Double delight for Loreto seniors
Loreto Fermoy have enjoyed great success recently with their school camogie teams in particular their senior team. They got off to a great start in the Cork Colleges competition and played against a very strong Pres Bandon team in November. With great scores from Chloe Draper and the Hallihan sisters and a fine performance from Sara-Mai Clancy full back, they finished on a score of Loreto 4-12 to Pres Bandon 0-12.
On to the semi-final to face St. Mary’s Charleville which was played on a really cold December afternoon. However, the girls in the red of Loreto proved too strong and overcame Charleville on a scoreline of Loreto 4-10 to St. Mary’s Charleville 4-3. Having returned from the Christmas holidays they were straight into action playing in the Cork Colleges Senior B Cup Final. This was an absolute cracker of a final which was played under lights in Bishopstown GAA against Mount Mercy. In a high scoring encounter, on a bitterly cold night both sides produced some excellent camogie. This was undoubtedly the best game of the year. Mount Mercy led by a point at the first water break. However, Loreto stormed into the game.
Mount Mercy hit a purple patch and narrowed the gap to 0-3 but in a very evenly matched game, both sides battled hard and neither were determined to let their team lose. Shauna Hayes gave an outstanding display in centre back alongside her ever dependable Amy O’Sullivan and Sarah Morrison. Goalkeeper Niamh Coleman produced 4 point blank saves which proved vital as the game hung in the balance. However, scores from Ally Mulkerrins (4-1), Ava Hallihan 0-6 (0-5f), Leah Halligan 0-3, Cliona Dunning, Ava Barry 0-1 each sealed the deal and led Loreto win the Cork Colleges Senior B title. FT. Loreto 4-12 – Mount Mercy 3-9
Moving on to the Munster Competition, Tuesday, 11th January, Loreto Fermoy faced St. Mary’s Charleville in the semi-final of the Munster Senior League. Again, our girls dug deep and at one stage only 2 points separated the sides. Good saves by Aoife Gould, trojan work rate by Ava Barry and Leah Hallihan, followed by an avalanche of goals from Ally Mulkerrins who was on fire and scored a massive 7-1 on the day. Loreto advanced to the Munster final on a scoreline of Loreto Fermoy 8-5 to St. Mary’s Charleville 2-5.
This set the team up for the Munster final which was played in Waterford on Sunday, 16th January only a few days after the semi-final. Brickey Rangers GAA, Waterford was the venue where Loreto took on Árd Scoil na Daoise, Dungarvan in the Munster Senior C League final.
Ally Mulkerrins got Loreto off to a dream start with a goal inside the 3rd minute. Ava Hallihan duly pointed from a free and this settled the Cork side. All girls were working hard where conditions were cold and the pitch proving heavy. The Loreto defense stood strong led by centre back Shauna Hayes who had a tremendous hour. Goalkeeper Niamh Coleman and full back Sara-Mai Clancy were in fine form along with Sarah-Kate Reals and Ella-May Fahy, and it seemed nothing was going to break their defense.
Mulkerrins was battling hard against Árd Scoil’s captain Beth Gardner and bagged herself her second goal Patrick Horgan style from her knees! Minutes later Ciara Morrison who seemed to cover every inch of the pitch scored a rocket of a goal. The ever dependable free-taker Ava Hallihan duly responded with another point which had Loreto leading 3.2 – 0.0 at the waterbreak.
Avril Beirne and Ava Barry were relentless in the half forward line and kept piling the pressure on the Ard Scoil defense and great credit is due to Árd Scoil goalkeeper Katelyn Gardner who played a great game. A fine passage of play from Leah Hallihan led Emma Doyle to hit the net with minutes remaining to half time. A pointed free from Árd Scoil’s Anna Hickey meant the sides went in 4-2 – 0-1 at half time in favour of Loreto.
Ava Hallihan was on target upon the resumption and pointed a free followed with an excellent long -range point from play after a super run by Ciara Morrison. Sarah Morrison and Amy O’Sullivan played pivotal roles in the half back line making it extremely difficult for the Waterford side to break through. Chloe Draper and Cliona Dunning hit a point each and while Árd Scoil pointed from Emma Hickey, the Cork side had too big a lead for them to make a comeback. To Árd Scoil’s credit they battled hard to the very end but came up against a very determined and balanced Loreto team that proved too strong on the day where the score didn’t justify the game. Captains Shauna Hayes and Ava Hallihan accepted the cup and duly praised their opponents and their fellow teammates on such a sporting game of camogie.
Loreto Fermoy manager Michelle Gould is thrilled with the success of the team and praised the girls for their hard work in training and throughout the season. “I’ll miss the 6th years on the team as they’ve been with me since they started in 1st year in Loreto and I’m delighted they ended their year on such a high winning 2 senior titles”.
Loreto are also currently training for the Munster Junior Camogie semi-final and the First Year A league having won the 1st Year B blitz in November. They’ve also had success winning the Munster 7s Shield before Christmas.
Camogie is going from strength to strength and Ms. Gould praised the work of the 9 camogie clubs that are represented in the school. Loreto Abú
Loreto Fermoy Panel: N.Coleman (Castlelyons), E.Fahy (Kilworth), SM Clancy (St. Catherines), SK Reals (Castlelyons), A. O’Sullivan (Mallow), S. Hayes capt (Bride Rovers), S. Morrison (Castlelyons), A Hallihan capt (Castlelyons), C.Morrison (Castlelyons), L. Hallihan (Castlelyons), A.Beirne (Castlelyons), A.Barry (Bride Rovers), E.Doyle (Watergrasshill), C.Dunning (St. Catherines), A.Mulkerrins ( St. Catherines), A.Gould (St. Vincents), C.Draper (St. Catherines), C O’Flynn (Kilworth), F.Dunne (Kilworth), C. O’Flynn (Kilworth), M O’Donohoe (Castlelyons), N. Parle (Bride Rovers), R.Feehan (Kilworth), A O’Donovan (Ballyduff Upper), C.O’Riordan (Castlelyons), S. O’Driscoll (Kilworth), C. Harrington (Watergrasshill), K. Roddis (Bride Rovers), M O’Connell (Bride Rovers).
Manager: Michelle Gould (St. Vincents).