Leitrim duo bid to make history in Ulster Schools Final clash this week

Emma Gilmartin and Zakia Shyabe from Melvin Gaels will represent Coláiste Cholmcille PPS, Ballyshannon, when they take on Inver College Carrickmacross in the Senior E Ulster Final on Thursday morning.

The girls both line out in the backline of this formidable Ballyshannon team, which will be looking to win the school’s first Ulster championship at this grade when the ball is thrown in on Thursday at 11.30 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Donagh GFC Grounds in Fermanagh.

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They will be looking to continue their impressive run of form in this year’s competition, which saw them beat Loreto College Coleraine in the quarter-final before the South Donegal school booked their place in the Ulster Final with a comprehensive victory over Breifne College, Cavan, at Irvinestown’s Bawnacre on a cold but lively afternoon before Christmas.

This is not the Ballyshannon team’s first trip to the final, having suffered defeat to Coláiste na Carraige in last year’s decider.

The Ballyshannon team will be hoping to go one step further this year when they take on the Inver College side. The teams are no strangers, having met in a tightly contested semi-final clash last year. Coláiste Cholmcille won on that occasion, but with significant turnover in both teams, Inver College will be looking to return the favour in this year’s final.

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