Omagh women crowned champions

OMAGH Futsal Club’s women’s team capped a remarkable debut season by winning the Northern Ireland Futsal Federation’s Championship title in style on Friday, thrashing Dromara Village 11-1 at Cookstown’s Mid Ulster Sports Arena.

On the night, Northern Ireland international Sasha Funston scored four goals, Louise Devlin weighed in with a hat-trick, Susan Surphlis added two and there were also goals from Anna Magolan and Charlene Bell.

David Alonso’s charges went into the game as overwhelming favourites to win and to clinch the league crown in the process and while there were a few initial nerves, they soon overcame those to run out convincing victors before lifting the coveted trophy.

“To win a national league title is one of our ambitions, as a club, and I guess to do it with a new squad on their debut season, which is a new development for the club to make it an all-inclusive club, made it all the sweeter really,” beamed club chairman Martin Cassidy, who was keen to pay tribute to head coach, Belleek-based Alonso and his players, many of whom braved the wintry weather conditions in Fermanagh in order to play the match.

He added: “Fair play to the players and to David because there was a lot of snow in Enniskillen and a lot of them struggled to get out, but they made the effort, turned up early, had a great warm-up, they took it very seriously and the prepared well.

“They were nervous with the expectation that they were probably going to walk over [Dromara], but they took their time and they led 5-0 at half-time and 11-1 at full-time, so it was comfortable in the end and we’re delighted for them.

“I’m delighted and I’m delighted for David because he puts in a lot of hard work as a coach, covers a lot of miles, shows a lot of commitment and there’s no-one deserves a title as much as him in the Northern Ireland futsal scene.

“No-one deserves success more than him because he has a real passion for the game, it’s not about titles for him, he has a real love of being a coach and that’s why he’s one of the best.
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The girls and David were extremely committed all season. They never missed a game, they turned up in numbers, they wanted to learn and it gave ourselves a bit of ambition and energy to keep on doing what we’re doing. It’s fantastic and we’re really happy as a club to lift a national title.”

With the Championship crown comes a big step up for the women’s team next year as they will enter the NIFF Super League, which Cassidy knows will prove a massive challenge but it’s one he believes the players and Alonso will relish.

“It will be a big step up to the Super League,” he acknowledged. “I think any club that’s gone up in previous seasons has struggled so I think there will be a big push to maybe recruit some more players and have a good pre-season.

“But I think the girls can compete in the Super League. They will have to adapt to playing on bigger courts and against teams full of internationals and Premiership football players. It will be a good challenge for them and I’ve no doubt they will step up to it because they are ambitious girls who are keen to learn.”

Meanwhile, Omagh’s men’s team won their first game in Group 2 of the NIFF Cup on Sunday, beating Belfast Iberians 4-2 thanks to two goals apiece from Lee McMenemy and Zach Ferson.