In the glorious sunshine on April 7^th, 150 secondary school girls descended on DkIT to contest the inaugural Sonia Hoey Cup.

The event marked the culmination of an 8-week School Development Programme, part of the ongoing Female Athlete Health and Wellbeing programme launched by DkIT and Louth LGFA earlier this year. 

The pilot programme, led by Ciara Marry, a 3^rd year Health and Physical Activity student at DkIT, involved an 8-week programme focused around football, fitness and fun, delivered to first year girls in Ballymakenny College Drogheda, Ardee Community School and St Mary’s College, Dundalk.

Speaking at the event, Ciara Marry said:

“A big thank you to all of the schools who took part in the Louth LGFA and Dkit player development programme. Their performance on the day of the Tournament was testament to how dedicated the girls were over the course of the eight weeks. I look forward to seeing the continuing support and development of women's football in Louth and beyond."

The competition saw four teams from the participating schools—Ballymakenny College, Ardee Community School, and St Mary’s College, Dundalk —joined by teams from Our Lady’s College Greenhills Drogheda, Scoil Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer, and Coláiste Rís, Dundalk, for a celebratory event and blitz with the Sonia Hoey Cup and Shield up for grabs.  The competition was fierce and the talent on display impressive as St Mary’s College pipped Coláiste Rís to win the Shield and Ardee Community School became the eventual winners of the Cup after a gripping battle with Our Lady’s, Greenhills which required extra time to separate the sides. 

The family of the late Sonia Hoey, former Louth LGFA star and beloved colleague at DkIT, were on hand to present the silverware, a fitting tribute to Sonia's legacy and her profound impact on the sporting community in County Louth. Louth Senior Ladies footballer Holly Lambe Sally was also on hand to present the girls from Ballymakenny, Ardee and St Mary’s with certificates to award their enthusiastic and dedicated participation in the development programme.  While the competition was fierce and the victories hard-earned, the biggest winner of the day was undoubtedly girls' sport. The event served as an inspiring celebration of the skill, dedication and camaraderie that young female athletes continue to bring to the field.