Moville college girls bid for national glory

Moville Community College’s Under 16 girls will bid to become the FAI Junior Girls Champions for 2010 when they take on St Mary’s Secondary School from Ballina in the National Schools Final at Flanclare Park in Longford this Thursday (Kick off 1pm). Margaret Mulhall’s side, who are already the Ulster Champions, booked their place in the national decider with a hard fought 2-1 win over Moyne Community School in the semi-final stages of the competition in Monaghan last weekend. And the Moville is full of respect for St Mary’s who are the Connaught champions. “I would expect it to be a tight game,” she told the Inish Times. “They have some very talented players who I’m aware of through word of mouth within football circles so we’ll have to be at our best. Like ourselves they have a distinguished history in soccer and gaelic but we feel we are strong in all areas and we will put it up to them. “It’s an unbelievable achievement, they are a very talented group of girls and to get to an All Ireland final is brilliant. We have a strong record in the competition, we’ve reached the final four times and we last won it in 2007 against Skerries so it is great for the school that we have maintained that. “It’s good for our profile as a sports school that we reach these high standards and it sets a good example for the first years who will be coming into the school. “It’s a strange week for the school as we are having our Jingle Bells Christmas race today after it was cancelled because of the frost, then the girls are off tomorrow for St Patrick’s Day and then they are back in for the trip to Longford on Thursday.” The Foyleside college avenged Carndonagh CS’s defeat to Loreto in the Ulster Senior Final by defeating the Letterkenny school in the Ulster Final at Foyle Park in Redcastle at the end of last month. Thursday’s final will be their fourth big game in the space of 3 weeks but Margaret believes their busy schedule has benefitted the team. “We had a longer than expected break over Christmas because of the frost and in the space of three days we played the Ulster Semi-Final against Crana College and the Ulster Final. We played the All Ireland Semi-Final a week later but the momentum that those games generated was good for us and hopefully we can carry our good form into the final. “We have a panel of 15 players who have been very committed in attending training, they’re a fit group who play soccer for other clubs and also play gaelic football and that has made a big difference. “We have quality all over the pitch, Charmaine McDonald in the middle of the park is very strong, defender Gemma McGuinness is a Republic of Ireland international while Shannon McDonald plays gaelic football for Donegal at Under 16 level. The team has a mix of first, second and third year players and the younger players are benefitting from being involved with the experienced players. The Foyleside college will be roared on by a significant travelling support from the school on Thursday “There’s a great buzz around the school and we have over 100 kids travelling to the game. I’d advise the girls to enjoy the occasion and to keep well hydrated when they are off on St Patricks day. They will probably be a bit nervous but I think some nerves can be a good thing if they channel it in the right way. Many of these girls have played in big competitions before and that will stand to them.”