ALLIANZ Cumann na mBunscol BOYS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEATS 1 & 2: OMAGH

Allianz Cumann na mBunscol held the first two heats of the eagerly awaited annual 5-a-side Boys’ Indoor Gaelic Football for primary schools in Omagh’s Station Centre. A total of 14 local schools entered teams in for these qualifying heats, which produced a tremendously high level of skill and ability from all involved.
Day 1 of the heats, Monday 2nd February, saw 8 schools compete for a coveted place in the Tyrone Indoor Final. Great credit must go to the boys from Omagh Integrated P.S., St. Patrick’s P.S. Eskra, Magheralough P.S. and St. Mary’s P.S. Strabane, all of whom battled bravely in competition, but just fell short of a Semi-final berth despite their valiant efforts.
A strong team from Christ The King PS, Omagh, narrowly missed out on a place in the final when near-neighbours Holy Family PS just about got the better of them (2:1) in an absorbing first semi-final. The second semi-final was also keenly contested. Former Tyrone star, Master Sean O’ Neill, saw his St. Dympna’s PS, Dromore footballers squeezed out by a talented Gortin team from St. Patrick’s PS – managed by Ruairí Keenan.
The Final was a goal scoring epic between two schools unbeaten thus far. A sensational feast of football saw four goals despatched to the net. Indeed, extra-time was required to separate Holy Family & Gortin. (2:2 FT).
The decisive Omagh goal in ET was a hammer-blow to the brave Gortin boys, in what was a pulsating game of end-to-end football. Thus, with an unbeaten record, it is Holy Family PS who now proceed to the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Indoor Football Boys’ Final. They now await the qualifying schools from the two other Omagh heats, and the winners from our heats in Dungannon, Cookstown and Clonoe to be held this week and next.
Day 2 of the heats, Tuesday 3rd February, saw a further 6 schools compete for a coveted place in the Tyrone Indoor Final.
A round-robin series of games ensured that everyone played each other. Another feast of flowing football was the order of the day.
Tremendous displays by Knocknagor; Sacred Heart PS, Tattyreagh; Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, Strabane and St. Scires PS, Trillick – who won their final three games – were not quite enough to qualify.
It soon became apparent that two schools were destined for a winner-takes-all final league game. Indeed, going into this decisive match, both teams had a perfect four-wins-from-four identical record. St. Patrick’s PS, Castlederg – managed by our CnmB Chairman (Brian McGurk) would play St. Mary’s PS Killyclogher – managed by Tyrone legend, Stevie O’ Neill. The question was: who would come out on top?
At the end of a mouth-watering tussle, it was the lads from Killyclogher who prevailed on a 3:1 scoreline. One gets the feeling that these Castlederg boys are destined for greater things later in the season.
Congratulations to St. Mary’s PS, Killyclogher, and their mentor Master O’ Neill for reaching the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Indoor Football Boys’ Final. This will take place on Tuesday 3 March in the same venue.
Our thanks to referee, Stevie McNamee, for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone PRO, Eddie Doris, for co-ordinating the days’ matches. Director of Games, Niall McQuaid, is also acknowledged for arranging all of these competitions.
Two superb days of football now complete – what will Heats 3, 4, 5 & 6 bring? Stay tuned for updates…