St Leo’s stun Fermoy girls with goal-blitz to seal first title

IN a thrilling finale St Leo’s of Carlow took the Pat the Baker All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Girls A SFC title for the first time at Cashel yesterday.

The Fermoy girls led for 40 minutes but they ultimately wilted under the enormous pressure exerted by their opponents, conceding two goals in a minute late in the game which proved decisive.

St Leo’s who were beaten in the final last year, were determined not to suffer a similar fate, and Anna Moore played a starring role for the Carlow school.

She was moved from defence to midfield, after picking up a knock moments into the game, where she set up scores for her team-mates and kicking two excellent points herself.

Little wonder she won the player of the match, but it could have gone to any of four others as Kylie Murphy, Sinead Doogue, Sinead Lyons and team captain Gráinne M Dunne also made major contributions.

Loreto, slight favourites to win, were very wasteful in front of goal, and kicked 11 costly wides. It was no fault of Orla Cotter, Carly Shanahan, and the Sheehan sisters Jenny and Kate that they failed.

The Fermoy girls, who won the B title last year, led by a Jenny Sheehan point after a minute.

However St Leo’s weathered the Loreto storm and they struck back with three points in a row, scored by the impressive Sinead Doogue and the Fermoy side clearly had a battle on their hands.

The dominance of Orla Cotter who won a senior All-Ireland camogie medal with Cork last year, gave Loreto a grip on midfield and it was reflected with the game’s opening goal in the 20th minute.

A long ball out of defence by Eleanor Aherne sent Jenny Sheehan racing clear. She had sister Kate up in support and fed her the perfect pass to billow the net, and Fermoy were full value for their 1-5 to 0-4 half time lead.

Loreto threw down the gauntlet to Carlow two minutes into the second half when Kate Sheehan finished a good move to the net for her second goal. It gave the Fermoy girls an eight-point lead.

St Leo’s, inspired by the brilliance of Anna Moore, threw everything at Fermoy in search of a badly-needed goal and it came in the 45th minute when Sinead Doogue drove home.

It was the perfect response by the Carlow girls who proceeded to dominate in most sectors of the field and as the Fermoy challenge began to disintegrate, Anna Moore showed her class with a great 50-metre run before putting Sinead Lyons in for a second goal.

With the Fermoy spirit finally broken, Kylie Murphy availed of a poor kick out to deliver the knock out punch with a third goal.

Scorers – St. Leos: S. Doogue 1-7 (0-5 frees); S. Lyons 1-1; K. Murphy 1-0; A. Moore 0-2; D. Doyle 0-1.

Loreto Convent scorers: K. Sheehan 2-1 (0-1 free); C. Shanahan 0-2; J. Sheehan, K. Feeney 0-1 each.

ST LEO’S: S. Brennan; S. Kearns, G. M. Dunne, G. C. Dunne; D. Callanan, A. Kinsella, A. Moore; L. Corrigan, N. Nolan; K. Murphy, D. O’Shea, C. Scully; S. Doogue, S. Lyons, D. Doyle.

Subs. R. Julian for Nolan; G. Miller for Callanan; D. O’Sullivan for Doyle; B. Wall for Murphy.

LORETO CONVENT: A. Hartnett; J. O’Brien, K. O’Flynn, J. O’Riordan; E. Ahern, A. Hutchings, M. Hartnett; C. Shanahan, O. Cotter; J. Sheehan, K. Sheehan, G. Kearney; K. Feeney, K. Hannon, E. O’Hagan.

Referee: J. Flood (Wexford)