ALLIANZ CUMANN Na mBUNSCOL
GIRLS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEAT 2: Omagh
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thir Eoghain today held the second of six scheduled heats of the annual 5-a-side Girls’ Indoor Gaelic Football for Tyrone primary schools in Omagh’s superb Station Centre. A total of 6 schools competed for the honour of winning this heat. The format of the day’s play saw schools drawn in to 2 sections of 3. As was the case in the first heat, an extremely high level of skill and sporting behaviour was exhibited from all involved.
Section ‘A’ comprised All Saints’ P.S. Tattysallagh; Christ The King P.S. Strathroy and St. Scire’s P.S. Trillick. It was a very tightly contested group with little separating the teams. The Tattysallagh girls battled bravely but, despite playing great stuff, fell just short of qualifying for the semi’s. Instead, this honour fell to Christ The King (group winners) and the Trillick girls.
Section ‘B’ contained St. Patrick’s P.S. Newtownstewart; Holy Family P.S. Omagh and St. Teresa’s P.S. Loughmacrory. Once again, this proved a tricky group to qualify from. However, despite giving of their best all day, the girls from Newtownstewart didn’t quite make it out of the group. Topping the section was Holy Family P.S. with Loughmacrory also making the semi’s.
A thrilling fifth-placed play-off saw the Newtownstewart girls just pip Tattysallagh on a 2-1 scoreline. Well done to both teams!
The first semi-final between Christ The King and Loughmacrory promised much, and this certainly was the case. Goals flew in as the match ended 2-2 after normal time. Extra-time was required, and it was here where Loughmacrory scored the winning goal to book their place in the Heat Final.
The second semi-final also produced a goal-fest. After six goals being scored, it was Holy Family P.S. who prevailed 4-2 over a gallant Trillick side. At this point, the stage was set for the Heat Final between St. Teresa’s P.S. Loughmacrory and Holy Family P.S.
Having already met in a tight Section ‘B’ encounter, it was Holy Family who started the brightest (2-0) before St. Teresa’s hit back. However, a third Omagh goal proved decisive as Holy Family triumphed 3-1. Great credit to Ms. Donnelly’s talented Loughmacrory girls. They played brilliantly!
Master Declan McCusker, meanwhile, was delighted as his Holy Family P.S. girls clinched a place in the county final next month in Cookstown’s MUSA Indoor Arena on Friday 2 March.
Our sincere thanks to referee Brian McGinn for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone officers Mickey Quinn and Eddie Doris for co-ordinating the day’s matches. A final word of thanks must go to the friendly staff at the Station Centre.
That’s two of the six county final berths safely filled – bring on the next four!
