Hickey insures Crescent glory

Ursulines Thurles 1 Crescent Comprehensive 3

Ursulines Thurles, with former Irish international captain Eimear Cregan patrolling the sideline, were looking for a first title in 16 years in a novel all-North Munster final, but they found Crescent netminder Hickey in unforgiving mood. The Dooradoyle school, with coach Ollie O’Connor in his 10th year at the helm, took their chances with aplomb, helped by good fortune, to atone for last year’s penalty strokes defeat to Bandon Grammar.

Crescent got the perfect start when Irish U18 Clodagh Moloney’s short corner bash found its way to the backboard off a defensive stick just four minutes in. But Ursulines, with Ireland U16 Edel Nyland in flying form, came roaring back and could have had an equaliser midway through the half. Eimear Herlihy did have the ball in the net from close range but a short corner had been blown to Ursulines’ dismay. Hickey then began her tour de force with saves off a slew of corners from Nyland, Darielle Ronan and Becky Danaher, daughter of former Irish rugby international Philip.