ALLIANZ CUMANN Na mBUNSCOL
GIRLS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEAT 3: LOUGHVIEW
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thír Eoghain held the third 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 8 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 talented schools from Gaelscoil Aodha Rua, Dún Geanainn and St. St. Patrick’s P.S. Dungannon. These schools battled admirably but two schools stood out in the section: St. Mary’s P.S. Cabragh topped the group with a 100% record of 3 wins from 3, and Roan P.S. (our current 2-time Tyrone champions) made the semi-finals as Section ‘A’ runners-up.
Section ‘B’ proved to be a tighter group with little separating the teams. St. Francis’ P.S. Derrylatinee and St. John’s P.S. Moy narrowly lost out on progressing despite playing great football. Hard luck girls. Two schools seemed destined to battle it out as group ‘B’ table-toppers. 2 wins and a draw saw an impressive St. Mary’s P.S. Aughnacloy team head the group whilst a win and 2 draws proved enough for Edendork to seal their semi-final berth, also unbeaten.
The two semi-finals saw section ‘A’ winners Cabragh overcome Edendork 1-0 in a tight, tense affair. Fair play to Edendork on a terrific tournament. The second semi-final witnessed Section ‘B’ winners, Aughnacloy, fall to a resurgent Roan team. Again, well done Aughnacloy on a superb tournament. Edendork and Aughnacloy came joint 3rd . Well done girls!
The final between, arguably, the day’s two best teams, didn’t disappoint. It was edge-of-the-seat stuff as both Cabragh and Roan gave it their all. Ultimately, after 5 tension-filled minutes, the contest would go, by the narrowest of margins (2-1), the way of our back-to-back champions, Roan P.S.
It wasn’t to be for Master McCreesh and his fabulous Cabragh team, but they played wonderful football all day. Emotional scenes between Seamus and Pat at the end didn’t leave a dry eye in the ground. It’s an Armagh thing I’m told…
The Roan girls, meanwhile, appear to thrive on carrying the mantle of County Champions, and this makes securing a place in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone County Final to be held in Cookstown’s Indoor MUSA all the more impressive. We congratulate Masters Mone and Grimley and these terrifically talented girls and wish Roan P.S. well as they set their sights on a truly remarkable 3-in-a-row of County indoor football titles. Ádh mór!
Our thanks to referee Sean McCartan for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol officer Pat McGivern for coordinating the day’s matches. A final word of thanks must go to Joe McAree at the wonderful Loughview Centre. A true gent. Well done all!
