ALLIANZ CUMANN Na mBUNSCOL
GIRLS’ INDOOR FOOTBALL HEAT 4: LOUGHVIEW
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Thír Eoghain held the fourth of 9 heats of the annual 5-a-side Girls’ Indoor Gaelic Football for primary schools today in Dungannon’s superb Loughview Centre. A total of 7 local schools competed for the honour of winning this heat and, with it, a coveted place in the Tyrone County Final. The format of the day’s play saw the teams being drawn into two sections – of 4 and 3, respectively.
Section ‘A’ had a distinct ‘Errigal’ feel to it as it featured schools from St. Malachy’s P.S. Glencull; St. Mary’s P.S. Ballygawley, and St. Brigid’s P.S. Altamuskin. Local derbies galore! St. Mary’s P.S. Lisbuoy, Carland made up the section. Ballygawley (by 1 point) and Glencull battled bravely but just missed out on making the semi-finals. Instead, Altamuskin girls impressively topped the group unbeaten (2 wins and a draw) with Carland also making the semi-finals as Section ‘A’ runners-up (2 wins).
Section ‘B’ contained teams from St. Patrick’s P.S. Aughadarragh; Gaelscoil Aodha Rua, Dún Geanainn, and St. Joseph’s P.S. Caledon. Fair play to these girls as they really gave their all in a bid to qualify. However, 1 point denied Caledon a place in the semi’s as Aughadarragh (1 win, 1 draw) won the section with Gaelscoil (2 draws) following them there as ‘B’ runners-up.
The first semi-final pitched two unbeaten schools together in St. Brigid’s P.S. Altamuskin against Gaelscoil Aodha Rua. Alas, for the Dungannon girls, their opponents just nicked a win to seal a place in the heat final.
The second semi had all the hallmarks of a potential classic – and so it proved. Aughadarragh eventually saw-off Carland in a 5-goal thriller: 3-2.
The 3rd place play-off was another enthralling game. Múinteoir Seán guided his Gaelscoil girls to a narrow 1-0 win over Ronan Nugent’s gallant Carland team.
The final featured the only unbeaten teams left in the Heat. Ultimately, after 5 gripping minutes, Mrs. Gemma Quinn’s talented Aughadarragh girls just came up short despite playing superbly. Master McKenna and Mrs. Gormley’s St. Brigid’s P.S. girls completed the entire tournament undefeated. Wow!
The fact that Altamuskin has an enrolment of 54 pupils makes securing a place in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Tyrone Girls’ Co. Final to be held in Cookstown’s Indoor MUSA all the more impressive. We congratulate Master McKenna and Mrs. Gormley and these terrifically talented girls and wish St. Brigid’s P.S. Altamuskin well as they join the qualifying schools from previous heats held in Clonoe, Cookstown and Dungannon. Omagh Heats next week…
Our thanks to referee Marty Devlin for his expert officiating, and to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol officer Damian Kelly for co-ordinating the day’s matches. Ciara (B’gawley) did a great job on photography duties. Cheers!
As always thanks to Joe McAree at the wonderful Loughview Centre.
That’s 4 teams through to Co. Final Day in MUSA on 13 March. Ádh mór!
