St Mary’s surge to national title
ÁINE HALLAHAN kicked five points as St Mary’s were crowned Lidl PPS Senior A Champions at Bruff GAA.
The game was a tight and tense affair but a number of scores early in the third quarter pushed St Mary’s into a lead they did not relinquish. And a late goal from substitute Ava McAuliffe ensured victory for the Midleton outfit.
St Mary’s struck first, with Rachel Leahy finally getting a score in the 15th minute. Aoife Healy doubled their lead before Shannon Mulvihill reduced the deficit to one. The sides were level when Mulvihill doubled her tally. Hallahan pushed St Mary’s back in front on 26 minutes but this was cancelled out by Ava Cornally a minute later.
On the resumption, Anna Sheerin gave Moate CS a 0-4 to 0-3 half-time advantage.
Hallahan, Leahy, Kaitlin Smith, Brianna Smith and player of the match Aoife Healy all scored in the third quarter, with only Kate Whyte countering for Moate.
Áine Gaynor and Mulvihill hit frees in the final quarter but McAuliffe’s goal ensured the All-Ireland title heads to Cork for the first time since 2013.
St MarY’S: S Cashman; A Cooper, S McAllister, D Kiniry; G Rooney, R Keane (A Savage 50), E Brenner; B Smith, K Smith; L O’Sullivan, R Quirke (A McAuliffe 31), A Healy; Á Hallinan, R Leahy, A McCarthy. Scorers: Á Hallahan 0-5, R Leahy 0-3, A McAuliffe 1-0, A Healy 0-2, B Smith 0-1 (1f), K Smith 0-1.
Moate CS: E Quigley; J Conway, A Murphy, C McCormack; H Doolan, C Moran, H Keenan (C Conlon 49); M Clinton, A Sheerin; S McGuinness, Á Gaynor, H Kelly; A Cornally, S Mulvihill, K Whyte. Scorers: S Mulvihill 0-3 (1f), A Sheerin 0-1, A Cornally 0-1, K Whyte 0-1, A Gaynor 0-1 (1f). referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).