All-Ireland glory for Navan girls
November 27, 2011St. Joseph's Convent of Mercy were the pride of the Royal County on April 16 last when they were crowned Tesco Post Primary All-Ireland junior 'C' champions for the first time.
The Navan girls' thrilling 4-7 to 2-10 victory over Presentation College, Athenry at the Clann na nGael grounds in Co. Roscommon was the highlight of a superb year for Meath ladies football teams at colleges level. Scoil Mhuire, Trim, who were the first Meath school to reach an All-Ireland final in 2010, qualified for another national decider this year, only to lose to Colaiste Dun Iascaigh from Cahir. And Dunshaughlin CC became the third local school to win a Leinster title in 2011 when they triumphed over Dublin opposition in May.
St. Joseph's historic All-Ireland success will live long in the memory of their players and large band of travelling supporters. A player of the match performance from goalkeeper Sarah Powderly, who pulled off a string of stunning saves, was the difference between the sides, while goals from Leslie Buchanan, Shona White, Megan Collins and Niamh Lister also proved decisive.
"It was a very exciting game, real heart-in-the-mouth stuff, but the girls deserve tremendous credit, they kept their composure and held it together under enormous pressure," enthused St. Joseph's manager Padraig Howard, who was assisted by John Leahy.
"Sarah Powederly thoroughly deserved the player of the match award, but even that selection shows just how much pressure we were under. Athenry were by far the best team we met in the competition, we might have benefited from a more stern test in our semi-final.
"We were lucky on a few occasions today, but then we could have had one or two more goals, these things tend to balance out over 60 minutes anyway. There are plenty of leaders on the team, it was a huge team effort and I'm pleased for the girls, they put in a lot of work and can enjoy the victory.
"Hopefully, they will progress and we might see some of them playing for Meath at senior level in a few years."
St. Joseph's have enjoyed a meteoric rise in the world of ladies football. The sport was only in its infancy when this year's All-Ireland winners won a First Year blitz in 2007. They have worked tirelessly to get to where they are and had national glory firmly in their sights from early in the season. A 3-11 to 3-4 victory over St. Mary's, New Ross in the Leinster final at Ashford, Co. Wicklow marked them out as genuine All-Ireland contenders.
Although the Wexford side were first to score through Kate Barry, St. Joseph's soon got on top and had raced into an eight-point lead by the end of the opening quarter thanks to goals from Rosanna Irwin and Aoife Ryan. Kate O'Brien gave New Ross hope when she replied with a goal early in the second quarter, but they failed to score again in the first half as their Navan opponents took a nine-point lead into the break.
The winners were dealt a blow early in the second half when Ruth Sheridan was sin-binned. Making the most of their numerical advantage, New Ross bagged 1-2 without reply to close the gap to four points, but that was as close as they got as Padraig Howard's charges tagged on a further 1-6 before Aine Gannon scored what proved to be no more than a consolation goal for St. Mary's late on.
St. Joseph's made light work of St. Louis', Carrickmacross in the All-Ireland semi-final, romping to a 3-13 to 1-5 victory over the Ulster champions in Ardee. The Navan girls led by 0-9 to 0-0 at the interval and put the result beyond doubt with second half goals from Megan Collins, Rosanna Irwin and Niamh Lister.
The All-Ireland final was a ding-dong affair that went right to the wire. Aoibheann Leahy opened the scoring for the Royals, but Athenry had levelled by the end of the first quarter. St. Joseph's then enjoyed a fine spell of dominance which yielded two points from Lesley Buchanan and another from Rosanna Irwin, only for the Galway side to reply with three points of their own.
However, when Buchanan followed up on a rebound to fire home the opening goal on the stroke of half-time, the Navan girls were 1-5 to 0-5 to the good.
Within a minute of the restart, Michelle Dunleavy goaled for Athenry to level the scoring. Showing their mettle, St. Joseph's immediately hit back with their second goal from Lister. Athenry were then presented with an opportunity to restore parity once again when they were awarded a penalty, but Sarah Powderly saved brilliantly from Dunleavy.
Following that let-off, Megan Collins scored a fourth Navan goal to leave them 4-5 to 1-6 ahead and on the brink of All-Ireland success. But they were made to sweat as Athenry closed the gap to 4-5 to 2-9 over the next 10 minutes. But the wearers of green and gold weren't to be denied as late points from Megan Collins and Shona White sealed the deal.
Scoil Mhuire, Trim, who lost last year's Tesco Post Primary All-Ireland junior 'C' final to Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, were promoted to the 'B' grade this year and certainly didn't look out of place as they captured their second successive Leinster title. However, there was further heartbreak for them when they lost the All-Ireland final to Tipperary side Colaiste Dun Iascaigh by 5-4 to 2-5.
