookstown GAA, Caoimhe Glackin and Lisa Lennon battled very hard and kept driving forward looking for the next score to try and get the win. The Ardboe girls were very patient and worked the opportunity well for Clodagh McKeown to take the opportunity and score the first goal. This gave the Ardboe girls real belief and with some great play from Kaila Quinn and Allie Mia Mallon they were able to extend their lead. Cookstown kept coming forward but Demi-Leigh Canavan in goals managed to keep the goals out for the St Patrick’s girls to get their first points.
Next up were St Mary's P.S. Pomeroy against St Joseph’s Galbally. The Pomeroy girls continued to play with the pace and skill they showed in the first game and got the early goal. Grace McRory had a great game for the Galbally girls, but the Pomeroy defence were difficult to break down. Pomeroy extended their lead with two quick goals that gave them a cushion they were able to hold onto. Ceoladh Brogan was super for the St Mary’s girls and looked a threat every time she handled a ball. Sinead McVey made sure Pomeroy didn’t get it all their own way and gave everything to keep Galbally in the game, but unfortunately time ran out and the Pomeroy girls came out as winners.
The group stages continued to provide lots of drama and excitement as the teams battled hard to top their groups. There were plenty of examples of great individual skills on show but more impressive was the display of teamwork, moving the ball quickly and giving the right pass at the right time. As in previous years the sections were very tight but we had no draws so the group winners were clear with the top team in both unbeaten. Dunamore topped Group 1, with Ardboe in second place. In Group 2 Pomeroy came out on top with Galbally in second position.
SEMI FINALS
In Our First Semi-Final the top team in Group 1 played the 2nd placed team in Group 2.
This gave us St Mary's P.S. Dunamore v St Joseph's P.S. Galbally. Holy Trinity P.S. The Galbally girls started the brightest with Ella Gillespie and Grace McCrory continuing to stand out. This was a very tight and cagy affair with both sides having chances. The Dunamore keeper made a few great saves and from one of these Fee Loughran was able to break to set up a great score. Galbally battled bravely Sinead McVey got a turnover to get Galbally back on the scoreboard. The Dunamore girls pushed forward looking to get the winner but a great tackle from Ella Gillespie saw Galbally win the ball back and go ahead. Despite their best efforts the girls from St Marys Dunamore couldn’t get the break to close the gap. On the final whistle Galbally came out on top of a simply brilliant game.
The second Semi-final paired unbeaten Pomeroy with St Patrick’s Mullinahoe. The Ardboe girls got off to a bad start with Pomeroy hitting a very early goal, but to their credit Kacie O’Neill and Skyla Currie led a fight back that saw Clodagh McKeown and Caitlin O’Hagan create a chance to pull a goal back. Pomeroy never panicked they continued to play some great football and after some sustained pressure Ceoladh Brogan got a goal to increase their lead. The Ardboe girls continued to work hard to get back into the game. Jessica O’Neill and Emma Browne typified this attitude as they battled for every ball. On the final whistle Pomeroy found themselves through to the final where a rematch with Galbally awaited.
FINAL
The final was a great game with the two teams who had led the scoring charts and looked to have the sharpest forwards on show. The game certainly didn’t disappoint it was end to end with no shortage of drama and excitement. The teams themselves made a few positional changes to try and gain an advantage which added to the spectacle. Grace McElroy who had a great day stood out again for Galbally but Pomeroy just had that little bit more on the day. Their unselfishness and willingness to work gave them the better opportunities to get a clear shot on goal. Again Cara McGoldrick and Ceaoldh Brogan were a joy to watch. Despite a great come back from Galbally and a goal from Sinead McVey Pomeroy were able to hold on and hit a late goal to increase their lead and ensure victory.
They have now booked themselves a place in the Tyrone Girls Indoor Co. Final in March at MUSA. A huge word of thanks goes to all the schools and teachers involved today. As well as complementing them on their performances we need to complement them on their behaviour and attitude. They were all a credit to their schools and families and the Heat today was a pleasure to run.
Finally, a word of thanks to our young whistlers from Holy Trinity College who never put a foot wrong on the day, and to the friendly staff of MUSA for helping us ensure the heat ran smoothly.
Please check out our pictures below.
To all concerned, Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
@AllianzIreland
