Post-Primary Schools Championships – Senior ‘A’ Final

St Pat’s, Maghera 1-2 Loreto (Kilkenny) 1-16

Saturday 18 February

Brendan McTaggart reports from Naomh Peregrines, Dublin

St Pat’s All Ireland dream came to an end on Saturday afternoon as they came up against a strong Loreto side.  The Kilkenny school took advantage of a strong wind in the first half and always had a little extra in the second, to keep at bay any thoughts of a comeback from the Maghera school.

It was a disappointing end for St Pat’s who had a huge support at the Naomh Peregrine ground, easily outnumbering the Kilkenny support 10 to 1 with smoke bombs, face paints, flags and horns filling the air.  That support never wavered as they watched a side go against a hugely talented Loreto team.

All six of Loretto’s starting forwards scored with Amy Clifford top scoring with 1-5, four from placed ball which was no mean fete given the blustery conditions.  Their half forward line were excellent throughout with their ball retention and ability to find a player in space the main difference between the sides.

For St Pat’s, they were relentless in their pursuit during the game.  At no stage did they drop their heads and gave everything they could possible have on the day.  Captain Eavanne Martin was superb at centre half along with Abi McNeill and Ellen McCormick, all part of a defence that was incredibly overworked.

The Kilkenny side led by 11 points at half time, restricting St Pat’s to a solitary point, that coming from a Carla Collins free in the 12^th minute.  The Maghera school could have had the opening goal moments after Collins’ point, Caoimhe Chambers and Blathnaid McLaughlin both going close.

With the wind at their back after the restart, it was still going to take something special from St Pat’s to get back into the game, such was the running ability and strength of Loreto.  The Maghera school did look more threatening in attack from the restart but Amy Clifford’s major in the 39^th minute seemed to knock the wind out of their sails.

They hit back with a Collins free before finding the back of the net in the 45^th minute.  A break from Ellie Griffin creating the chance with Collins’ riffling the sliothar home but it was as close as they got to the Kilkenny school who finished strongly to run out convincing winners by the end of the hour and take the All Ireland honours yet again.

TEAMS

St Pat’s: Maria Hughes; Eimear Murray, Eimear Doherty, Abi McNeill; Ellen McCormick, Eavanne Martin (captain), Erin Kelly; Orlaith Hull, Cait Conway; Blathnaid McLaughlin, Carla Collins, Cara Donnelly; Ellie Griffin, Caoimhe Chambers, Caoimhe Kearney

Subs: Katie McCloskey for C Conway (34); MT McCullagh for O Hull (40); Branagh Brolly for C Donnelly (48)

Scorers: C Collins 1-2 (2fs)

Loreto: Ali Kennedy; Coimhe Carroll, Anna Doheny, Orlaith Kirwan; Emma Corr, Rachel Brennan, Aisling Browne; Lauren East, Rose Kelly; Emma Mulhall, Caoimhe Keher-Murtagh, Amy Clifford; Julie Lennon, Ciara Dunne, Claire Doheny

Scorers: A Clifford 1-5 (4f); E Mulhall 0-2; R Kelly 0-2; J Lennon 0-1; C Dunne 0-1; C Keher-Murtagh 0-1; L East 0-1; R Brennan 0-1 (1f); C Doheny 0-1; Niamh Holohan 0-1

Referee: Alan Lagrue (Kildare)

Very Camogie League

Antrim: 5-14 (29) Down: 0-14 (14)

Antrim Camogs staged a remarkable comeback at Kelly Park in Portglenone on Saturday when they came from five points down in the 28^th minute to overwhelm Down and get their National League campaign off to a great start.

The visitors had dominated the opening half and with Niamh Mallon and Sarah Louis Graffin creating no end of problems for the girls in Saffron they were six clear by the 23^rd minute, and had it not been for an early goal from Caitrin Dobbin things would have been much worse. However the last ten minutes of the opening half saw Antrim gain a foothold and when Dobbin struck her second goal in first half injury time to reduce the gap to a single point there was a definite momentum swing.

With the breeze at their backs in the second half the home team took control and with Rosin McCormick moved out from corner forward to around the middle of the field, and with Fionnuala Kelly and Mark McKillen introduce up front the totally dominated play and went on to win by five clear goals.

