Gortnamona N.S.

Girls Football

This year, (2011), the girls entered the Cumann na mBunscol competition. It is our second year to do it and we are actually doing quite well this year. We didnt join with any other schools as we have a big enough team and we are all putting a lot of effort in to it. So far we have played four matches and we have won three out of four. Our first match was against Walsh Island. We were a bit nervous because it was our first match and we have never played a match together before. We were all very happy in the end because we bet them pretty well. Our next match was against Tubber in Mountbolus and unfortunatley we lost against them. We didnt get hammered but it wasnt too close of a match either. Our next match was against Coolanarney and we pretty much hammered them. They had a good team but we were just too good for them. Our last match before the final was against Geashill and we were nervous for this one because it was such a big school so they would probabaly have a lot of good players. We were delighted though because we won. We hammered them actually but they were a really good team and the ref was really nice. We are now in the fianl and we are playing against Tubber in O Connor Park in Tullamore. Hurray!

Our final was in O`Connor Park so it was really big for us and it was on the 24th of May. We were playing against Tubber and we were already beaten by them so we didn’t know what to expect. When the day came we were all really excited and nervous but when we actually went to O`Connor Park and went into the dressing rooms we had a feeling of shock. The rooms were huge and we all knew we deserved to be in there. When we went out on the pitch we saw loads of people there supporting us and we were really excited!!! In the first half we scored 2 goals and 2 points and Tubber scored 1 goal and no points. In the second half we wern’t going to let them come back and we scored another 2 goals and 5 points and they scored 1 goal and 1 point. So in the end we wonn!!!!!!!!!!!!!? ? We were so happy and we all ran over to the people from the school they were all so proud of us. We all went up to the top of the stand to accept the plaque. Damien White presented it to Cliodhna as she was the captain. After we took a photo,went into the dressing rooms to change and after to celebrate we went to Mc Donalds. We all had loads of fun an we will NEVER forget the day we won the football final!!!!!! :).

Boys Football 2010

We entered a team in the boys competition also. Our matches began in September. We played teams from Ballyboy, Coolanarney, Coolderry, High Street and Cloneyhurke and won four out of five.

We made it to the final against Cloneyhurke in O'Connor Park on November 13th. There was alot of supporters at the match and everyone was very excited to see what the result would be!! When they first came out on the pitch everyone was cheering and then the boys had to line up behind the piper and walk around the pitch. Behind the piper led the two captains Stephen Leonard for Gortnamona and Sean for Cloneyhurke. The players for Gortnamona was Conor Owens in goals, Darren Caufield Jack Watkins and Cathal Healion in the backs, Dylan Leonard and Philip Cooney in midfield and Stephen Leonard James Moran and Peter Moran in the forwards. Our subs were Daniel Conway Joseph Ryan Steven Rosney and Darren Reynolds.The coaches were Danny Owens, Martin Cooney and the principal of our school Mr.Daly.
The match started at 11 o clock and by half time Gortnamona was winning by 1 point. In the 2nd half Cloneyhurke came back and in the last 15 minutes of the game they were winning by 6 points. Gortnamona wasnt going to give up though and they got a goal and 3 points. The thing in these matches though is that a goal is only equal to 2 points so Cloneyhurke was still up by 1 point. Unfortunately in the last 5 minutes Cloneyhurke got 2 goals and Gortnamona tried their hardest to get back but just didnt get there. In the end Cloneyhurke won and the final score was 3-13 to 2-10. Gortnamona was upset that they didnt win but played their best!! After the match all of the boys from Gortnamona and the supporters went back to Tom Doolans who was very kind to give us all some lovely food. We all had great fun back there and everyone enjoyed it. Even though we lost it was still a great day!!