ALLIANZ CUMANN Na mBUNSCOL – “BOYS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL” HEAT 3: OMAGH

The third heat of the annual Allianz Cumann na mBunscol 5-a-side “Boys’ Indoor Gaelic Football” for primary schools was held today in Omagh’s Station Centre. Five local schools entered teams for this qualifying heat, which produced a tremendously high level of skill and ability from all involved.
Day 3 of the heats, Wednesday 5th February, saw the schools compete for a coveted place in the Tyrone Final. The format of the day’s play was based on a round-robin series of matches, whereby each school got to play each other. This, of course, meant that each school got to play a total of 4 games. Great praise must go to the teams from Gortnagarn PS, Tircur St Eugene’s PS, and Gaelscoil PS, Strabane, all of whom battled heroically in competition, but just fell short of qualifying despite their valiant efforts.
As these matches were being played, it became apparent that two schools, in particular, were playing a brand of football that set them apart from the opposition. Match 6 was to prove a clash to be relished. This game saw St. Patrick’s PS, Castlederg, engage their counterparts from Our Lady of Lourdes PS, Greencastle. An interesting aside was the fact that this winner-take-all encounter pitted the Tyrone Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Chairman (Brian McGurk, Castlederg) against former Tyrone great Noel McGinn of TeamTalkmag fame.
The game itself lived up to all pre-match expectations. The play ebbed and flowed with a goal for one team being immediately cancelled out by the opponents. 1-1 became 2-2, and it looked like these two gallant teams would have to share the spoils. Could a winner be found in this titanic struggle?
A late goal for the Greencastle lads was enough to secure a dramatic 3-2 win. Master McGinn’s gifted team qualify with a 100% win record. They now proceed to the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Indoor Football Boys’ Final to be held in March. We congratulate the talented Greencastle boys and wish them well as they await the qualifying schools from the previous Omagh heats, and the winners from our heats in Dungannon, Cookstown and Clonoe.
Our thanks to Tyrone referee, Stephen McNamee, for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Treasurer, Mickey Quinn, and Eddie Doris, PRO, for co-ordinating the day’s matches. Organising secretary, Niall McQuaid, is also acknowledged for arranging these terrific competitions. A final word of thanks must go to the friendly, helpful staff at Omagh’s Station Centre.