Omagh’s Station Centre was the fabulous venue for the fourth heat of the annual Allianz Cumann na mBunscol 5-a-side Girls’ Indoor Gaelic Football for primary schools. An extremely high level of skill and sporting behaviour was exhibited from all involved.
Day 4 of the heats, Tuesday 25th February, saw 4 schools compete for a coveted place in the Tyrone County Final. The format of the day’s play was based on a Round-Robin series of matches. The first game had the girls from St Patrick’s PS Castlederg pitted against Tummery PS. Both teams went toe-to-toe in an absorbing match. Play ebbed and flowed, and when the final whistle sounded Castlederg girls just edged past the Tummery girls in a 5-goal thriller.
The second match paired Tattyreagh PS with Gaelscoil Strabane. This match was an absolutely epic encounter with Master Kelly’s Tattyreagh PS coming out on top 2-1 after a closely fought contest. However, the girls from Gaelscoil Strabane were far from finished.
Meanwhile, Master Maguire saw his gallant Tummery PS girls score the goal of the tournament. A flowing move from the ‘keeper via defence and midfield ended with the full forward calmly despatching the ball into the corner of the net. Unfortunately, for them, it was just not quite enough to ensure their progression.
Such was the competitive nature of the heat that, at this stage, no school was unbeaten. Therefore, we had a three-way play-off!
Gaelscoil Strabane had their name pulled from the hat to ensure their place in the heat final. This meant Miss Owens’ St Patrick
Castlederg took on Master McElholm’s Tattyreagh PS girls.
As expected, this was a titanic struggle between two quality sides. The quality of football was simply stunning. It was, however, by the odd goal in three, that the ‘Derg girls progressed to the heat final, at the expense of a talented Tattyreagh PS girls’ team.
We now had our finalists: St Patrick’s PS Castlederg and Gaelscoil Strabane in a winner-takes-all clash. Yet again, some fantastic football was played and great heart shown. A pulsating contest saw the play go from end to end. An outstanding performance from Niambh Fhoghlú inspired her Gaelscoil teammates to a 3-2 triumph that finally broke the brave resistance of Castlederg – who also played magnificently all day. Thus, it is Gaelscoil, led by Muinteoir Geróid, who qualify as heat winners and take their place in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone County Final to be held early March in Omagh.
We congratulate all of these talented Strabane girls and wish them well as they join Fintona, Cabragh and Moy PS awaiting the qualifying schools from future heats to be held in Omagh and Cookstown.
Our thanks to top Tyrone referee, Stephen McNamee for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone PRO, Eddie Doris, for co-ordinating the day’s matches. Organising secretary, Niall McQuaid, and Brian McGurk (Chairman) are also acknowledged for arranging these fantastic competitions. A final word of thanks must go to Jerome and Paddy at the Omagh Station Centre.
By tyronepro Wed 26th Feb
