Kukri Ulster Schools Finals
The KUKRI sponsored Ulster schools finals are well underway with six of the eleven finals now decided. With goals a plenty and silverware being distributed around four counties so far it’s been a great year for Ladies Gaelic in our schools.
Loreto Omagh retained their KUKRI Ulster U20A title thanks to a 2-13 to 1-8 win over Mount Lourdes in Brewster Park. In a tight first quarter the sides were level three times. Loreto should then have taken the lead but a brilliant save from Niamh Gillen denied Niamh Mc Girr a goal. Instead at the break Mount Lourdes went in three ahead thanks to a late penalty conversion by player of the match Sarah Mc Causland. Loreto upped the anti in the second half and scored 2-10 while all Mount Lourdes could manage was a trio of points. The Loreto majors were scored by Siobhan Sheerin and Niamh Mc Girr. This was a tough game played in heavy conditions and credit goes to both sides for serving up a great game. Ulster Secretary Mary Keegan presented the player of the match to Mount Lourdes half forward Sarah Mc Causland while Bronagh Mc Clenaghan from KUKRI presented the cup to the Loreto captain.
The first provincial final of the year the U20B, saw a seven goal thriller which Our Lady’s Castleblayney eventually won against St. Joseph’s, Donaghmore by just two points (4-5 to 3-6). Scores were hard to come by in the first half with just five in total. St. Josephs led 1-2 to 0-2 at the break thanks to Cathy Connolly second minute goal. The second half came to life early and a trio of goals in the first 8 minutes from Aoife Duffy, Megan Atkinson and Michaela Mc Quaid put Our Lady’s in the driving seat. To make matters worse for St. Josephs Helen Mc Aleer was sin binned in the 13th minute. While Our Lady’s should have pushed on they sat back and St. Joseph’s came back strong thanks mainly to a goal from the penalty spot by Niamh Mc Nulty. Our Lady’s did manage to finish strong and a goal from an Alana O Donoghue penalty helped them to a narrow two point win. There was some consolation for St. Joesphs as their centre back Amy Carberry was named player of the match.
In the U20C decider Virginia College beat Our Lady’s, Newry.
Exciting U16’s
A personal tally of 1-8 from Aimee Mackin helped St. Paul’s Bessbrook to the KUKRI U16A Ulster schools title in Clones. In what turned out to be a cracking game the Sounth Armagh side just about edged it over Loreto Omagh to win 4-9 to 2-13. The Tyrone outfit had the better of the first half and despite having two players sin binned they led at the break 2-5 to 1-5. The all-important goals came from midfielder Aimee Coyle and lively corner forward Roisin Devlin. For the winner full forward Anna Carr netted their first half major. In the second half the sides were lebvel several times but in the end the difference in the sides was the Mackin Sisters. Centre forward Blaithin contributed two goals while player of the match Aimee scored 1-8 including the winning couple of points. Both teams and management deserve credit for producing a brilliant game of football.
St. Louis Carrickmacross lifted the KUKRI Ulster Schools U16B title at a bitterly cold Emyvale. They proved much too strong for Sacred Heart, Omagh winning 8-8 to 0-4. The game was effectively over at half time as the much more experienced Monaghan side rattled in 5 first half goals to lead at the break 5-6 to 0-2. Sacred Heart who were playing in their first Ulster final were much improved in the second half and with 11 of the side eligible to play next year they will be a team for the future. Despite the gulf in class the Tyrone side fought to the bitter end and deserve great credit for never giving up.
In the U16C final Loreto, Cavan beat Our Lady and St. Patrick’s, Knock 6-9 to 2-4.
The U16D final between St. Mary’s, Limavady and Castleblayney College has been postponed due to the weather and will be played after the Easter Holiday. The U14 competitions are well underway and should be concluded within the next month.
Pictured are Loreto College Omagh who retained their Under 20A title beating Mount Lourdes in Brewster Park.
