The Senior B Girls competition will reach its conclusion next week as Mulroy College, Milford and Grennan College, Thomastown contest the UMRBO FAI Schools Senior B Girls National Final in Oriel Park, Dundalk on Wednesday, 18 March (KO 2pm)
This is only the second year of the Girls B competition which caters for small sized schools with less than 200 girls enrolled: Last year the title was claimed by Crana College, Buncrana and Ulster comrades Mulroy College will be hoping to etch their name into history by making it two in a row for Donegal:
The Milford School had a very enjoyable Ulster Final tie against Errigal College: Mulroy’s Manager, Tara Friel enjoyed a comfortable 5/1 win against their old rivals to claim the Ulster Senior B Girls crown:
Mulroy have an array of fine footballers and the Ulster tie saw Brenda Sweeney score a hat trick while Bridgeen Deveeney and Sarah Conigley also got on the score sheet:
The school will be looking for inspiration from youngster, Margaret Friel, who was capped for the FAI School Ulster Interprovincial side in 2007: Her impact in the game could ensure the silverware travels North again:
Tara Friel was a little more apprehensive as her troops travelled to Ballyshannon to take on Elphin Community College in the Senior B Girls National Semi Final:
This game proved to be a more difficult task than Friel first envisaged: The two sides were evenly matched throughout displaying an abundance of skill, creativity and pace:
Normal time saw them level and it continued to be stalemate in extra time resulting in a 1/1 draw: A cracking game of football which would inevitably have to be decided on penalties: The Ulster side prevailed on a scoreline of 8/7 and thus further progression in the competition:
Leinster stars, Grennan College had a more onerous job in reaching the Senior B Girls National Final: They overcame St: Cillian’s of Sandymount 3/0 in the group stages with sharp shooter, Niamh Bolger scoring an impressive hat trick:
The Leinster Semi Final saw them defeat Colaiste de hIde, Tallaght 2/1 with the ever talented Meighan Farrell and Niamh Bolger registering the winners:
Wilson Hospital School, Multyfarnham was their opposition in the Leinster Final which they successful captured with Kelly Hamilton and Meghan Hayes the heroes for the Thomastown School:
Grennan College had their toughest test of the campaign when they faced Scoil Ruain, Killenaule in the Senior B Girls National Semi Final in Buckley Park, Kilkenny:
The Cats had to come from behind to secure victory in a very pulsating match:
Fortunately, Eleanor Reddy’s side were awarded two penalties, one in each half: The first of the spot kicks was missed but there was no mistake when the second was awarded three minutes into the second half: Niamh Bolger scoring to cancel out Erin Slattery’s 29th minute goal to draw the sides level 1/1:
With five minutes remaining, Meighan Farrell produced a moment of individual magic to secure the win by the narrowest of margins:
Coincidently, this will be the second Schools Final for the girls in Grennan College: The School has already secured a place in the Camogie Senior B College Final which will see them take on St: Colm’s of Draperstown on Saturday, 14 March in Ratoath:
The two schools have named an unchanged panel from their Senior B National Semi Final successes and will be hoping to produce a memorable encounter in Dundalk on Wednesday next:
Mulroy College, Milford: Breedge Boyce, Lorraine Mc Veigh, Roisin Devenney, Margaret Friel, Karen Mc Elwaine, Natasha Ward, Marie Mc Elwaine, Bridgeen Devenney, Ciara Gibbons, Sarah Mc Conigley, Brenda Sweeney, Moira Sweeney, Sharon Callaghan, Lisa Mc Conigley, Naomi Doherty, Niamh Sweeney, Neysa Mc Clafferty
Manager: Tara Friel, Coach: Paul McVeigh, Assistant Manager: James Coyle:
Grennan College, Thomastown: Victoria Hanlon, Jessie Carroll, Grace Clarke, Aine Lannon, Nicola Dunphy, Annette Reddy, Shauna O’Carroll, Sinead Stapleton, Meighan Farrell, Niamh Bolger, Rachel O’Carroll, Kelly Hamilton, Megan Hayes, Nicola Corrway, Leanne Walsh, Alison Murphy, Chloe Gantley, Katie Walsh, Hannah Murphy:
Teachers: Eleanor Reddy and Nicola Murphy
END