Ursuline Thurles fall to Loreto in Junior Schools All-Ireland Camogie Final

CAMOGIE: All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Junior ‘A’ Final

Loreto College, Kilkenny 3-11

Ursuline SS, Thurles 1-12

Report: Séamas McAleenan in Jenkinstown

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Emma Hogan (Loreto College)

SCORERS - Loreto College: Emma Hogan 2-3 (0-2 frees); Maura Barton 1-2; Amy Walsh, Jenna Trait 0-2 each; Rebecca Smith, Meabh Kenny 0-1 each

Ursuline SS: Mel Flannery 0-8 frees; Jessie Shanahan 1-0; Emma Bevans, Rosie O’Brien, Sophie Moynihan 0-1 each.

There was more All-Ireland final disappointment for the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles at the hands of Loreto College Kilkenny who completed a senior and junior double on Friday.

A goal in the second minute of added time from substitute Maura Barton sealed a 12th Corn Gobnait after the school from the Marble City had already taken the senior All-Ireland title six days ago against the same opposition.

However, despite a lead of 2-7 to 0-3 at the break, Loreto had to really battle for this latest title as Mel Flannery-led a Thurles revival that had them just a point in arrears with 57 minutes gone.

Loreto had dominated the opening half with captain Emma Hogan, the eventual player of the match, and Jenna Trait a huge threat to Ursuline hopes. Had it not been for goalie Lara Shanahan, they would have been out of sight by half-time. Shanahan brought off three super saves, including one from a Hogan penalty strike after seven minutes.

Amy Walsh and Trait had already put Loreto two ahead before the penalty. Rebecca Smith, Méabh Kenny, Trait and Hogan extended the lead to 0-6 to 0-1.

Emma Bevans and Flannery (free) pulled a couple back for Ursuline. But the majority of the play was in their defence with Shanahan and Laura Millea fire-fighting to hold Loreto at bay.

Hogan fired in a free from distance that may have got a touch before ending in the net in the 23rd minute and just before the break Walsh's shot was well saved by Shanahan only for Hogan to collect the rebound and send to the net for an interval lead of ten points.

It was all Thurles however for the third quarter. They had the breeze in their favour and they quickly ate into the lead, hitting 1-5 without reply.

Flannery led the charge with four superb points from frees and 45s. Rosie O'Brien took time off her defensive duties to drive forward for a rallying point after 37 minutes and Jessie Shanahan's goal a minute later, when she took a pass from Flannery, really upped the ante.

Loreto got their boost from the bench. Barton was less than a minute on the pitch when she scored a point in Loreto's first serious attack since the break.

She pointed again in the 50th minute, an immediate reply to one from Ursuline sub Sophie Moynihan. That made the scoreline 2-10 to 1-10.

Ursuline added two scores from Flannery frees before the 57th minute. But Loreto dug in at the back and in midfield and Hogan and Trait held on to the sliotar up front.

Trait won a free that Hogan converted and then late in added time, Hogan burst forward and brought another great stop from Shannahan. However super sub Barton followed through to find the net and extend Loreto's dominance of schools' camogie.

TEAMS – Loreto College, Kilkenny: Leah Croke; Ruby Doyle, Sinead Cash, Eimear Cottrell, Katie Mulcahy, Sian Bolger, Saidbh Farrell, Amy Walsh, Julia Healy, Ruby Mullins, Emma Hogan, Rebecca Smith, Holly Drennan, Meabh Kenny, Jenna Trait.

Subs: Maura Barton for Kenny (46); Ali McDonald for Farrell (47); Roisin Gibbons for Smith (55).

Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles: Lara Shanahan (Slieve Felim Rapparees); Lorna Ryan (Templemore), Laura Millea (Tullaroan), Anna Hackett (Toomevara); Claire Fitzgerald (St Patrick’s), Rosie O’Brien (St Patrick’s), Rosanna King (St Mary’s Rosslare); Kate Duffy (Burgess/Duharra), Orla Pamplin (Slieve Felim Rapparees), Meabh Lonergan (Cahir), Emma Bevans (Borris-Ileigh), Jessie Shanahan (Slieve Felim Rapparees), Mel Flannery (Cahir), Sadhbh Murray (Thurles Sarsfields), Molly Jones (Moyne-Templetuohy).

Subs: Emer Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) for Hackett (29), Sophie Moynihan (Boherlahan-Dualla) for Lonergan (33).

Referee: Bernard Heaney (Meath).