Rathcormac N.S. are Sciath Na Scoil Champions

Rathcormac  3-02    Ballinadee  0-02

The team had prepared well and had their final training session on Friday evening under the watchful eyes of Miss Dorgan, Miss Caplice, Breeda, Hilary and Betty. The excitement had slowly built over the weekend and Monday and it would be fair to say not much sleep was had in a lot of houses on Monday night.

Tuesday morning the school yard was like Croke Park on All-Ireland final day, school work was gone out the window and "the match" was on everybody's tongues.

The kids were dressed for the occasion and to keep some kind of normality, the teachers set about making head bands of various designs for the occasion. The first bus left the school with the team, mentors, some teachers, Fr Joe, parents and some pupils at 1 o'clock.

The second bus followed later with the rest of the pupils and teachers. The atmosphere on the first bus was very tense and the girls were glad to reach Pairc Ui Rinn. When we arrived the girls watched part of the first match between Ballinadee boys and our near neighbours Castlelyons. Our congratulations to Castlelyons who ran out deserving winners.

The dressing room was a very tense place to be and as the final preparations were put together with the usual "I can’t find my gloves", "Will you tie my laces?", "Anyone got a spare bobble?" to be heard. Finally the moment had arrived after weeks of waiting, the girls’ dream of playing in Pairc Ui Rinn was about to happen.

The last minute speeches were given with the final word of encouragement given by principal, Margaret Howard. The team ran out on the pitch led by their captain Maria Barry and vice-captain Michelle O'Keeffe to a tremendous roar from their supporters. The formalities of photographs were completed and one of the great memories for the girls was the way they were individually introduced to the crowd.

The game began with the Rathcormac girls gaining possession from the start and try as they might scores would not come their way. Maria and Jennifer Barry between them won 90% of the ball at midfield and although the four forwards of Sarah Keane, Jennifer Cahill, Chloe O'Flynn and Katie Power worked very well as a unit they couldn't get the break they needed. The Ballinadee defence were very solid and were determined not to make things easy for our girls.

The same could be said for our defence of Carol Noonan, Michelle O'Keeffe, Maeve Dooley and Ann-Marie Kearney who were rock solid. We had three 45 yard frees in the first half which normally the girls would have no trouble with, but the nerves got to them on the day and all went wide.

Finally after numerous other wides the ball broke to Chloe O'Flynn who kicked it perfectly into the hands of Katie Power who turned and landed it in the back of the net. The girls hung onto the lead going into half time.

The second half saw one change with Mairead O'Sullivan coming into the back line and Maeve Dooley moving up to the forwards. The backs got well tested with some great covering by Ann-Marie Kearney in full back.

Carol Noonan at this stage was playing a half back roll and playing the game of her life clearing every ball that came her way, Michelle was doing a fine job marking the centre forward for Ballinadee who was one of their danger girls. A quick ball into our backline saw Mairead O'Sullivan make an excellent clearance up the wing to Maria Barry who again found the waiting Katie Power and in true Katie style she once again found the Ballinadee net.

The girls never looked back after this and young Jennifer Barry still ran her heart out even though at this stage she had every inch of Pairc Ui Rinn covered. A move out of the backline by Ann-Marie Kearney to Jennifer Barry at centre-field found the waiting Jennifer Cahill who had excellently read the ball and rounded her marker and once again found the Ballinadee net.

To be fair to the Ballinadee girls they never gave up and in quick succession scored two points before our girls knew what was happening. A third ball into our backline saw Nicole Quirke who had been introduced as a sub, defend very well and through to nature our goalie Eadaoin Cashman was off her line without hesitation and had the ball cleared out the wing to the waiting Jennifer Lane who had also been introduced.

Jennifer cleared the ball up the wing to the waiting Maeve Dooley who put it over the bar. Sarah Prendergast had been introduced up front as had Rebecca Howard, Sonya Quirke and Janice Walsh.

Our last score of the game came from an excellent block inside by Sarah P who stopped the ball from going wide and after a tussle between the players the super Chloe broke with the ball and found the waiting Maria Barry who put the ball over the bar for our last score of the match.

The final whistle blew to scenes of sheer joy and exhilaration. We had won, the dream had been achieved. The scenes that followed were unbelievable with the players being hugged and congratulated from all corners.

Finally they made their way to the presentation area where a delighted Maria received the cup and each of the girls in turn received their medals. Again the girls were met and congratulated by the large crowd who turned out in great numbers. Our thanks to everyone who made the journey to support the girls on the day.

After many more photographs the girls did a lap of honour before hitting the dressing rooms and what a different atmosphere as to be had to what had been an hour earlier. Our thanks to Colm Barry for supplying much needed Lucozade for the girls after the match.

The girls were eventually dressed and made their way onto the bus to a mighty cheer and everybody headed back to the hall where again they got a tremendous reception and one hell of a party thanks to the parents’ association. It was a tired but delighted bunch of girls who eventually headed home at 5 o'clock. Well done girls, the whole school and parish are so proud of you.

Panel: Eadaoin Cashman, Ann-Marie Kearney, Carol Noonan, Michelle O'Keeffe, Maeve Dooley, Maria Barry, Jennifer Barry, Chloe O'Flynn, Jennifer Cahill, Sarah Keane, Katie Power, Sarah Prendergast, Jennifer Lane, Mairead O'Sullivan, Nicole Quirke, Rebecca Howard, Sonya Quirke, Janice Walsh, Shannon Mulhall, Kelly Power, Catherine Hoskins and Ellen Kenneally.

Rathcormac National School girls team, winners of Roinn DGF5 at the Sciath na Scoil played at Pairc Uí Rinn

(Back l-r) Carol Noonan, Jennifer Lane, Nicole Quirke, Maeve Dooley, Maria Barry (C), Michelle O’Keeffe, Jennifer Barry, Mairead O’Sullivan, Katie Power, Sarah Prendergast and Ann Marie Kearney.

(Front l-r) Chloe Flynn, Jennifer Cahill, Rebecca Howard, Eadaoin Cashman, Sonya Quirke, Sarah Keane and Janice Walsh.