Future of football in county looks bright
THE immaculate playing field of the Grove in Castlebellingham pla yed host to the girls and boys all-county Allianz Cumann na mBunscol blitz finals recently.
The girls of Kilcurry, Ballapousta, Tullyallen and Realt na Mara took to the field to battle out for the county crown. All four teams had come through two tough rounds of blitzes to reach the final stage. Once the draw had been made by Girls’ Finals co-ordinator, Colm O’Hanlon, the first round of matches took place.
With a stiff breeze blowing down the hill in Castlebellingham, an advantage was always going to be held by one side in the first half. In the two first round games, both teams capitalized on this advantage and held firm in the second half as Kilcurry and Ballapousta defeated Tullyallen and Realt na Mara respectively.
The second round games produced the same winners as Kilcurry defeated Realt na Mara and Ballapousta defeated Tullyallen. This led to an effective final between both teams.
In the autumn finals both teams met in a high quality, competitive game with Ballapousta coming out on top. They didn’t have it their own way this time around however as Kilcurry pushed them hard the entire game. Were it not for a brace of second half goals from their dominant midfielder, Ballapousta may not have come away with the victory. In the end, the team from Hunterstown added to their autumn triumph with everyone in attendance agreeing that they’d witnessed a truly magnificent game between two fine footballing sides.
On Thursday it was the turn of the boys. Stabannon, the reigning champions, as well as the returning Knockbridge team, Harestown and Muchgrange were the last four teams standing in the county. Like the girls finals the day before, two teams took centre stage in the first two rounds of games with the experience of last year counting for much as Knockbridge and Stabannon went two for two to set up a thrilling finale. Last years’ winners had just a bit more in reserve at the final stages of the blitz as their physicality and stamina bested an agile Knockbridge side. And so the crown returned to mid-Louth for a second year in a row to the joy of the players who played so well, their mentors and teacher who have put in tremendous work with this fine team and their supporters who turned out in droves.
Cumann na mBunscol Lú wish to thank the schools involved, the O’Connells GAA club for their continued support of finals days and Allianz Insurance for their ongoing sponsorship of schools gaelic games in the county.
With the talent on display over the two days, it’s safe to say that the future of football in the county looks very bright indeed!