Abbey girls defeated by a strong St Pius X side in high-scoring Ulster final

Abbey VS girls lost out in Greencastle, Omagh, to a slick footballing St Pius X team who notched six goals throughout to claim the Ulster U-16 C Shield.

Pius started the game the stronger of the sides and, although they had the breeze, they preferred to run the ball through the hands, in turn scoring two unanswered points, with multiple scoreable shots missed as well. 

Abbey VS slowly got a grip of the game through winning their kickouts, with keeper Cara Tooher’s distribution being pinpoint on the day.

With Pius committing lots of numbers forward for their attacks, the Abbey half-forward line found themselves with green grass in front of them and through accurate hand or kick-passing into the full forward line, it allowed Ava McGroary and Megan Gallagher to notch 1-2 in quick succession for the Abbey.

St Pius’ midfielder and captain Rionach Conlon began causing the Abbey backline trouble through solo runs from deep and with both wing forwards chipping over scores at ease it allowed the Derry school to pull away.

Megan Gallagher scored another well-worked team goal, and through further points from McGroary and Amy Ward the Abbey made it into a two-score game going into the half.

Half-time: Abbey 2-4, St Pius X 3-5

Pius came out at the half the livelier of the two sides and scored early team goals to give the Abbey a mountain to climb for the remainder of the affair.

Abbey with the aid of the wind, tried kicking the ball into the full-forward line but the Pius backline were equal to it, snuffing out any danger.

The Abbey team didn't stop working and with the half-forward line and midfielders getting up and down the pitch trying to spark the comeback, creating chances for the forwards, which were well saved or just wide:

Whereas up the other end the Pius forwards were ruthless, killing off the game midway through the second half.

The final quarter was even with both teams creating and taking their chances but the difference was too big for the gallant Abbey side whose standout performers on the day were the sharpshooting duo of Megan Gallagher and Ava McGroary.

For Pius, their captain, Rionach Conlon was deservedly giving the player of the match award with the wing-forwards and full-forward also impressing throughout the final.

Abbey scorers: Megan Gallagher 2-2; Ava McGroary 0-4;  Laura Quinn 1-0; Claire McGroarty 0-1.

Abbey VS: Cara Tooher, Deirbhile Greene, Cora Cassidy, Mia Gavigan, Eva Dunnion, Alex Crawford, Claire McGroarty (0-01), Romy Byrne, Ellen James, Amy Ward, Laura Quinn (1-00), Aoife Doherty, Ava McGroary (0-04), Megan Gallagher (2-02), Emma McNulty. 

Subs: Amy Doherty, Sally McGonagle, Niamh Brogan, Clodagh Hannigan, Mia McGowan, Grace McBrearty, Eimear Meehan, Daire Brogan, Niamh Reilly, Eloise Healy, Aine O’Donnell, Roisin Hegarty, Aimee McGowan.