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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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The Ballinrobe Community School junior girls team following their All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools 'C' semi-final win over St Vincent’s of Dundalk
“They don’t get stressed out if it’s a final or a semi-final or whatever. They treat it all as just another game of football and they try to keep it calm” - Eimear Gorman, Ballinrobe Community School junior ladies joint-manager
CORA Staunton, Sinéad Stagg (née Costello) and the Heffernan sisters were on the verge of illustrious intercounty careers when they were part of Ballinrobe Community School’s last All-Ireland winning ladies football team.
That was back in 1995. On Friday next, the school’s junior team will seek to end a 29-year wait when they face St Mary’s of Macroom in the All-Ireland Junior C final.
Following a 4-12 to 2-3 win over Coláiste Chiaráin of Athlone in the provincial decider, the South Mayo girls made the All-Ireland final after a 1-9 to 1-2 victory over St Vincent’s of Dundalk.
Four points down at half-time, a spirited second half saw them prevail by seven to stand on at the gates of history.
Eimear Gorman, who manages the team alongside Ruth Donnellon and Tom Carney (coach), wasn’t that much surprised by the eleven-point turnaround.
“They came off the pitch at half time knowing they were the better team and that there was no way they were leaving without losing it,” Gorman told The Mayo News.
“They don’t get stressed out if it’s a final or a semi-final or whatever. They treat it all as just another game of football and they try to keep it calm. I think that calmness and that kind of reassurance and their knowledge of their own abilities has really carried them through.”
They will be captained by Mayo U-16 panellist Kate Brennan and spearheaded by Hollymount teammate Emma Stagg, daughter of the aforementioned Sinéad.
On Friday, a blue and white convoy is ready to travel behind the team bus to University of Limerick for their final showdown against the Munster champions
Ballinrobe Community School’s last All-Ireland-winning team was the boys’ team that won the Senior ‘B’. Now it’s the ladies turn.
“There’s big excitement. It’s great for a ladies team to get this far,” said Gorman.
“The lads had their spin in 2017 but it’s great for the girls to get their crack at it.”
FIXTURE
All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Junior 'C' Final
Ballinrobe Community School v St Mary's Macroom
Friday, March 15
University of Limerick North Campus
2pm
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