Ulster Champs - Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair
Pobalscoil Gweedore 2
Scoil Mhuire Buncranna 0
Played in excellent conditions last Friday at Finn Park, Pobalscoil Gweedore recorded an excellent victory over the highly fancied Buncranna side.
This was the first time in many years the Gaeltacht school won an A Final in Ulster Schools football. Both sides came out firing on all cylinders early on and after 10 minutes Daragh Ó Baoill was unlucky when his header clipped the post after an excellent cross from John Martin Coyle. Buncranna`s forward partnership of McDaid and Varma were finding it difficult to break down the Gweedore rearguard excellently marshalled by Kieran Gillespie. Buncranna`s best chance of the first half came when McDaid fired narrowly over when well placed and it remained scoreless at the break.
The Gweedore lads began to exert their dominance in the second half with the midfield pairing of Niall Friel and Gavin McBride the driving forces of an onslaught on the Buncranna defence. The dead lock was broken 10 minutes into the second half when Naoise Ó Baoill finished in style from close range. Further efforts from Darragh Ó Baoill and Cian Ó Fearraigh almost extended the Gweedore lads lead but McLaughlin in the Buncranna goals saved well. However a super strike from Gavin McBride ten minutes from time sealed the victory for Gweedore. At the final whistle there were wild celebrations from the large Gweedore travelling support all of whom added to this memorable day for the lads from the west. Gweedore will now meet either St Gerald`s Castlebar or The Bish Galway in the All Ireland Semi Final next Wednesday in Sligo. Best for Gweedore were Gary McFadden, Ryan Griffen, Kieran Gillespie and Niall Friel. A team effort from Buncranna.
Referee Brian O`Kane. Linesmen Ed Moore and Barry Hunter.
