First year girls win
Irish schools title
SCOIL Mhuire in Buncrana won the FAI Schools first
year girls national soccer title in sunny Athlone on
Sunday. Screams of delight filled the air at Willow
Park as Scoil Mhuire captain Sarah Parker accepted
the cup on behalf of her delighted team mates.
Having won the Ulster title some weeks ago, the
girls participated in a unique round-robin
tournament against the Connacht, Leinster and
Munster champions and won the national title on goal
difference.
Having travelled down on Friday, Scoil Mhuire’s
first game was against Alexandra College, Dublin
early on Saturday morning. The Leinster champions
took the lead, but Maria Browne gave a hint of what
was to follow over the weekend when she struck a
superb 25 yard free kick to the top corner of the
net minutes before the end.
Saint Caiman’s of Shannon, County Clare provided the
opposition in the second game. Played on Saturday
evening, the Munster champions gave Scoil Mhuire
their toughest test of the weekend and the game
ended scoreless. “It was a very tense match and the
sides were evenly matched,” said Scoil Mhuire
manager David Deeney. “We had the chances to win it,
but their keeper was in excellent form.”
Ballina school St Mary’s provided the opposition in
the third and final game. Played on Sunday
afternoon, the team knew that they needed to win by
two clear goals to claim the title.
With two goals each from captain Sarah Parker and
player of the tournament Maria Browne, Scoil Mhuire
took the lead early on only to see the Mayo side
equalise. Scoil Mhuire led 3-2 at the break and made
it four within five minutes of the restart. They
then held out to claim the win, and won the
tournament outright on goal difference from Dublin
side Alexandra.
“This was our first win in the grade – winning
Ulster and then the All-Ireland is a fantastic
achievement for the girls,” said manager David
Deeney. “We were treated to massive welcome when we
got home to Buncrana. A cavalcade of more than 30
cars, including Garda vehicles with flashing sirens,
greeted us as the girls’ paraded up the street.”
The team was given yesterday morning off, and were
brought onto the stage during Assembly to show off
their cup. “There was no danger of the girls not
wanting to be in,” Mr Deeney laughed. “There’s a
healthy rivalry between the girls and boys teams and
the girls couldn’t wait to get in and tell the boys
about how they’re now All-Ireland champions.”
The Scoil Mhuire squad: Lauren Coyle, Elaine Coyle,
Shauna Doherty, Erin Quinn, Aoife Porter, Maria
Browne, Emma McGrath, Emma Breslin, Sarah Parker
(captain), Kellie McBride, Sinead McColgan. Subs:
Megan McConalogue, Taylor Walsh, Siobhan McCracken,
Louise McGonagle. Teachers: David Deeney and Paddy
Carr. |
