Trim girls reach All-Ireland decider

November 27, 2010
Scoil Mhuire, Trim, suffered the disappointment of defeat in the All-Ireland Girls' JFC C final, but what a lengthy and memorable campaign it was for a dedicated bunch of players.

It included seven games to win the Leinster Championship, starting with a runaway 8-14 to 3-1 victory over Ashbourne Community School. The scores were less plentiful when they got the better of St Oliver's PP, Oldcastle, by 1-8 to 0-3, but the goals flowed again when they beat St Joseph's, Navan, by 7-4 to 0-4.
They then beat Presentation, Wexford, by 7-4 to 1-7 and a 6-9 to 1-1 victory over Our Lady's, Greenhills, Drogheda, earned a semi-final place where they got the better of St Mary's SS, Naas, by 3-8 to 2-0. The provincial journey was completed when they earned a thrilling 6-4 to 4-9 win over Castleknock CS in the final, bringing their goal tally for the competition to a remarkable 38.
St Joseph's of Castlebar provided the All-Ireland semi-final opposition and Scoil Mhuire achieved their dream of a place in the decider when winning by 2-8 to 0-8 at Kiltoom where they led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the interval after Kate Lawless had scored the goal. Laura Dempsey goaled in the second half, but it took a strong defensive display to ensure victory.
Banagher was the venue for the final against Colaiste Choilm from Ballincollig and despite a brave performance the Trim girls were beaten by 3-9 to 5-8. All their goals were scored in superb fashion by Laura Dempsey who tallied 3-2 overall and deservedly won the 'player of the match' award.
Dempsey scored her first goal after three minutes and when she added a second Scoil Mhuire led by 2-0 to 1-2 at the end of the opening quarter. Aoife Flynn (two frees), Dempsey and Shauna Ennis also got points in the opening period and the Trim team led by 2-4 to 2-3 at the interval.
Colaiste Choilm edged ahead by 2-6 to 2-4 early in the second half, but points from Ennis and substitute Aoife Minogue had Scoil Mhuire level with 19 minutes remaining. At that stage 13 year-old Eimear Scally began to be a huge influence for the Ballincollig side and she scored a great goal, before Flynn (free) and Dempsey replied with points at the other end.
Boosted by two more goals from Scally Colaiste Choilm pushed ahead by 5-7 to 2-8, but a Dempsey goal and a Flynn point kept Scoil Mhuire in contention. However, the winners scored the last point and were five ahead at the end.

The Scoil Mhuire team was - H Kennedy; S Kennedy, C Murray, R Payne; C Foley, D Moroney, E Troy; L Bagnall, A Guy; L Griffin, L Dempsey (3-2), K Lawless; J Molloy, S Ennis (0-3), A Flynn (0-3). Subs - A Minogue (0-1) for Molloy, Molloy for Lawless.

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