Sacred Heart Clonakilty capture maiden Senior Cup to seal historic double 

Sacred Heart Clonakilty’s Amy Giles in action against Coláiste Muire Ennis Ella Courtney. Pic: Ken Sutton, Inpho

Pinergy Munster Girls Schools Senior Cup final: Sacred Heart Clonakilty 20 Coláiste Muire Ennis 10 

Sacred Heart Clonakilty completed a remarkable double of Senior and Junior Cup titles, wrapping up a historic afternoon with a three-try victory over Coláiste Muire Ennis.

It’s the West Cork school’s first time capturing either title, securing the U19 crown against a Clare side who were lining out in only their second competitive game of rugby since establishing a team last autumn.

In dreadful conditions, Sacred Heart didn’t lead until the 49th minute but tries from Solène Skupiewski, Emer Moroney, and the clincher from Sara O’Sullivan secured the victory.

Rachel Twomey’s boot made it safe as Kate Nolan lifted the trophy in front of their vocal supporters.

Lyndsey Clarke, the Ireland U18 international who instigated the foundation of a rugby team in her school, led Coláiste Muire brilliantly in defeat and granted them a dream start.

Straight from the kick-off, the fifth-year student collected the ball and sped clear down the right, reaching the tryline just 16 seconds after the opening whistle. Eabha O’Driscoll’s touchline conversion was pushed wide.

Sacred Heart almost hit straight back. Twomey hacked a loose ball ahead but speedster Ellis O’Flaherty won the foot race to seal off the danger.

Their discipline, however, was getting on the wrong side of referee Gavin Lynch-Frahill as he awarded the first seven penalties to Sacred Heart inside 13 minutes, culminating in a yellow card for scrum-half Amy Butler.

With the numerical advantage, the Cork school found the leveller. After Caoilinn Cahill’s covering tackle had denied Sara O’Sullivan, Moroney charged forward and her overhand offload released Skupiewski to score in the corner. Twomey’s kick got caught in the wind.

Within two minutes, Coláiste Muire’s lead was restored. Orna Moynihan’s quick-thinking pick-up pinched possession and a quick carry from Sally Kelly found the corner. Flanker O’Driscoll’s conversion drifted wide.

Once back to 15 players, the Ennis side continued to direct the balance of play until half-time with some clever chip kicks from Clarke catching Clon too narrow. Infringements continued to cost them, however, as the penalty count clocked 10-2 by the break (it ended 15-7).

The wind may have been backing Sacred Heart now but it pulled a couple of their passes off-line, forcing knock-ons. It was another knock-on, from a wild clearance attempt, which awarded them a five-metre scrum. 

Moroney’s hand-off and offload created the space for Clodagh McCarthy but she was somehow held up by Clarke over the line.

POWER GAME: Sacred Heart Clonakilty’s Emer Moroney is tackled by Coláiste Muire Ennis Ella Courtney. Pic: Ken Sutton, Inpho

Hard work by Ella O’Sullivan forced another attacking scrum and this time, Moroney didn’t need to pass and she found the outside edge to score. Twomey landed the lead kick to make it 12-10.

Another five penalties conceded on the spin ended with Sacred Heart choosing to kick at goal from outside the 22. Twomey’s kick was straight and true, extending their lead to five.

It left Coláiste Muire in need of a try which, in the case of a draw, would hand them the title based on a greater number of tries scored.

Clarke, Moynihan, O’Driscoll and Ellen Byrne threw everything they had left at Sacred Heart but Twomey was able to pin them back with her right boot.

With a minute of normal time remaining, Clarke’s clearing kick boomeranged in the wind and loosehead prop Sara O’Sullivan was the player out wide to dive on the ball for a closing try. Twomey’s miss was academic with the victory secured.

Scorers: 

Sacred Heart Clonakilty: Tries: S Skupiewski, E Moroney, S O’Sullivan; Con: R Twomey; Pen: R Twomey. 

Coláiste Muire Ennis: Tries: L Clarke, S Kelly.

SACRED HEART CLONAKILTY: S Skupiewski; Clodagh McCarthy, E O’Sullivan, K Nolan, T Fleming (S O’Mahony 70); R Twomey, Caoimhe McCarthy; S O’Sullivan, A Godwin-Coombs (A McCarthy 22), A Giles; L Arra, É Egan (E Moloney 22) (O Whelton 66); K Burton, R Llewellyn, E Moroney (O Lawlor 66).

Replacements not used: A Brennan, C McCabe, E Boyle, O Finn, A Dinneen.

COLÁISTE MUIRE ENNIS: O Moynihan; S Culleton, E O’Flaherty, L Power, E Courtney; L Clarke, A Butler; F O’Shea, K O’Neill, C Cahill (V Burns 42); C Frawley (A Byrne 25) (C Cahill 57), J Weston; E Byrne, E O’Driscoll, S Kelly.

Replacements not used: M O’Mullane, A Steigerwald, M McInerney, E Fitzgibbon, E Rowland, S Shalloo Murphy.

Sin bin: A Butler (14-22).

Referee: G Lynch-Frahill (MAR).