Tyrone Ladies Schools Football

Friday 04.11.2016

 

Under 20

St Patrick’s Academy Under 20 ladies look set to qualify  as the group 1 leaders in the Under 20 B competition after sealing two wins from two outings. With only St Catherine’s to play the Academy look certain to be very much in the play-off mix.

A 7-7 to 3-12 win over St Dominic’s was followed by another decent outing against St Paul’s Bessbrook. Inspired by skipper Meave Maxwell who hit 0-8 the Academy eased to a 4-15 to 1-3 win. Hayley Devlin made her senior schools debut and matched the outstanding work ethic of Sarah Quigley and Orlagh Gavin while at the back another debutant had a fine outing. Cara Corr made several fine saves in goals while Louise Fitzgerald, Niamh Forker and Emma Conlon looked assured throughout. A steady performance too from Rhiannon Quinn and Tara Donaghy  at midfield e’nsured the Tyrone school maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

St Ciaran’s Ballygawley gave themselves a fighting chance in the A competition but they will be well aware that they must take something from their final group one game against St Ronan’s if they are to book a last four spot. A high scoring 8-18 to 3-13 win over St Louis Carrickmacross ahead of the break was the perfect boost after a one point loss to Castleblaney .

Only three points separated the sides at half time with the Tyrone side just about in front. However they cut loose in the second half with Shauna Stevenson, Maria Canavan , Bronagh McAleer, Galbally’s Catherine Walker and Bronagh McDermott all among goals St Ciaran’s pulled clear. An impressive return by Stevenson who hit 3-6 of her side’s tally as eight players in total scored for the Ballygawley side.

A win for Holy Trinity in their final group game against St Mary’s Magherafelt could be enough to secure a last gasp play-off spot after the Cookstown girls had a three point win over Derry neighbours St Pius Magherafelt. An exciting tie finished 2-14 3-8

Holy Cross Strabane have one game remaining in the D section but after a loss to Gweedore and Lisnaskea they have no chance now of securing a knock-out spot while like Loreto and Sacred Heart, the Dean have yet to get started, again a quick start after the holiday will be vital.

Loreto and Sacred Heart Omagh have yet to get started in the schools under 20 although the two Omagh schools are due to get their campaigns going  after the mid term break. Its believed they will have a short period of time to get their group games finished as the bulk of the other sides are already almost completed.

UNDER 16

Playing in the A grade has not proved a problem for St Patrick’s Academy this term and they are poised for the knock out stages from group three despite only having played one game. The local side still have to tackle the group leaders and high scoring Our Lady and St Patricks of Knock as well as neighbours St Ciarans but such is the quality they have on board it would be hard to see past them.

The St Ciarans game has been fixed for Monday November 14^th after the Ballygawley side suffered a big loss against the Knock side last week. On the plus side for them Ailsing Mc Anespie scored 0-5 with Enya Mellon and Dervla O’Donnell scoring a goal apiece.

Meanwhile Orlagh Gavin scored 3-4 as the Aacdemy swept Assumption College away winning 15-12 to 1-4, a more than comfortable outing. Alannah Donnelly and Aine McNulty landed some quality scores as the game progressed. Loreto Omagh have not got started yet in the A grades group two.

In the C competition Holy Trinity opened their campaign in group 2 ahead of the mid term break and recorded a convincing 5-11 to 0-6 win over Virginia. Alana Quinn, Chloe Tracey, Eimear McGarrity, Clodagh Cunningham and Leah Bradley got the goals as Rachel Rodgers hit a fine brace of points in a good performance for HTC.

Sacred Heart Omagh are set for the knockout series in the under 16 D grade with two wins from two starts. Their latest outing producing a facile win over St Joseph’s Coalisland in group one. It’s a keenly contested group though with St Comhghalls Lisnaskea in second and indeed the Coalisland side third, both schools meet in their final group game with SHC away to St Johns Dromore who lost last time out to St Comhghalls 5-13 to 2-3.

Sacred Heart’s 10-13 to 1-3 win matched a high scoring opener against Lisnaskea. The Dean have a tough outing against Claudy in group eight of the C competition with Holy Cross having two games St Killians and St Patricks Dungiven to come in the D grade group six.

Meanwhile Tyrone schools should be well represented in the schools under 20 all stars selection. Ulster council confirmed that a shortlist of thirty players has been selected including nine young footballers from four Tyrone schools. The squad will now face four trials before the final squad of twenty five is named for the inter Provincial series at the end of January which will then be followed by the all star awards night.

Tara O Hagan, Shannon Stevenson, Chloe McCaffrey, Meabh Corrigan, Maria Canavan :

St Ciarans Ballygawley

 Roisin Devlin, Sasha Byrne, Aoibheann Mc Hugh: Loreto Omagh

Maeve Maxwell : St Patricks, Dungannon