On the 1st of May, St.Ailbe’s first year team had their football blitz in Mallow. There were 44 teams at the football blitz. All the teams were from schools around the province of Munster. Our school had two first year teams entering this wonderful event.
The first match for St.Ailbe’s A began at 11 o ‘clock. This team consisted of Clodagh Cummins, Gráinne Hayes, Aisling O Gorman, Lucy Grogan, Céiléidh Hennessy, Aoife O Brien, Maria Nash and Sarah Halligan .They were playing a school called S.M.I. from New Castle West. It was 10minutes per side. At half time the score was 2:2 – 0:0 to St.Ailbe’s. Céiléidh Hennessy scored 2 goals and Aisling O Gorman scored 2 points. After the 2nd half the score was 4:1 – 1:1 to St.Ailbe’s. Céiléidh Hennessy scored 2 goals with one from a 45. Aoife O Brien scored 2 goals and Aisling O Gorman scored a point. The overall scored was 6:3 – 1:1 to St.Ailbe’s.
St. Ailbe’s B first match was at half past 11. This team consisted of Katie Cunningham, Pamela O’Donnell, Lauren Davern, Katie Collins, Rachael Shields, Blathnaid Cummins, Anna Savage, Zoe Morrissey and Amy Bresnan. They were unlucky for their first match as they were playing the talented Dingle school. The overall scored was 0:0 – 3:3 to Dingle.
St.Ailbe’s A and St.Ailbe’s B were playing their second match at the same time which was at 12 0’ clock. From the information I got, St.Ailbe’s A beat Blackwater 5:4 – 1:2.
St.Ailbe’s B were playing Loreto Clonmel. They put up a great fight but after 1st half, they were losing 0:1 – 2:1. Katie Collins scored the point from a penalty. There luck wasn’t there for them during the 2nd half as well with the overall scored was 0:2 – 5:5 to Loreto Clonmel. They fought to win this match but they were facing a tougher team.
At 2 o’clock, St.Ailbe’s A played Buttivant. This was the semi-final match. At half time it was St.Ailbe’s in the lead with 4:1 – 0:1. Aisling O’Gorman, Lucy Grogan, Maria Nash and Céiléidh Hennessy all scored. St.Ailbe’s A kept their winning streak going with the final score being 5:3 – 2:1.
At half past 2, St.Ailbe’s B had the most important match ever. They got an extra chance to get into their final. They had to play Coachford. They played brilliantly in the first half. They were leading 2:1-1:0. Katie Cunningham and Zoe Morrissey both scored in the first half. Their luck improved in the second half. They were just shooting for those goals and points. The final score was 8:3-3:0 to St.Ailbe’s. Blathnaid Cummins, Anna Savage, Zoe Morrissey and Katie Cunningham all scored during the second half.
The final match was on at 3:15. St.Ailbe’s A were playing B.C.S. St.Ailbe’s A were flying up the pitch in the first half. We had Aisling O’Gorman, Gráinne Hayes, Aoife O Brien and Céiléidh Hennessy scoring in the first half. St.Ailbe’s had a brilliant lead going into the 2nd half with the score being 2:3 to nothing. In the second half, they played excellently and they were just fighting to keep that brilliant lead. The defenders of St.Ailbe’s were just kept getting the ball off the forwards of B.C.S. They only let them score a goal and a point. St.Ailbe’s kept running passed the defenders and scored a further 3 goals and a point. The overall score was 5:4 – 1:1.
On a different pitch, St.Ailbe’s B were playing S.M.I. at 3:15 as well. I got to see the last few minutes of the game. They played a blinder. When the referee blew the whistle for the end of the match, both teams went over to her to see who won. There was only a point between the two teams. The final score was 4:2-3:4. The winner of that final went to………………………………………. St.Ailbe’s B. Well they just screamed at the top of their voices. St.Ailbe’s A screamed two minutes later when they realised they won. I say they were in shocked and just had to scream loudly when St.Ailbe’s B were screaming.
Both of St.Ailbe’s teams received medals for coming first place. Also Aisling O’Gorman and Blathnaid Cummins received a plaque due to them being captains of their teams.
Mairead O’Connor quoted ‘I’m really thrilled the way the girls played. I didn’t expect them to do as well as they did. It was a great day. The experience was brilliant for them.
What a great start to the first month of summer for the first years girls. Not only did they do themselves proud, they also did their school proud. These girls are the next footballers in the making.
By Shannon Stokes and Jennifer Maher.