Niamh Mallon had Down ahead through a pointed free inside the opening minute but when Caitrin Dobbin found the Down net four minute later it looked like they were in a good position. However Down started to control the game and with Mallon in devastating form on the 40, she struck the next four points, two from frees and two from play. Roisin McCormick pulled a point back from a free but Down pushed on and hit the next five points without reply, three of them from Mallon and two from Sarah Louise Graffin, four of the five scores coming from play.

Antrim were in trouble but they steadied the ship and two excellent points, the first from Katie McKillop and the second a massive effort from distance from Niamh Cosgrove lifted spirits a bit. Down came back again though with a pointed free from Mallon and they should have had a few more had it not been for some wayward shooting and a brilliant smothering save b Catriona Graham in the Antrim goal.

Still the visitors appeared to be in a strong position, holding a five point advantage entering injury time, but they game took a significant turn when Roisin McCormick sent over a point and Caitrin Dobbin grabbed her second goal to send the teams to the changing room at the break with just a point separating them.

With team manager Elaine Dowds making a couple of astute changes at the break, Caoimhe Conlon moving into full back and Fionnuala Kelly coming on for the unwell Aine Magill, everything seemed to click. Dobbin brought her team level within a minute before Cassie McArthur put them ahead with two well taken points from play. McCormick sent over a free before firing in a goal from a penalty which rattled the underside of the crossbar on its way to the net.

Down pulled one back through Nicola Mallon but Antrim still held the upper hand and the deadly due of Dobbin and McCormick kept the scoreboard ticking over. The gap was out to seven with ten minutes left to play, when the floodgates opened. It started when a long range free from Niamh Cosgrove deceived the Down defence and ended in the net, and following point from McCormick, Siobhan McKillop, and Dobbin, Fionnuala Kelly wrapped I all up when she marked her senior debut with her team’s fifth goal.

ANTRIM

Catriona Graham, Colleen Patterson, Eilish Kearns, Maria Lynn, Amy Boyle, Caoimhe Conlon, Niamh Cosgrove, Shanon Graham, Lucia McNaughton, Katie McKillop, Siobhan McKillop, Aine Magill, Roisin McCormick, Katie McArthur, Caitrin Dobbin.

Subs – Fionnula Kelly for Kearns; Mary McKillen for Magill; Megan McGarry for Colleen Patterson.

DOWN

Maria McNally, Aimee Mallon, Beth Fitzpatrick, Rhea Smyth, Blanaid Savage, Derbhla Magee, Allanah Savage, Claire McGillagan, Olivia Boyle, Sarah-Louise Graffin, Niamh Mallon, Deirghle Savage, Ciara Fitzimons, Aimee McAleenan, Lauren Clarke.

saoirse sands for Alannah Savage; Colleen McConnell for Aimee McAleenan; Aoife McDowell for Olivia Boyle

Electric Ireland Aisling Murphy Cup final

UU Magee 2-4 ATU Sligo 0-7

Dunloy and Antrim senior star Aine Magill led the line as University of Ulster Magee beat ATU Sligo in the final of the Aishling Murphy Cup at Belfield Dublin.

Magill was in great form scoring 2 goals and 3 points of her team’s total of 2-4 to steer Magee to victory in this the first ever Aisling Murphy Cup competition. With goalkeeper Mairead Comer is great form between the sticks the platform was set, but it was Magill who got the scores when they were needed and the former CPC student showed her quality throughout.

Favourites ATU Sligo went ahead in the early stages and it took a great save from a penalty by Comer to deny them taking a grip on the game. Magill, who was joined on the team by her sister Bríd, soon had UU Magee level with a point and she gave her team a lead they would not relinquish soon afterwards when she grabbed the first of her two goals.

Leading by 1-2 to 0-2 at half time UU Magee saw their opponents claw their way back into the game with two points early in the second half. The pressure was on but Magill struck for her second goal on 41 minutes to give them a bit of breathing space. However the Sligo girls fought back again with two further points from the excellent Aine Phelan, but Magill sealed the win with her third point to spark scenes of great celebration    

UU Magee: Máiréad Comer (Glenullin), Emer Bradley (Castledawson), Shannon Scullion (Ballinascreen), Shauna McGrath (Ballinderry), Brid Magill (Dunloy), Eimear Gilmartin (Keady), Claire Kearns (Castledawson), Ava Berry (Whitehall Colmcille, Dublin), Orlagh O’Connor (Granemore), Áine Magill (Dunloy), Siobhan McKinley (Mullaghbawn), Amy McKenna (Ballinderry), Eve Hughes (Eglish), Aisling Porter (Glen), Aoife Doyle (Ballinascreen).