Scoil Mhuire had earlier produced a stunning performance against FCJ Bunclody in the Leinster final at the Sarsfields grounds in Newbridge to win by 7-10 to 1-7. No fewer than eight different Trim players got on the scoresheet as the charges of Frances Nugent and Niamh Guy gave an exhibition of football. They led by nine points at the break and continued to run riot after the restart.
The Trim girls booked their place in the All-Ireland final thanks to a 3-13 to 3-5 victory over Ulster champions Assumption Grammar, Ballynahinch. The Down outfit settled quickest and posted 1-1 in the early stages before Trim rallied with goals from Laura Dempsey, Aoife Minogue and Laura Griffin to take a 3-6 to 1-2 lead into the break.
And with Emma Troy, Griffin, Dempsey, Minogue, Laura Bagnall and Helen Regan all outstanding, they never looked in any danger in the second half.
Sadly for Scoil Mhuire, they couldn't go one better than last year as Munster champions Colaiste Dun Iascaigh from Cahir came out on top in the All-Ireland final at Banagher, Co. Offaly. Roisin Howard scored for 3-2 for the winners, while Siobhan Heffernan and Kirsty Downey also found the net to break Trim hearts.
Cahir dominated the first half to lead by 3-2 to 0-2 at the interval. Laura Dempsey and Emma Troy pulled back goals for the Royal County representatives in the second period, but they weren't enough to prevent another All-Ireland final defeat.
Another local school that has been making great strides in ladies football is Dunshaughlin CC who captured the Leinster senior 'D' crown following an impressive 3-11 to 1-9 victory over Loreto, St. Stephen's Green in Blanchardstown.
Coached by Anne-Marie O'Brien and Vera Prendergast, the Dunshaughlin girls recovered from a slow start to lead by 2-6 to 0-5 at the halfway stage with the goals coming from Cliona Murphy and Emma Kennedy.
Loreto closed the gap after the restart, but four points from Adrienne McCann and a third goal from Maeve Scanlon ensured that the provincial title was Dunshaughlin-bound.
St. Joseph's Convent of Mercy, Navan's All-Ireland 'C' junior winning line-up was: Sarah Powderly (Navan O'Mahony's); Caoimhe Clynch (O'Mahony's), Aisling Sheridan (Simonstown Gaels), Shannon Connolly (O'Mahony's); Ruth Sheridan (Seneschalstown), Niamh Sheridan (Seneschalstown), Ellen Hennelly (Walterstown); Niamh Lister (Simonstown Gaels), Rosanne Irwin (Walterstown); Aoibheann Leahy (O'Mahony's), Lesley Buchanan (St. Ultan's), Megan Collins (O'Mahony's); Amy Gilsenan (Seneschalstown), Shona White (Skryne), Orla McCann (Walterstown). Subs: Niamh O'Brien (Skryne), Aisling Corcoran (Seneshalstown), Niamh Monaghan (Skryne), Aine Farrelly (Simonstown Gaels), Natasha Mullen (Seneschalstown), Aoife Mullen (Simonstown Gaels), Lorna O'Dea (O'Mahony's), Caoimhe O'Boyle (O'Mahony's).
The Scoil Mhuire, Trim that overwhelmed FCJ Bunclody in the Leinster 'B' junior decider was: Hayley Kennedy; Susy Kennedy, Cliona Murray, Rebbeca Payne; Grainne Whelehan, Helen Regan, Emma Troy; Aideen Guy, Laura Bagnall; Shauna Ennis, Deirdre Moroney (Capt), Aoife Grubb-Flynn; Laura Griffin, Laura Dempsey, Jane Martyn. Subs used: Cara Foley, Ciara Donoghue, Sarah Bagnall, Aine Whelan and Susan Kealey.
Dunshaughlin CC's Leinster 'D' senior champions were: Niamh Carroll (Dunsany); Kate Whelan (Ratoath), Laura Murray (Royal Gaels), Aimee McQuillan (Royal Gaels); Niamh Keane (Blackhall Gaels), Leanne McMorrow (Royal Gaels), Emer Keane (Blackhall Gaels); Lauren McCann (Ratoath), Clíona Murphy (Royal Gaels); Cheyenne O'Brien (Moynalvey), Aileen O'Sullivan (Walterstown), Emma McGill (Ratoath); Maeve Scanlon (Royal Gaels), Emma Kennedy (Royal Gaels), Laura McMahon (Royal Gaels). Subs used: Adrienne McCann (Ratoath), Catríona Kennedy (Royal Gaels), Roisin Bruce (Royal Gaels), Roisin Hogan (Dunsany) and Rachel Whelan (Ratoath). Tweet
