'Exciting time for rugby in West Cork' as Clon win third consecutive Munster title
SUPER SUB: Sacred Heart Clonakilty's Laura Sexton scored a hat-trick off the bench in her side's Munster Schools Senior Cup final victory over Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí. Pic: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
Jack Phelan hailed his history-makers as Sacred Heart Clonakilty became the first team to complete a treble of Munster Schools Girls Senior Cup titles.
They did it with a devastating display of attacking rugby to earn an eight-try victory over Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí.
For six players – Clodagh McCarthy, Ella O’Sullivan, Rachel Twomey, Leona Arra, Kate Burton, and Roxanne Llewellyn – this was their third consecutive year starting in a Senior Cup triumph.
“I don't think it's been done before,” said Phelan. “It gives the school a lift, it gives the students a lift, it gives the staff a lift. It's a very exciting time to be in Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty, and it's an exciting time for rugby in West Cork.
“There's such strength in numbers and strength in depth, and that's thanks to the club in Clonakilty. They've had these girls since they were 10, 12 years of age, and it's really culminating now.”
Julie Finn nabbed two tries in the space of two minutes to set the course of this West Cork derby, which began in wind and rain. It ended in sunshine as replacement Laura Sexton contributed a second-half hat-trick.
Twomey, with her arm wrapped in a sling, collected the player of the match award before co-captains Arra and Ciara O'Driscoll raised the trophy.
Phelan said of his scrum-half Finn: “A fantastic player, hoping she gets selected now for Ireland. We'll know in the next few hours if she does make that squad.
“All 25 had an impact, and Julie really led the line with the speed of ball, the tempo, she just controlled the game. Absolutely everything she did, she smashed. She's one of many that were brilliant today.”
Sexton’s bench impact underlined their depth.
“Somebody who's unlucky not to start,” said Phelan. “A fantastic option off the bench and made a real impact. She'll definitely be one who's back for more next year.”
On Twomey, Phelan added: “She has the battle wounds, but a phenomenal player. A well-deserved player of the match. She's in sixth year now, so signing off in a real positive way. She'll remember that long beyond her school days.”
Phelan also paid tribute to Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí, who have been mourning the death of student and rugby player Tom Lynch Spillane.
“My thoughts are with them after what they went through as a school community the last couple of weeks,” said Phelan.
“Rugby is one of the smaller things in comparison to matters that put life into perspective. It's great they were able to facilitate today, and hopefully their girls had a good day out as well and were able to make something of it.”
After an early Keelin McCarthy try, Seren Lehane emerged as a stand-out performer for the Bantry school. The full-back produced a couple of try-saving interventions to stop Clodagh McCarthy, Lani O’Donovan, and Elsa Quirke. However, Sacred Heart were able to recycle two of those for Finn tries in the 13th and 15th minutes. Twomey and O’Donovan converted for a 19-0 lead.
An O’Donovan line break brought Sacred Heart close again, but Finn was denied her hat-trick as Ciara Kelly held her up over the line.
The Clonakilty school would cross from the goalline drop-out. Quirke gained territory down the left before Llewellyn burst over from the ruck. O’Donovan’s conversion missed.
The second-rows took over for try number five. Arra robbed the five-metre line-out and Niamh Hilliard charged through to score. O’Donovan converted for a 31-0 half-time lead.
After a likely Keelin McCarthy try was called back for a forward pass, Coláiste Pobail struck. Grace Kingston, who returned at the interval after a first-half knock, showed her turn of pace to zigzag away down the left for an 85-metre breakaway try. Abbey Connolly added the extras.
Sacred Heart hit straight back. From a Hilliard turnover, Quirke offloaded for Sexton to dash over. Twomey drilled the conversion for 38-7.
Coláiste Pobail built some pressure, hammering away until the gap opened for Alice O’Donovan to score. Connolly converted.
But Sexton had the final say. A loop move with O’Sullivan produced her second try before Elva McAuley’s line break allowed her to complete the hat-trick in stoppage time. Twomey and Shona Fleming nailed the conversions.
These schools will meet again in the Junior Cup final after Easter, with Sacred Heart looking to complete a treble-double.
Tries: K McCarthy, J Finn 2, R Llewellyn, N Hilliard, L Sexton 3; Cons: R Twomey 3, L O’Donovan 2, S Fleming.
Tries: G Kingston, A O’Donovan; Cons: A Connolly 2.
C McCarthy (L Sexton h-t); K McCarthy (A Tapia 53), E Quirke (E McAuley 60), R Twomey (E Quirke 69), E O’Sullivan; L O’Donovan (S Fleming h-t), J Finn (S Walsh h-t); S O’Callaghan (M McMahon 46), C O’Driscoll, J Cunningham (C McCabe 46); L Arra, N Hilliard (E Bell 60); K Burton (C Galwey 60), A Millin (Y Asare 53), R Llewellyn.
S Lehane; S O’Shea, C Kelly, A O’Donovan, C O’Regan; A Connolly, G Kingston (A Myler 24) (M Fox 26); L Cronin, M McCarthy, L Barry (A Doody 70+1); C McCarthy (A Coughlan 43), L Donaldson; E O’Connor (A McAuliffe 60), A Doody (K Triggs-Sharkey 53), M Fox (A Coughlan 18) (G Kingston h-t) (A Myler 64).
D Finn (MAR).
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