Coláiste na Sceilge and St Leo’s set up final showdown

COLÁISTE na Sceilge and St Leo’s, Carlow will contest this year’s ladies schools All-Ireland A final.

The Kerry school beat Sligo’s St Attracta’s 3-13 to 2-12 in the first semi-final on Saturday. Goals by Erin O’Driscoll and Denise Curran helped them into a 2-6 to 0-7 half-time lead.

But the Connacht champions showed their resilience and pulled back level with Róisín Colleary, Tara Doddy and Katie Walsh leading the way. With the game up for grabs a goal by Leanne Curran, sticky corner back play by Orla O’Donovan and the introduction Lisa O’Sullivan gave Coláiste na Sceilge the belief to kick on. They went 11 points clear before late goals added respectability to the scoreline for Attracta’s.

The second semi-final was a repeat of last year’s final and another victory for St Leo’s from Carlow who beat Loretto Grammar School, Omagh on a 5-9 to 1-4 scoreline.

Lauren Dwyer hit 3-3 while Sinead Doogue fired over five points from play. At the other end the Tyrone school’s attack was shut down by Sarah Quigley, Aishling Wall, Jane Moore, Ciera Callinane, Danni Callinane and Grace Miller. Ciara McMahon was excellent for the Ulster champions but they could not match the Carlow school. The final takes place in Nenagh in two weeks.