ALLIANZ CUMANN Na mBUNSCOL – GIRLS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEAT 1: LOUGHVIEW

The first of six heats of the annual Allianz Cumann na mBunscol 5-a-side Girls’ Indoor Gaelic Football for primary schools was held today in Dungannon’s excellent Loughview Centre. Due to circumstances beyond their control, a small number of school sent apologies for being unable to attend on the day. Regardless, the competition continued with four local schools competing for the honour of winning this particular heat. An extremely high level of skill and sporting behaviour was exhibited from all involved.
Day 1 of the heats, Thursday 20th February, saw the 4 schools compete for a coveted place in the Tyrone County Final. The format of the day’s play was revised to form a Round-Robin series of matches. The first game set the tone for the rest of the day’s play. The girls from Glencull PS and Aughadarragh PS went toe-to-toe in an absorbing match. Play ebbed and flowed, and when the final whistle sounded we had a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw.
The second match paired the St Mary’s from Cabragh PS with their namesakes from Ballygawley PS. 6 goals were scored with the Cabragh girls coming out on top after a closely fought 4-2 victory. Indeed, Master Kelly’s Cabragh girls continued their rich scoring form when they notched six goals in a 6-2 win against a gallant Glencull PS. An Aughadarragh victory in the next match kept their hopes of qualification very much alive. The Aughadarragh goalkeeper was proving to be most formidable in nets with a string of simply superb saves.
The day’s penultimate match pitched local rivals Ballygawley PS with their near-neighbours Glencull. In keeping with the day’s play, this contest didn’t disappoint. A pulsating contest saw the play go from end to end. The girls could not be separated and we had a very entertaining 2-2 result at full time.
Two teams remained unbeaten, and they were to play the final match of the day in a winner-takes-all clash. The level of expectation and anticipation was high. Cabragh and Aughadarragh played some tremendous football and displayed a full-blooded effort. An early Aughadarragh goal really spiced things up. Try as they could, the Cabragh girls couldn’t find a way past the opposing keeper. Just as it appeared Aughadarragh had the game sown up, a last minute goal earned the Cabragh girls a 1-1 result. That crucial goal was to prove pivotal as it broke the brave resistance of Aughadarragh, and also secured Cabragh’s place in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone County Final to be held early March in Omagh.
 
We congratulate all of these talented girls and wish Cabragh well as they await the qualifying schools from future heats to be held in Omagh, Cookstown and Clonoe.
 
Our thanks to Stewartstown referee Marty Devlin 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 Mickey Quinn (Treasurer) are also acknowledged for arranging these fantastic competitions. A final word of thanks must go to the Rod and Joe McAree at the Loughview Centre.