23rd May 2013
The Cookstown girls made the long journey to a cold wet Enniskillen to participate in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Tournament organised by the NIWFA. Girl’s football has seen an increase in participation over the last few years and this popularity has spread into Cookstown High School. Such was the up take for football this year CHS fielded three teams in the tournament. Two at Yr. 8/9 age group and one at Yr10/11 age group. The competition is 7 a side with full 11 a side rules. Cookstown A Team at Junior level were drawn in the hardest group, the first match they played against Devenish the girls were outstanding and won 5-0. In the second match they faced Enniskillen a team that went on to win the tournament and who looked as if they had been playing together for a while. The girls were taken aback by this team and were
unable to link up as in the previous match and were beaten 5-0. In the final match they faced Holy Cross, a game they had to win to reach the semis, unfortunately luck was not on the A teams side and although possession was mainly theirs the Holy Cross keeper was unbeatable, and from a long kick by this keeper Holy Cross scored against the run of play. Unlucky for the A team but they should be proud in the fact that they played girls mainly in year 9 whilst their team was predominantly year 8.
The Junior B team were nervous as they embarked in their first ever tournament, again these girls were mainly Year 8. The first match was against Omagh High School, and in a very even match the girls were unlucky not to convert their chances, leaving them with a draw. They then went on to play Drumragh again the girls played their hearts out and forged out another draw. In their final match they came up against a talented Castlederg side that went on to come second in the tournament, these girls were too strong for Cookstown and the girls were beaten 4-0. Congratulations to this wee side who held their own and played well against some strong sides.
Finally the Senior team were drawn in a pool with two very strong teams. Holy Cross, Northern Ireland winners last year and Lisnaskea a very physically strong side. The girls played these teams twice in the pool. The first match against Holy Cross saw end to end football with both teams having several chances but the defence and GK’s in both teams proved unbeatable leaving the final score 0all. The second match against Lisnaskea was a fierce match with Cookstown having several opportunities and creating mazy runs upfront this was rewarded with 3 goals to win the match. Their 2nd match against Holy Cross saw them play exceptionally well and creating a lot of chances but a goal in the dying seconds saw them beaten. In the last pool match again against Lisnaskea saw the opposition come out fighting and in a tough match with Cookstown having most of the play a controversial goal saw the Lisnaskea team win. However Cookstown went through on points and faced Castlederg in the semis. The girls knew a place in the final would secure a place in the Northern Ireland finals so it was all to play for. Castlederg linked up extremely well and put the CHS girls under pressure but the nerve was held and Cookstown converted their chance and went into the final against Devenish. With a place in the Northern Ireland finals secured the girls went into the final in high spirits. CHS created a lot of chances and went 1-0 up quite early but with a minute to go Devenish achieved their equaliser. Putting the poor keepers under pressure for penalties. Three good penalties by Devenish and a save by the Devenish Keeper saw them win the tournament. A huge congratulations to the girls for silver medal position and good luck in the Northern Ireland finals in June.
Teams. Junior A. M. Ferson, R. Hill, J. Carson, C. Badger, E. Anderson, M. Holdsworth, A. Thom, K. Henry
Junior B. N. Stewart, A. Bleeks, D.L. Scott, C. McReynolds, S. Brownlee, S. Miller, H. Steele, R. McKeown, A. O’Neill
Seniors. C. Morrow, C. Bowden, R. Lindsay, C. Harkness, L. Somerville, J. McCrea, Z. Chesney, L.Cuddy, J. Morrison.
Menu
