ALLIANZ CUMANN Na mBUNSCOL
GIRLS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEAT 2: LOUGHVIEW
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thír Eoghain held the second of 9 scheduled heats of the annual 5-a-side Girls’ Indoor Gaelic Football for primary schools today in Dungannon’s excellent Loughview Centre. A total of 6 local schools competed for the honour of winning this heat and, with it, a coveted place in the Tyrone County Final. The format of the day’s play saw the teams drawn into two sections. As in the previous heats, an extremely high level of skill and sporting behaviour was exhibited from all involved.
Section ‘A’ featured schools from St. Malachy’s P.S. Glencull; St. Joseph’s P.S. Caledon and St. Mary’s P.S. Lisbuoy, Carland. This was a tight group. The Glencull girls battled bravely but just missed out on making the semi-finals. Instead, Carland impressively topped the group unbeaten (1 win: 1 draw) with Caledon also making the semi-finals as Section ‘A’ runners-up.
Section ‘B’ contained teams from St. Patrick’s P.S. Aughadarragh; St. Mary’s P.S. Pomeroy and St. Mary’s P.S. Ballygawley. Fair play to these girls as they really gave their all in a bid to qualify. However, 1 point denied a gallant Aughadarragh a place in the semi’s as Pomeroy (2 wins) won the section with Ballygawley following them there as ‘B’ runners-up.
The first semi-final pitched the two St. Mary’s of Carland and Ballygawley together. Alas, for the Carland girls (Section ‘A’ winners), their Errigal opponents just nicked a win to seal a place in the heat final.
The second semi saw a rampant Pomeroy team overcome a previously unbeaten Caledon school. Well played, though, St. Joseph’s.
The final was one of those games where mere words hardly do it justice. It had practically everything you could wish for – from super saves to great goals. Ultimately, after 5 gripping minutes and 5 goals, Mrs. Ciara Phair’s talented Ballygawley girls just came up short despite playing superbly (final score 3-2). Mrs. Ursula Daly and Seamus Begg’s Pomeroy girls completed the entire tournament undefeated thus securing a place in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Girls’ Co. Final to be held in Cookstown’s Indoor MUSA.
Our thanks to referee Sean McCartan for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol officer Damian Kelly for co-ordinating the day’s matches. Mrs. Gemma Quinn did a great job on photography duties.
As always thanks to top man Joe McAree at the wonderful Loughview Centre.
