Trials began in Trim, County Meath for the Leinster Post Primary School GAA Football Team. Emma Colgan, Eimear Lenihan and I were selected by our coach Mr Mulligan to represent Loreto on the Green. Five trips to Port Laoise and five rounds of trials later Emma and I had reached the final stages of the selection process and soon after the Provincial Team.
The team met on Saturday morning in St Loman's GAA Club, Mullingar to take part in The Ladies Gaelic Football Post Primary School Interprovincial Tournament. After an energy filled breakfast, a motivational team talk and full of confidence in our brand new kits we went out to meet our first opponent, the harsh Westmeath wind! An active warm up soon left this foe defeated and we were ready for our next adversary. Unfortunately we were not as prepared as last year’s runner up Connaught and we were narrowly beaten by a single point. With this defeat in mind we went on to decisively beat Munster and Ulster with Emma as number 15 setting up scores and scoring and me defending as a corner back.
Our hard work in the second and third matches paid off. We were now in the Final! After more physio, motivation and warming up we set out to play Connaught again. The game was fast paced and very skilful. Both teams were exhausted but were spurred on by the cheering crowd. For Emma and I the sound of our parents and Mr Mulligan could be heard above all other voices. Sadly when the final whistle blew, it blew for Connaught and although we were disappointed, the proud Leinster girls gladly took their silver medals as we now held second place position. This lifted Leinster from last place in the tournament to second..
Emma and I would like to thank Leinster GAA for all the hard work, training, organising, feeding and kitting the team; our parents for giving up their Saturdays to drive us to Port Laoise and supporting us in the frequently miserable weather and for their support at our tournament in Mullingar. Most importantly we would like to thank Mr Mulligan for putting our names forward for trials, providing encouragement throughout them and for giving up his Saturday to support us in The Ladies Gaelic Football Post Primary School Interprovincial Tournament.
Catherine Martin 6G