Eastern Girls Football Finals

Last week, Páirc an Bhreathnaigh (WalshPark) played host to the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol East Waterford Girls Gaelic Football Finals.  A total of six different teams bravely contested the three divisional championships up for grabs on the day.  Given that the first of the winter months is almost upon us, and that the summer of 2012 was one of the wettest on record, WalshPark was in good condition for the day’s triple header of matches.

First up, was the Roinn A decider between the once rural school of Ballygunner and Tramore’s Holycross.  Without a clear favourite before hand, this duel was always going to be a tough one to call for the neutral observer, but all were in agreement that this match would be a spectacle of the skill and speed deserving of a topflight final.  This was indeed to be the case, with a combination of beautiful skill, teamwork and quality scoring on display for the paying Deise public. However, as the game progressed it became clear that the Tramore girls had too much for the Ballygunner team, and the seasiders went onto claim the attractive title of Roinn A champions.

The second bout of the day was the Roinn B final between the green and red of Rathgormack and the blue and gold of Portlaw.  Unfortunately, this was a one sided affair with Rathgormack, a village noted for their footballing powers, dominating the Portlaw team for much of the game.  Having comfortably won the game, most spectators would agree that both the team and their supporters also won the prize for loudest screams of the day, such was the deafening cheer that filled the environs of Walsh Park as their captain raised the plaque as Roinn B champions.

The final game of the day was the Roinn C clash between Gaelscoil Trámhór agus Clonea.  This match initially appeared to be following the same format of the previous game, as the Gaelscoil enjoyed a half-time lead of 3-2 to 0-1 after an reiteoir Noel O’Sullivan blew his half-time whistle.  However, to Clonea’s credit, they never gave up, scoring a couple of goals in addition to their second point of the game in the second half, which clearly showed all in attendance that they were very much deserving of their place in the final.  After the final whistle, a delighted Gaelscoil team climbed the steps of WalshPark to happily collect the final prize of the day, as they received their Roinn C plaque as champions of the division in addition to their prestigious winner’s medals.

A big thank you must be given to all those who helped out on the day to make the Allianz Cuman na mBunscoil Girls Football Finals a success on the day – Pat Carroll, caretaker of Walsh Park, Noel O’Sullivan for refereeing the matches, Fergus Cooper and the committee of Eastern Phort Lairge Cumann na mBunscoil and to the pupils, schools, teachers, principals and parents of all those involved on the day.

Results:

Roinn A

Ballygunner 1-1

Holycross (Tramore) 4-2

Roinn B

Rathgormack 6-4

Portlaw 0-0

Roinn C

Gaelscoil Trámhór 5-2

Clonea 2-2