Bailieborough CS ladies crowned All-Ireland Junior ‘C’ champions after emphatic win

All-Ireland PPS Junior C final

Bailieborough Community School 9-13

Scoil Mhuire agus Íde (Limerick) 4-7

Damien Donohoe in Ballinasloe

Bailieborough Community School have been crowned Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary School Junior C Champions for 2024 after a dominant victory over Scoil Mhuire Agus Íde from Limerick in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe. Rarely will a team be so in control of an All-Ireland final from start to finish as Bailieborough were.

Conditions were cold but sunny and a dry ball suited the would-be winners who played against the breeze in the first half. Bailieborough started and played the majority of the game at a pace and intensity that Scoil Mhuire simply couldn’t match. The Cavan girls in green and navy ran at speed and were so comfortable on the ball that at times they had too much time on the ball and left a hat full of chance behind them.

They came out all guns blazing and opened up an early lead. A brilliant solo run and pass to the back post by Ella McPhillips set up Lucie Gibson for the opening goal of the game inside the first minute. From the resulting kick-out, Kayleigh Browne added a point, quickly followed by another from corner-forward and captain Caoimhe Brady with Gibson turning provider this time.

The Cavan side continued their strong start, with Gia McCabe and Kayleigh Browne adding a point apiece thanks to a great interception by McPhillips, leaving the score 1-4 to no score after just eight minutes.

Scoil Mhuire who had been camped in their half of the field, eventually got off the mark with their first shot, in the form of a free converted by wing-forward Eva Power. Corner-forward Emma Horgan added a second point for the Limerick side, but Bailieborough soon regained control.

In a little over a minute of play Bailieborough left little doubt where the cup was going. With the clock showing 16 minutes, Ella McPhillips capped off another superb solo run with a goal. From the resulting kick-out, Leila Cooney found the net for Bailieborough’s third goal before Abbie Reilly followed up with a point, making it 3-5 to 0-2.

It took another eight minutes for the next score, but when it came, it was Player of the Match Ella McPhillips who struck again - this time burying a stunning shot into the top corner to extend Bailieborough’s lead to 15 points.

A slight setback followed for Bailieborough as full-forward Lucie Gibson received a yellow card five minutes before halftime for a high tackle. Scoil Mhuire briefly took advantage, with Eva Power converting her second point and Olivia O'Brien adding another to spark a glimmer of hope.

However, Bailieborough regained control before the break. Abbie Reilly pointed a free after Caoimhe Brady was fouled, and Brady herself closed out the half with another point, leaving the halftime score at 4-7 to 0-4.

Bailieborough started the second half just as they had the first, with Ella McPhillips netting once again at the end of an unstoppable solo run.

However, Scoil Mhuire responded with a goal of their own, as Emma Horgan blasted to the corner the net. Less than a minute later, Olivia O'Brien struck for another goal after a clever pass by Isabelle O’Brien, bringing the Limerick side slightly back into the game with nine points separating the sides.

But like true champions, Bailieborough hit back. Abbie Reilly finished of a sweeping move up the field with a punted finish to the net . Eva Power responded with her third white flag for Scoil Mhuire but Bailieborough dominance resumed a minute later.

Lucie Gibson got on the end of an Abby Reilly pass to grab their eight goal with the second half clock showing 13 minutes played. From the resulting kick-out Bailieborough were awarded a penalty after Caoimhe Brady was fouled and Gibson done the dutiful. That left Bailieborough in a commanding position at 8-7 to 2-5, with 15 minutes to play.

McPhillips continued to shine, adding a point and another goal in the 15th and 19th minutes.

Scoil Mhuire did manage to pull one back when Ciara Lanigan dropped a shot into the corner of the Bailieborough net and followed it with a free from Eva Power, leaving 11 between the sides.

Bailieborough, however, put the game well and truly beyond doubt with a run of five unanswered scores.

Caoimhe Brady started the spree before Abbie Reilly added four points in a row, three from frees, extending the lead to 9-13 to 3-6 with just two minutes left.

Scoil Mhuire had the final two scores of the game—Eva Power converted a free after Emma Horgan was fouled, and Power then dispatched a penalty after Horgan was fouled again. But it was only a consolation as the final whistle blew on a 9-13 to 4-7 victory for Bailieborough Community School, securing their All-Ireland title.

Bailieborough Community School: Margaret Smith; Asha Connolly, Aoife Rogers, Anna Clarke; Erelle O’Sullivan, Éadaoin Lynch, Gia McCabe(0-1); Cara McNicholl, Ella McPhillips(4-1); Ellie Reilly, Abby Reilly(1-6,4f), Kayleigh Browne(0-2); Caoimhe Brady (C)(0-3), Lucie Gibson(3-0,1p), Leila Cooney(1-0)

Subs used: Evie Hill  for L Cooney, Olivia McCullagh for A Clarke, Ellen Farrelly for E Lynch, Bláithín Smith for E Reilly, Layla Kierans for E O’Sullivan

Panel: Courtney Cadden, Shelby Hutchinson, Laíla Fee, Holly Lambe, Chloé Crosbie, Cáit Galligan, Kaitlyn Monaghan, Maisie Rose Smith, Lucy Furlong, Éabha Clarke.

Management: Siobhán Hanratty, John Brady, Mary Sweeney, Grace Keegan

Scoil agus Íde Mhuire, Limerick: Maeve Cussen; Grace Kelly, Keelin Carr, Anna Horgan; Éabha Kelly, Cora Long, Ailís Kelly; Olivia O’Brien(1-1), Kate O’Gorman; Eva Power (1-5, 1-0 pen, 4f), Ciara Lanigan(1-0), Aoibhinn Dore;  Karleigh Clarke, Isabelle O’Brien (C), Emma Horgan(1-1)

Subs: Aoibhinn Kelleher for A Dore, Gracie O'Doherty for A Horgan, Cathyanne Lyons for A Kelly, Amy Mullins for G Kelly

Panel: Karleigh Clarke, Molly Madigan, Chloe Youta, Niamh Kelly, Ellie May Quaid, Elva McEnery, Grace Long, Chloe O'Connor, Sarah Creedon, Rebecca Kennedy, Elise Hurley

Ref: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).