ALLIANZ CUMANN Na mBUNSCOL
GIRLS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEAT 5: Omagh
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thir Eoghain today held the penultimate heat of six scheduled heats of the annual 5-a-side Girls’ Indoor Gaelic Football for Tyrone primary schools in Omagh’s Station Centre. A total of 8 schools competed for the honour of winning this particular heat. The format of the day’s play saw the 8 team captains select a number to draw their schools into two sections. As was the case in the previous four heats, an extremely high level of skill and sporting behaviour was exhibited from all involved.
Section ‘A’ contained teams from St. Mary’s P.S. Strabane; Holy Family P.S. Omagh; St. Catherine’s P.S. Strabane and St. Dympna’s P.S. Dromore. Under the guidance of Tyrone star, Joe McMahon, St. Mary’s P.S. Strabane powered to an opening 3-1 win over their Strabane neighbours: St. Catherine’s. These girls from St. Catherine’s played their hearts out all day. Meanwhile, St. Dympna’s P.S. Dromore and Holy Family P.S. each registered a couple of group wins. Incidentally, both of these school teams were managed by former county players: Sean O’ Neill and Nichola Donnelly, respectively. These Tyrone schools certainly have some quality mentors. This all meant that St. Mary’s P.S. Strabane missed out by just one point on progressing further on the day. Hard luck, girls – but, well done! Instead, St. Dympna’s topped the group (2 wins and a draw) with Holy Family P.S. (2 wins and a loss) finishing as section runners-up. Both had made the semi-finals.
Section ‘B’ comprised St. Patrick’s P.S. Castlederg; Omagh Integrated P.S; St. Conor’s P.S. Omagh and St. Colmcille’s P.S. Carrickmore. The girls from Omagh Integrated P.S. and St. Conor’s P.S. – managed by Masters Bradley and Grugan, respectively, both put everything they had into this heat. In fact, St. Conor’s only had one reverse in the group. However, they came up against formidable opponents in the shape of St. Patrick’s P.S. Castlederg and St. Colmcille’s P.S. Carrickmore. Nevertheless, these two Omagh teams had a great tournament. Well done, girls. Castlederg and Carrickmore played each other in the last league game of the series. As befitting two evenly managed teams, a 0-0 stalemate ensued. This left Carrickmore as section winners (2 wins and a draw) and Castlederg (2 draws and a win) as sectional runners-up. Semi-final places were assured.
Before the commencement of the semi-finals, a series of friendly matches involving those schools who hadn’t quite made it to the semi’s produced a great deal of exciting action, and was another opportunity for the girls to showcase their undoubted skills.
The first semi-final pitched Section ‘A’ winners (St. Dympna’s P.S. Dromore) against the ‘B’ runners-up (St. Patrick’s P.S. Castlederg). Unfortunately for Dromore, they ran into an inspired Castlederg side – managed by Tyrone CnmB Chairman, Brian McGurk, - who romped to an impressive 3-0 victory, thus securing themselves a place in the heat final. Commiserations to a gallant St. Dympna’s P.S. team, as they had played brilliantly all day and had played a terrific tournament!
The second semi-final saw Section ‘B’ winners (Carrickmore) come up against the ‘A’ runners-up: Holy Family P.S. The H.F.P.S. girls, to their credit, threw everything at it but a strong St. Colmcille’s P.S. registered a deserved 2-0 win to book their place in the heat final. Hard luck to Holy Family P.S. – you had a wonderful tournament.
The final between Castlederg and Carrickmore was eagerly anticipated, as both schools were unbeaten thus far. The result earlier in the group stages between these two was a 0-0 draw, and this final followed a similar path as, when the referee sounded the final whistle, the game finished level: 1-1. This meant we required extra-time to find our winner. At this stage, the Carmen No. 3 popped-up to score a decisive winning goal, signalling that St. Colmcille’s P.S had won the day. St. Patrick’s P.S. Castlederg had given it everything and Master McGurk couldn’t have asked anything more from his talented team. Well played, girls – a team worth watching come the outdoor leagues, no doubt!
Master Emmet O’ Neill, on the other hand, was delighted as his Carmen girls clinched a 2-1 (AET) victory and, more importantly, a place in the county final next month in Cookstown’s MUSA. Comhghairdeas agus maith sibh go léir! We congratulate all of these talented girls and wish St. Colmcille’s P.S. well as they join Eglish, Gaelscoil Uí Neill Clonoe, Galbally and Newtownstewart in awaiting the qualifying school from the last remaining girls’ heat to be held in Cookstown.
Our sincere thanks to referee Stevie McNamee for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Rúnaí, Eddie Doris, for co-ordinating the day’s matches. A final word of thanks must go to the friendly staff at the Station Centre for their hospitality this week.
That’s five of the six county final berths safely filled – bring on the final one…
