Girls FAI Blitz 2026
Category - Sports
The girls took part in a FAI blitz in a highly competitive group stage that was packed with exciting football and brilliant teamwork throughout.
The girls took on Ballinkillen N.S, Queen of Universe N.S, Rathoe N.S, and St Patrick’s N.S in a highly competitive group stage that was packed with exciting football and brilliant teamwork throughout.
The opening game against Ballinkillen N.S proved to be an entertaining encounter from the first whistle. Ballinkillen struck first, but the Ballyconnell girls responded brilliantly with some superb link-up play between Maddie Cahill and Aoife Bolger, who combined wonderfully to level the game. Ballinkillen managed to add three more goals before the final whistle, but the Ballyconnell girls showed fantastic heart and resilience, battling right to the very end.
Next up was Queen of Universe N.S, and Ballyconnell really began to grow into the tournament. Layna Cushe delivered an immense performance in midfield, working tirelessly throughout the game, while Florrie Cosgrove was superb in goal, organising the back line superbly. Despite a spirited display full of determination and teamwork, Queen of Universe N.S managed to edge the contest at the final whistle.
St Patrick’s N.S provided the opposition in the third game of the day, and the girls rose to the challenge with incredible spirit and determination. Ballyconnell pushed a very skilful St Patrick’s side all the way and just lost out in the end. Aoife Nolan produced a series of excellent saves throughout the game to deny St Patrick’s N.S, while her pinpoint and accurate throws-outs from restarts helped Ballyconnell to get back on the attack. One of the standout moments of the entire day came courtesy of Hannah Lawlor, whose sensational long-range strike flew into the bottom corner of the net, leaving everyone watching in awe.
The final game against Rathoe N.S saw the girls truly hit their stride as they played some excellent flowing football full of confidence and creativity. The Ballyconnell cailíní finished the day in style here with a fantastic team performance and some superbly taken goals from Maddie Cahill, Sara O’Grady, Kate Murphy, Hannah Lawlor, and Aoife Bolger. The girls capped off a brilliant day’s football with an emphatic 5–0 victory, a fitting reward for their hard work, teamwork, and never-give-up attitude throughout the day.
The squad was: Layna Cushe, Sara O’Grady, Maddie Cahill, Florrie Cosgrove, Hannah Lawlor, Aoife Nolan, Anna Yuryna, Aoife Bolger and Kate Murphy.
