'Historic day' for Sacred Heart Clon as O'Sullivan hat-trick powers school to senior title

“It felt like the whole of Clonakilty came up to support us and that really drove us on," said Jack Phelan, head coach of the Sacred Heart Clonakilty sides which won Munster senior and junior titles on Wednesday.

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025 - 17:09

Ger McCarthy, Virgin Media Park

Pinergy Munster Schools Girls Senior Cup final: Sacred Heart Clonakilty 36 St Anne’s Killaloe 12

Sacred Heart Clonakilty put the seal on another historic afternoon by claiming Pinergy Munster Schools Girls junior and senior Cup titles for the second year in a row.

The West Cork school saw off 2022 and 2023 winners St Anne’s Community College to claim their second consecutive senior trophy thanks to Ella O’Sullivan’s hat-trick of tries.

A powerful first half performance, including O’Sullivan crossing the whitewash on three occasions, was added to by her sister Sara, and Emer Moroney also touching down.

Rachel Twomey’s three conversions confirmed victory on a day Caoimhe McCarthy’s late try put the seal on disciplined team effort.

St Anne’s were hampered by injuries to key personnel during the opening half but fought valiantly until the final whistle. Dillon sisters, Grace and Charlie, scored tries in either half but that was never going to be enough to dethrone the favourites.

Earlier in the afternoon, in a repeat of the 2024 decider, Sacred Heart outlasted Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí 19-7 to retain their junior cup trophy.

Sacred Heart would not be denied in the main event immediately after.

Backboned by Clonakilty RFC players and roared on by a vociferous attendance, the cup holders utilised standout Ella O’Sullivan, Amy Giles, Emer Moroney, Kate Burton and Jo McCaughey displays to leave Virgin Media Park as deserving senior cup champions yet again.

“It is an historic day for us, a very special day,” Sacred Heart junior and senior head coach Jack Phelan commented.

“It felt like the whole of Clonakilty came up to support us and that really drove us on.

“The juniors started off the day with a fantastic win, a hard-fought win, over Bantry. Then we ended up then with a great win over St Anne’s who were formidable opponents as well.

“So, just a very special day and I feel very privileged and happy to be a part of it”.

Sara O’Sullivan’s early try was converted by Rachel Twomey prior to a Jo McCaughey intercept setting up Ella O’Sullivan for the first of her three touchdowns. Emer Moroney added another prior to Charlie Dillon’s try getting St Anne’s on the scoreboard.

It was 19-5 in Sacred Heart’s favour when flying winger O’Sullivan twice crossed the line to make it 29-5 at the break.

St Anne’s Grace Dillon scored and her sister Charlie converted early in the second period. An attritional half ended with Caoimhe McCarthy scoring and Twomey converting to kick-start Sacred Heart’s celebrations.

“I mean, what a day it was for all of the girls,” hat-trick hero Ella O’Sullivan said.

“I suppose the three tries in the first half really helped but it was a team effort. We are all one and, on the day, we just performed and showed up when it mattered.”

Scorers for Sacred Heart: Tries: E O’Sullivan (3), S O’Sullivan, E Moroney, C McCarthy Cons: R Twomey (3).

Scorers for St Anne’s CC: Tries: C Dillon, G Dillon Cons: C Dillon.

SACRED HEART CLONAKILTY: M O’Donovan; A Ní Dhonnabhain, Clodagh McCarthy, J McCaughey, E O’Sullivan; R Twomey, J Finn; M Coakley, C O’Driscoll, Sara O’Sullivan; L Arra, E Moroney; A Giles, K Burton (captain), R Llewelyn.

Replacements: E Moloney, Saoirse O’Sullivan, M McMahon, N Hilliard, C McCabe, Caoimhe McCarthy, E McAuley, L Sexton, C Galwey, A O’Sullivan,

ST ANNE’S CC KILLALOE: A Coleman; L Pearl, E Hass, M Hennelly (co-captain), E Gilmartin; C Dillon, G Dillon; E Darcy, J Duggan, A Lynch; M Houlihan, L Fahy; C Ryan, A Slevin, T Ryan (co-captain).

Replacements: H O’Shaughnessy, E Hennelly, M Mulcahy, I Quinn.

Referee: T O’Sullivan.

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