Colleges: Twice as nice for Loreto Navan
January 22, 2015
Loreto celebrate
Loreto Navan: 4-6
Coláiste Bríde: 1-2
On a cold and frosty Tuesday afternoon, Loreto St Michael's of Navan took on Coláiste Bríde from Enniscorthy Wexford in the Junior B Leinster Final. This was hosted by Bray Emmets in Co. Wicklow on their astroturf pitch.
By Áine Treanor and Eve McDonagh
Loreto started off the match with the loss of players Áine Treanor (vice-captain) and Tara Berigan due to injury but soldiered on with a display of great teamwork and camaraderie.
From early on in the game, Loreto Navan dominated across the pitch but struggled in the early minutes to get scores out of this possession. With playing conditions being very wet, balls were continuously being dropped in the opening moments while the players adjusted. Coláiste Bríde opened the scoring in the 8th minute after a clinical pass to centre forward Emma O'Dowd.
However, straight after this, Loreto showed their experience, having been in 7 Leinster finals in the last 3 years, by going straight back up the pitch and with Sorcha Gough scoring a super point from an extremely difficult angle. Coláiste Bríde fought back against the strong Loreto team and succeeded in scoring a point. This put pressure on the Loreto girls but the Navan team were not easily deterred. Niamh Cassidy caught a clean ball in midfield and laid it off to Lauryn Grier. Grier, displaying great skill and accuracy fed a pinpoint pass through to Shona Loughran, who after collecting the ball finished it off with style in the top right hand corner of the net. Despite being on top, Loreto Navan were wasteful in front of goals missing a number of clear cut opportunities which contributed to a first half wides tally of 12.
Enniscorthy were feeling the pressure now and began to push towards the Loreto goal in hopes of evening out the scoreboard. Taking two shots at goal , Enniscorthy could not get the ball anywhere past Loreto goalkeeper, Rhiannon Hoey. It was clear that Loreto's defence were extremely strong and were not penetrable, with the ball ending up in Loreto's possession again and Loughran kicking the ball over the bar to win the Navan girls their second point of the game. This point was closely followed by an exceptional free to the back of the net by captain, Niamh Cassidy. The first half drew to a close with a final score of 2-2 to 0-2.
The second half of the match got off to a flying start with Loreto storming through the Enniscorthy defence and bagging themselves another goal from an extraordinary move involving Caoimhe McKenna with Grier hitting the target. It was clear to see that the Loreto girls were determined to win the title of Leinster Champions from here on as this score was soon followed by Loreto's fourth goal of the match yet again from the in-form Grier. Lizzie Collins continued to top up the scoreboard by kicking an incredible point. Although St Michael's continued to edge ahead , Colaiste Bríde never dropped their heads and added a goal to their tally. The final scores of the day came when Áine Carr, Niamh Donnelly and Lizzie Collins tapped another three between the posts.
The final whistle blew and the Loreto supporters erupted into ecstatic cheers and chants. Loreto players hugged each other in joy and celebration while some fell to the ground in relief. Loreto Secondary School, St Michael's were once again Leinster Champions continuing to show the standard of football played in Loreto. Great skill, accuracy, talent and teamwork was displayed throughout the match from both teams but it was clear that Loreto were the more dominant side on the day and deserved the victory. Cathal Friel from the leinster council presented the player of the man award and cup to Loreto captain, Niamh Cassidy.
Manager Michelle Delaney said at the end of the game: "I couldn't be prouder of the girls on this historic day for the school. The pressure was on to follow in the footsteps of the seniors, but they were not fazed! They were exceptional and reaped their just rewards for their efforts. Today's result is a real indication of the strength of football in the school at the moment and the future is looking very bright."
Loreto Navan: Rhiannon Hoey, Leanne Harris, Laoise McDermott, Clíodhna Moore, Roisín Commons, Emma Cassidy, Áine Carr (0-1), Niamh Cassidy (1-0), Lizzie Collins (0-2), Shona Loughran (1-1), Niamh Donnelly (0-1), Lauryn Grier (2-0), Sorcha Gough (0-1), Elaine Murtagh, Mollie Byrne.
Substitutes: Caoimhe McKenna, Orlagh Lally, Leia Foyle Carolan, Kathleen Yore and Laura Barrett.
Coláiste Bríde: Grainne McCabe, Lauren Kelly, Aoife Codd, Paula Dempsey, Tara O'Farrell, Siobháin Fanning, Caoimhe Duncan, Derbhla Doyle, Katie Gallagher, Grace Mernagh, Emma O'Dowd, Leanne Cullen, Sarah Figgis, Anais Curran, Aideen Byrne.
Reiteoir: Dominic Leech (Wicklow)
