It was the first year St Paul’s Under 14 Girls’ Football team has played in the Ulster Schools’ A competition.  We were delighted to reach the final, and the girls were sure that this was going to be a challenging game.  From the first whistle the teams both fought hard for possession of the ball.  St Ciaran’s of Ballygawley were winning in midfield but Megan Boyle prevented the ball passing the half back line, and made a quick pass to Maria Murphy.  Maria knew there was one place to land that ball and that was in the hands of Aimee Mackin, who instinctively knocked the ball over bar to open the scoring in the game.  Another four points were scored before St Ciaran’s made their mark with two points.

In the fourteenth minute of play Aimee again pushed forward and it was the back of the net which rattled this time, but St Ciaran’s won the kick out and moved a quick ball up the field to also score a goal less than a minute later.  The first half was end to end action and concluded with St Paul’s barely in the lead.

A rallying half time speech from both managers and it was clear to see that each girl walked onto the field with determination and hunger for this Ulster title.  The ball was fiercely contested again and it was clear that only for the superb efforts of the St Paul’s goal keeper Anna Carr the team would not of held their lead in the second half.  However there was nothing she could do to stop St Ciaran’s number 15 knock the ball past her and the slipped ahead in the 50th minute of play.  St. Paul’s did not give up, and Blaithin Mackin knocked a point over to claim the title.
The final score was St Paul’s, Bessbrook  5-12 to St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley 5-11.