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Cumann na mBunscol an Duin  - Girls’ Indoor Football 2006

Newcastle Girls’  Down County Champions !

The Annual Girls’ Indoor Football championship was held at various centres in mid January with eight teams qualifying for the County Final on Tues 24 January in Bryansford Sports Hall. The following schools reached the finals:           St. Nicholas’ Ardglass, Ballyholland P.S., Carrick P.S., St. Malachy’s Castlewellan, Legamaddy P.S., St. Mary’s Newcastle, St. Patrick’s Mayobridge and St. Patrick’s Newry.  The teams were divided into two groups with the top two teams  meeting in the final.

Group One.

Legamaddy P.S. won all their matches in Group One overcoming the much fancied Mayobridge, Ballyholland and Castlewellan while only conceding 2-2 and scoring a massive 3-15 in reply ! Throughout their group matches, Legamaddy put on a wonderful display of team football with Katie Tumelty being superb in goals, ably assisted by Kendra McEvoy in the backline, Natasha Lavery surging forward to score and the equally accurate Alisha Treacy in the forward line.The other teams in this section had very close encounters as the scores below reveal.

Group One Results.

Legamaddy                 2-3                   Castlewellan               0-1

Ballyholland               0-4                   Mayobridge                1-3

Ballyholland               0-0                   Castlewellan               0-1

Mayobridge                1-5                   Castlewellan               2-2

Legamaddy                 1-4                   Mayobridge                1-0

Legamaddy                 0-8                   Ballyholland               1-1

Group Two.

Although St. Mary’s Newcastle were the favourites to win this group, the impressive display of St. Patrick’s Newry in their opening game against Carrick suggested otherwise. St. Mary’s easily overcame Ardglass when scoring 3-6 without reply. The next game in the group proved to be the deciding factor as Newcastle inspired by the superb defending of Caoimhe McKay, the tirelessly running of Megan Brannigan and the scoring of Annick Maginn and Ciara Burns was too much for the gallant Newry team. In the final games of this group, the Newcastle and Newry teams easily overcame the respective opponents in Carrick and Ardglass. These results ensured a place in the final for the girls from St. Mary’s Newcastle.

Group Two Results:

Carrick                       0-2                   Newry                         1-7

Ardglass                     0-0                   Newcastle                   3-6

Carrick                       2-2                   Ardglass                     0-1

Newry                         0-3                   Newcastle                   2-3

Carrick                       0-2                   Newcastle                   1-7

Ardglass                     0-0                   Newry                         2-6

The scene was now set for the Girls’ Indoor Football Championship final for 2006 with Legamaddy and Newcastle both aspiring to be crowned county champions. St. Mary’s opened their account thanks to the skill and accuracy of Caoimhe McKay and they doubled their advantage from the foot of their captain Annick Maginn. The Legamaddy defence was now under great pressure but the efforts of Katie Tumelty in goals and defender Kendra McEvoy ensured Newcastle didn’t increase their lead. Swift play from Natasha Lavery reduce the lead to one point. There now followed a frenetic period of end to end football as both teams struggled for supremacy. The deadlock was broken by two surging runs from Annick Maginn which resulted in a goal and a point for St. Mary’s. Further scores from captain Maginn, Megan Brannigan and Ciara Burns ensured that the Newcastle girls were champions. Legamaddy never gave up and a late goal from Natasha Lavery confirmed this but it was too late and Newcastle held on for a wonderful victory.

Final Score:

St. Mary’s Newcastle                        1-5                   Legamaddy                 1-2

After the final, Mr Paddy Hardy, who had refereed all the games, congratulated all the schools who had participated in this year’s competition and he commented how the excellent coaching in schools was most evident in the skills displayed by these girls which augured well for the future of ladies football in county Down. He presented both teams with their trophies and looked forward to their participation in the other competitions organised throughout the year. He also thanked the Bryansford GAC for the use of their facilities and the various members of Cumann na mBunscol an Duin who assisted in the organisation of this event.

Winners - St.Mary's with teacher Mr Kieran Prenter	Runners up - Legamaddy P.S. with teacher Mr Kevin Bu