Two years ago they didn’t exist. Last Sunday they created history when they secured promotion to the intermediate league and this Friday night they contest their first county final. This is the inspiring story of the St. Mary’s ladies GAA team.
The team draws its membership from the three areas of Drumkeen, Convoy and Raphoe and has been putting it up to the best in the game throughout this current season. With a panel of over 30 players and a varied age profile some of the girls have a strong sports background while others have only started playing the game this year.
Over the past two years girls the have bonded well together and are like a close knit family. Their achievement is not without a huge effort and commitment with great turnouts at training all during the season. They are an extremely dedicated bunch.
Early success came in their first league game against muff and this gave the girls great confidence. The girls went on to win all their games in the section only to be beaten by Malin. They met a spirited Bundoran side in the league semi-final and were very fortunate to score two late points to salvage a draw and earn a replay. After this last gasp comeback they were determined to make the most of the opportunity in the replay last Sunday. The first half saw the two teams evenly matched and St. Mary’s went in at half time one point up with score of 5 to 4. Lydia Fowley was a loss in the forward line when she picked up a head injury and Ethna Cranwell was also substituted at half time due to injury. In the first ten minutes of the second half Bundoran were the stronger team and had many goal chances however some superb saves form veteran keeper Gabrielle Gallagher denied them the opportunity to improve their score. Inspired by their defence the St. Marys attack upped their game and scored two goals and three points to ensure the win. In what was a great team effort notable performances were form Gabrielle Gallagher, Brid Mc Connell and Aoife Mc Ginley. Final Score: St. Marys 2 7: Bundoran 0 6. This win will give the girls further confidence and they will have nothing to fear.
Their manager Stephen Friel hails from Dungiven and is ably assisted by Eugene Mc Ginley and Austin Quinn. Stephen states that “all credit for the success this year must go to the panel of players who have put in a superb effort over the course of the season. As no one was guaranteed their starting spot the girls were competing for jerseys and this was instrumental in their success”.
The team are grateful for the support and sponsorship that they have received from John Anthony Mc Mullan and NWPSS who are the sponsors of the kit and from Friel Consulting who sponsored tee-shirts for the final.
The county junior league final against Malin is on Friday night in Buncrana at 8pm. We wish the girls all the best. Supporters welcome.
Panel:
Denise Mc Elhinney, Brid Duffy, Ethna Cranwell, Sabrina Barnett, Catherine Mailey, Gabrielle Gallagher, Stephani Friel (captain), Ciara Foy, Margaret Bonner, Mairead Browne, Louise Doherty, Caroline Black, Fiona Allan, Kirsty Dunlop, Nadine Clinton, Aoife Mc Ginley, Niamh Mailey, Lauren Quinn, Aoife Mc Laughlin,
