Intense tussle
Aoife Cooke’s excellent point – with Blaithín Lavin the orchestrator of the move – further emboldened St Attracta’s who were then deflated when Mount St Michael replied with two points. At 0-9 to 0-5 it could have gone either way but St Attracta’s seized the momentum. Ellen Giblin
WE’VE DONE IT: St Attracta’s players react following the final whistle of last Friday’s final. scored two points and Kate McCarthy notched a fine score.
Blaithín Lavin, whose afternoon was curbed by a nagging injury, almost goaled but her strong effort was kept out by the Mount St Michael custodian Ciara Brennan. Ellen Giblin fizzed the rebound over for her side’s seventh point. St Attracta’s were not only the better side in the second-half, outscoring their rivals 0-5 to 0-3, they kept things tight – even if, in the end, Mount St Michael were still only one score away.
Ciara Brennan kicked the equalising point in the 33rd minute, 60 seconds after Ellen Giblin’s goal shot was blocked following Lucy Henry’s strong surge into Mount St Michael territory.
Twice Mount St Michael went ahead and twice St Attracta’s levelled it up through scores from Kate McCarthy, who got a pass from Lauren Normanly, and Ciara Brennan, whose perfect point came from Aoibheann Durcan’s industry. Then St Attracta’s regained the lead, held it, survived various scares and finally won the title that they also sought a year ago.
Best for St Attracta’s:
St Attracta’s Community School (Tubbercurry): Catherine Gallagher, Rebecca Staunton, Cara King (0-1), Aoife Prendergast, Emily Cassidy, Jessica Casey, Aoibheann Durcan, Ciara Walsh, Lucy
Henry (0-2), Kate McCarthy (0-2), Ciara Brennan (c) (0-3), Blaithín Lavin (0-1), Ellen Giblin (0-2, 1f), Aoife Cooke (0-1), Lauren Normanly (0-1)
Subs used: Makayla Mitchell, Grainne Cooke, Shannon Davey, Amy McCarthy, Mia Durkin
Subs not used: Sophia Calvey, Aoibheann Mulholland, Ava Cregg, Caoimhe Lucey, Madeline Gorman, Orlaith Monaghan, Rachel Haran, Sinead O’Brien, Tara Hosey, Tara McLoughlin
Other panel members: Leah Kerins, Hannah Lee, Ella McCarrick, Katelyn Walsh, Aisling Hyland
Mount St Michael Secondary School (Claremorris): Ciara Brennan, Emma Higgins (0-1), Ashling Cummins, Aoife Heaney, Amy Cummins, Isobel Phillips, Anna Roche, Alana Fitzpatrick (c) (0-2), Síomha McNulty, Eabha Finnerty, Nina Wallace, Sienna Kelly, Roisin Horkan, Bree Hession (0-7, 2f), Ashleadh Salmon (0-2) Subs used: Caoilinn Walsh, Clodagh Keane Referee: Shane Curley (Galway)