St Cecilia's College have won the inaugural Dale Farm U16 National Schoolgirls' league, doing so by winning all six of their league games.
The Derry girls saw off the challenge of St Colmcille’s High, Laurelhill Community College from Lisburn and Craigavon Senior High.
The league marked the beginning of 11-a-side football in schools for girls and began in October 2008.
The four te
ams recently descended on the Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown for the final round of league matches.
In their last league game St Cecilia’s took on Laurelhill. Two goals from Celine Curtis and one from Demi Leigh Fitzpatrick were enough to secure three points for the Derry side and maintain their 100 per cent record for the season.
Speaking after her school’s victory, Joanne Nicholl, PE teacher at St Cecilia’s, said: “The girls are thrilled to have won the inaugural Dale Farm Under 16 League. Football is an important part of the PE programme in our school and we are delighted with the achievements of this team.”
A week before lifting the Dale Farm U16 National League trophy St Cecilia’s also became the Year 8/9 champions in the Carnegie Schools’ Cup, beating off stiff competition from schools such as Coleraine High, Thornhill College and other superpowers in girls’ football.
The Irish FA’s Women’s Football Coordinator and organiser of the league, Sara Booth,said: “This was the first year the Irish FA delivered an 11-a-side league for girls and we have been extremely encouraged by the numbers taking part. Obviously this year we had difficulties due to strike action, but we are confident that this is an area of the game that will continue to develop.”
