Cross and Passion Girls out to make history
Thursday, 19 January 2012
The Cross and Passion College minor netball team along with their coach Mrs Sinead McGinley.
CROSS and Passion College are looking forward to the school's biggest day ever in netball, when three of the school teams will take part in the Northern Ireland Netball Finals.
The girls have made remarkable progress over the last few years under the expert guidance of Ms Joanne Donnelly and Mrs Sinead McGinley. Together the coaches have transformed the school's netball fortunes, and in only their first year competing at Northern Ireland level, they stand on the verge of a historic treble.
On Thursday week, January 26, the girls will take to the court in the Junior, Minor and Intermediate Finals.
First up are the minors, who take on St Killian's Garron Tower. This team, backboned by the three Donnelly's, Orla and twins Aine and Cliodhna, Emer O'Neill, Niamh McVeigh and Caoimhe Wright (who all have been selected for the Northern Ireland Netball Regional Development Squad), have fought off tough opposition in the path to the final.
The girls have remained unbeaten since they started Cross and Passion College and as their coach Ms. Donnelly said: "It was evident from their first training session in Year 8, that this was a very talented group of girls who had the innate ability to read the game and have the ball handling skills to rival older and more experienced teams."
Taking the court after the minors will be the Junior team, led by their captain Shannon Magee. Shannon has displayed great athleticism throughout the campaign and is ably supported by a great defence where Rebecca McFarline, Alex McMullan and Clodagh McFaul have performed heroically. The attack has been on fire all season with Leona Dallas, Aislinn Elliot and Christine Laverty leading the way.
“This team has all the passion and commitment to the game, but earning their place in the N. Ireland finals has given the girls the self belief they needed," said coach Donnelly.
The last team to take to the court will be the Intermediate team made up of players from Year 11 and 12. The twin towers in the defence are Fionnula Mooney and Saoirse McCaughey, who have formed a formidable force and have provided the platform to allow the three players in the engine room of the team - Erin Elliot, Finvola McIntyre and Annie Laverty to supply the ammunition to the shooters in the team - Julie Dickson and Nichola McFaul to do the damage. Ms Donnelly described this team "as a joy to coach, they are very positive personalities who have come together as a cohesive unit, and I have 100% belief that they will give everything for the CPC cause".
The school would like to wish the three teams and all the girls and coaches involved good luck in their quest for glory, and no doubt they will add more silverware to the CPC trophy cabinet.
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