Heartbreak for Loreto College in All-Ireland final
All-Ireland Ladies PPS Senior A final
Skibbereen Community School 2-10
Loreto College Cavan 3-6
Damien Donohoe at Nowlan Park
There was heartbreak for Loreto College today in the All-Ireland Senior A final at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny as a late point saw Skibbereen Community College from Cork claim the win.
With seconds to go in this brilliant All-Ireland final, it looked certain that extra-time would be needed to separate the sides, but Meabh Collins had the bravery and talent to take the opportunity to grab the win for Skibbereen.
The Munster champions, playing with the wind in the opening half led by seven points at the break. Eabha O’Donovan opened the scoring for the Cork side two minutes into the game with a free. Loreto worked their way into the lead with Kate Fegan instrumental as Katie O’Meara sent over a free and Ruby Gilmartin raised a second white flag.
Skibbereen took advantage of some wasteful Cavan play with O’Donovan sending over two points and Meabh Collins punting over to gain a two-point lead. Cavan senior Ellie Brady replied with a point at the other end but quick hands by Kate Carey and O’Donovan set up Hannah Sheehy who restored Skibbereen’s two-point lead with 14 minutes played.
Loreto once again edged into the lead with a little bit of luck as Katie O’Meara’s shot from distance dropped just under the crossbar, catching out the Skibbereen goalkeeper. The would-be winners bounced right back with a pointed free from O’Donovan and a goal by Meabh Collins after Carey intercepted a Loreto kick-out.
With two minutes to go to the break, Collins extended the Skibbereen lead with a point. In the last attack of the half, the Cork side were given their share of the luck when Hannah Sheehy’s point effort dropped into the net, leaving her side seven ahead at the break.
Brady wasted no time after the restart with a point from the throw-in but Carey cancelled that out two minutes later. Loreto now the wind at their backs took control with an O’Meara pointed free. Pressing up on the Skibbereen kick-out Kate Fegan intercepted and Kayla Bartley finished to the net leaving just three between the sides.
With 11 minutes played, an O’Meara free narrowed the gap but Skibbereen kept plugging away and Carey sent over her second point. Loreto again pressed up on the kick-out and this time Brady made the interception and O’Meara levelled the sides with a palmed goal with seven minutes to go.
Skibbereen retreated to form a blanket defence as Loreto went in search of the winner in the dying minutes. With less than a minute to go, a brilliant counter-attacking move by Ella Ryan’s side ended in the hands of Meabh Collins and she calmly split the posts for the winner.
Scorers:
Loreto, Cavan: K O’Meara(2-3f), K Bartley(1-0), E Brady(0-2), R Gilmartin(0-1), Skibbereen CS: M Collins (1-3), H Sheehy(1-1), E O’Donovan(0-4,2f), K Carey(0-2)
Loreto College, Cavan: A. McDermott; K. Cahill, D. McGovern, N. Smith; A. Kennedy, C. Crowe, K. McSeain; E. Brady, L. Miney; R. Gilmartin, S. Clarke, K. Bartley; K. McGahern, K. O'Meara, K. Fegan. Subs used: A Galligan for N Smith(34), C Clarke for D McGovern(44).
Skibbereen Community School: T. O'Regan; M. O'Sullivan, A. Tobin, A. McCarthy; E. Connolly, E. Keating, L. Carey; A. O'Driscoll, K. McCarthy; M. Collins, B. Sheehy, H. Sheehy; E. O'Donovan, K. Carey, C. O'Regan. Subs used: M O’Shea for B Sheehy(41), S Carey for H Sheehy(61).
Ref: Sinéad McHugh, Donegal.