Junior Football team take on Presentation Bandon
Quite an exciting day out for both our Junior and First Year football teams on Friday as they both went up against Bandon Presentation at Ahamilla. I am delighted to have attended this match as school journalist and to have witnessed all the excitement.
A very wet day for the girls as both teams and I, along with a few other fourth years, made our way down to the bus at 12pm. One thing that immediately caught my attention was the enthusiasm the girls display, despite the weather they were set to play in. The level of excitement on the bus and the uplifting atmosphere is incredible and seemed to give everyone a boost.
We parked up at Ahamilla at 12.30pm after our little voyage and the girls raced to their dressing rooms. I took to the pitch where the Junior teams were to play and as I shielded myself from the cold, the girls had a well needed warm up at arrival.
The first whistle was blown at 1.15pm and after a few very close but disappointing misses, the first point was scored within a few minutes of the whistle by our own Maeve Kingston, and only two minutes later the first goal was to be scored by Orlaith Deasy. Bandon’s first point was scored only another two minutes after this, but this has absolutely no effect on the girls and they continue to show consistency throughout the first half, with the next goal by Síofra Patwell at 1.30pm and another point at 1.35pm by Ellen O’Hea. Coming up to the second half, two more points from Bandon, but another two from Sacred Heart players Kiya O’Mahony and Ellen O’Hea.
The first half finishes with Sacred Heart in the lead with a result of 2.4- 0.3. At this point I received a report from a fourth year who had been watching the first year game and it appears to be bad news for them, but they didn’t lose hope just yet. The half- time whistle was blown at 1.45pm and the girls received a quick pep- talk from their coach, Mr. Daly, before they were on the pitch once again a few minutes later.
The girls got off to a strong start once again for the second half, with the first goal scored only one minute in by Lydia Sutton. Continuing with their streak, within the next few minutes we have yet another goal from Kiya O’Mahony, a point from Orlaith Deasy, a point from Rachel Deasy and by 2.10pm, we have another goal which is scored by Aisling Maloney. The consistency from the Sacred Heart Girls is impeccable as all of this happens within 15 minutes of the second- half whistle. At this rate I’m almost finding it hard to keep up with the scores. At 2.15pm Bandon have their first goal of the second half, but still nothing on our girls as within the minute Kiya O’Mahony once again scores a goal. The points are well in Sacred Heart’s favour and all is looking well, with only one more point from Bandon and our final point scored by Kiya O’Mahony before the end of the game at 2.25pm. The Junior girls end the match with a huge victory, a win of 6.7- 1.4.
Unfortunately, not such a good day for our first year team, losing to Bandon convent 6.6- 3.5. But this result isn’t a problem for the first years and they continue to show enthusiasm and hope for the future.
We arrived back at the school at 3pm, the same enthusiastic and uplifting atmosphere from earlier is still present and I have to say congratulations to both teams not only for the win for the junior team, but for the teamwork displayed by both the first year and junior teams.