Wednesday the 22nd of February was an ordinary day for many people, but not for the girls footballers of Our Lady's PS Tullysaran. This was a most anticipated date in the calendar. This was the day the girls had been waiting and training for, after the initial qualification of the pool stage of the Cuman na Bunscol indoor competition, the girls were heading to the county finals!
All roads led to Armagh Harps GAA grounds, where the indoor hall hosted the county finals. The girls were pitted against the winners of other respective schools from all other parts of the county; including schools from Armagh, Silverbridge, Madden, Lurgan and Granemore.
The groups were drawn, and saw us drawn in the group of death with St Joseph's Bessbrook and St Mary's Mullaghbawn. The girls got off to a slow start in the group stage, losing the first game by conceding two early goals that left them with too much to do. They then had a convincing win in their other group games that saw them qualify for the semi finals. After some rest and tweaks to the game plan, the girls really started to click just at the right time.
Their 'never give up' attitude stood to them in the semi-final when they were drawn against the much fancied St Teresa's, Lurgan. The girls trailed early 6-2, but managed to pull it back with some outstanding teamwork, and individual brilliance. Nothing could separate the sides, with every possession intensely contested. The game finished 7 scores each, and went to extra time. The girls' training and fitness really coming to the fore as they hit their opponents for two unanswered goals that allowed them to qualify for the county final, for the first in the school's history.
The girls took this tenacity and belief into the final, exchanging scores with their opponents, taking their simple scores and defending ferociously. Unfortunately it was one step too far, with the quality of opponents very apparent, and unfortunately were narrowly defeated by a single point at the final whistle.
The girls played their hearts out, and did everyone in our community so proud. It's not everyday you get to play in a county final with your best friends, Wednesday the 22nd February was no ordinary day! Well done girls!
