Connacht victory for Ursuline College girls
URSULINE COLLEGE 3-14 BALLINAMORE COLLEGE 3-2
URSULINE COLLEGE, Sligo, made history on Wednesday last when they won the Tumble Jungle Connacht Post Primary Schools Senior 'C' Championship for the first time, defeating Ballinamore Community College, in a thrilling final at Fenagh.
After qualifying from their group in good style and accounting for Swinford and Jes College, Galway, in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, the Ursuline rounded off a memorable campaign in the best way possible with this highly impressive victory.
The Ursuline girls played high quality football throughout, defending with great vigilance, working with tireless conviction at midfield, and engineering a succession of well-worked scores.
The magnificent Emma Hansberry took the individual honours with an outstanding display at centre half forward which won her the player of the match award but this was truly a terrific all-round team performance by the Ursuline girls who proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are the best team in Connacht at this level.
Team captain, Aisling Ewing, gave a great display of defensive vigilance at full-back while Aisling Mcdermott was also in excellent form in a resolute backline.
Lauren Boles was highly influential in midfield, winning vital possession and instigating a number of incisive attacking raids. She received good support from her midfield partner, Sarah Keaney.
Emma Hansberry was involved in everything in attack for the Ursuline and her efforts drew a great response from her colleagues in the forward line. Indeed, it is a measure of the Ursuline's overall threat in attack that five of the starting forwards and substitute, Caron Griffin, got on the scoresheet.
The Ursuline girls hit the ground running right from the start and completely dominated the opening half, cutting through the Ballinamore defence at will and picking off some excellent scores. A wellworked goal by Emma Hansberry helped the Sligo side establish a commanding 1-9 to 1-0 lead at half time.
The Ballinamore girls showed admirable battling qualities in the second half and for a while it looked as if they might stage a comeback. The Sligo girls refused to panic, however, and quickly reasserted their superiority.
They continued to pick off points in great style and decorated an outstanding effort with further goals from Emma Hansberry and substitute, Caron Griffin, in the second half.
Manager, Deirdre Cullinan, who was assisted by Noelle Gormley in preparing the team, praised the players for their effort and commitment throughout the year.
The victory was particularly noteworthy in that it was the first time ever that the Ursuline had won a senior Connacht title, she pointed out.
