Camogie: Loreto Kilkenny secure sixth All-Ireland in nine seasons
March 11, 2018
A general view of the Camogie crest.
©INPHO/Donall Farmer.
<p>By Daragh Ó Conchúir </p>
<p>LORETO SECONDARY SCHOOL KILKENNY secured a remarkable sixth O’Neills All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior A title in nine seasons but they were given a huge fright before emerging from Darver with a 2-18 to 4-8 win over Cross & Passion College Ballycastle. </p>
<p>Loreto led by 14 points at half time, 2-10 to 0-2, having used the strong wind magnificently but were clinging on towards the end, as CPC, who were chasing their first crown, narrowed the margin to three. </p>
<p>The Noresiders had done enough in the opening period however, thanks to goals from Katie Brennan and Ruth Kent, and further significant scoring contributions by Rachel Kelly and Steffi Fitzgerald. </p>
<p>It was all Ballycastle after the resumption however and two goals in 85 seconds from player of the match Róisín McCormack galvanised them. </p>
<p>The Antrim Minor placed Charley McCarry for another and then completed her hat-trick with a stunning strike but with just a score between the sides, Fitzgerald ended a strong run with the insurance point for the Kilkenny girls. </p>
<p>St Angela’s Waterford and St Mary’s New Ross could not be separated at the end of a rip-roaring hour of play in the O’Neills All-Ireland Post Primary Schools’ All-Ireland Junior A Final in Carriganore. </p>
<p>St Mary’s led by a goal with time running out but a fantastic dipping goal from a free by Aoife Fitzgerald that brought to mind Paul Flynn’s famous effort for Waterford against Cork in the 2004 Munster Hurling Final, secured a 1-9 to 3-3 draw for the home side. </p>
<p>Fitzgerald was the key contributor for St Angela’s in their Semi-Final defeat of Cross & Passion with seven points but the Gaill Tír teenager, who came to national prominence with a freestyle hurling video in 2015, bettered that contribution by providing all her side’s tally. </p>
<p>Katie Murphy put New Ross on the front foot with goals in the eighth and 22nd minutes and they led by 2-1 to 0-4 at half-time. Fitzgerald gradually chipped away at the deficit and shot five points to bring the sides level with six minutes remaining. </p>
<p>When Faye Codd goaled, it looked like the definitive score but Fitzgerald showed that her box of tricks were not just for freestyling with that late stunning strike to secure a replay for her side, which will take place at the same venue on Thursday. </p>
<p>Presentation Wexford and Castlecomer Community School will return to Tinryland, also on Thursday, as the Junior B decider ended in a draw too. Pres led by 3-5 to 0-4 at the change of ends but it was all Castlecomer in the second half and they pegged their opponents back to finish level, 2-10 to 3-7. </p>
<p>In the Junior C Final, St Mary’s Midleton beat St Cuan’s Ballinasloe by 3-17 to 2-9, while in the Junior D decider, the honours went the way of Coláiste Phobail Roscrea, who got the better of Clarin College Athenry by 7-7 to 1-3. </p>
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