Edenderry Primary School Girls Football Team from Portadown have been crowned Northern Ireland Primary School champions in the NI Girls’ Cup following their victory in the finals.
The amazing win came following a pulsating day of football at Lurgan Town Football Club on Friday, June 16.
The event involved premier teams from across the province with schools from as far afield as Kilkeel and Ballymoney. Each of the teams participating had come through competitive qualifying tournaments consisting of 12-15 schools from their respective locality.
Edenderry began the event with two solid performances against Harding Primary School, winning 1-0 and Annalong Primary School, drawing 2-2.
This gave the team a strong point position early on thanks to goals from Pippa Carville (2) and Brooke Holland.
The game against Carrickfergus Model was the pivotal game in the tournament with Kelsey McNally scoring the crucial goal that rewarded a period of superb interplay from the team featuring intelligent passing from Gracey Livingston, Heidi Logan and Sophie-Lee Newell.
This win was followed with another against Ballymoney Model, with goals from Pippa and Gracey sealing a comprehensive performance.
The match against local rivals Kings Park Primary School saw the girls put in a strong defensive performance reminiscent of Bingham’s Northern Ireland in a scoreless draw.
Brave defending from all outfield players and two superb saves from keeper Georgie McNally alongside a man to man marking job by Emmie Wilson ensured the draw leaving the Edenderry Girls with the Northern Ireland Cup to play for in their final match against a determined Kilkeel Primary School.
In a see-saw match in which defenders Heidi, Kelsey, Emmie and Sophie-Lee had plenty of work to do in protecting Georgie’s goal the Edenderry attackers always looked dangerous despite having to help the defence.
It was with great joy that Gracey put away the winning goal following clever attacking play by Brooke and Pippa late in the game to seal the win and the title for Edenderry Primary.
Following this fantastic performance, the Principal of Edenderry Primary School, Mr Stephen Doyle, congratulated the girls and their coaches Mr McClean and Mr Mullan on this tremendous achievement.
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