Yellow Furze and Realt na Mara retain their crowns

REALT na Mara Donacarney have retained their SPAR FAI Primary 5s Meath girls title despite a nervous 2-2 draw in their opening game against Dunboyne.

Brianna Martin’s superb skills inspired Rebecca Kirwan’s charges to a subsequent 3-1 win against a resilient St Stephen’s from Johnstown, and so it all came down to the last game against local rivals Laytown where another Realt na Mara victory would guarantee the silverware.

The safe hands of Leah Sanders and solid defending from Abbie Sherlock and Grace Toolan ensured the Donacarney school kept their goal intact, but the game was heading for stalemate until Eimear Brennan and Brianna Martin combined to force the lead goal.

Brennan soon followed up with a second, after which Maci Hayes and Kaci Lynch used their experience to control the game and ensure that Donacarney won a second consecutive county title.

Meanwhile, in the other section Yellow Furze also managed to retain their county title but only by the tightest of margins as they pipped their local rivals Skryne in a pulsating final.

Watching Ireland U-16 manager Sharon Boyle was impressed by the high standard of the two school teams.

Over the years Yellow Furze manager Liz Halpenny has previously guided her school to success at county and provincial level, and although Gaelscoil Eanna proved to be determined and tough opposition the Beauparc girls eventually secured victory on a 3-0 scoreline.

Next came their neighbours Kentstown who put in a spirited performance despite going down 7-0.

The decider against Skryne was a rip-roaring affair between two very evenly matched sides.

Impressive for Furze in goals was Robyn Murray, while in front of her stood her twin sister Charlie, who was solid in defence and equally threatening going forward.

Dominating the midfield exchanges was captain Tara Traynor and up front Nicola Mongey, Ella Sheridan, Sophie Sharp, Holly Knowles and Robyn Doyle were hard-working and clinical in their finishing.