St. Mary's Magherafelt and Presentation College Athenry must meet again
March 12, 2007
Captain Convery was the St.Mary's Magherafelt hero with the levelling point two minutes into injury time in the Colleges All-Ireland senior 'A' All-Ireland Final which finished on a draw St.Mary's 0-11, Presentation College Athenry 3-2.
Seeking their first senior All-Ireland title since 1978 Athenry got off to a dream start with a Noreen Coen goal within the opening minute. However, the Ulster champions who were appearing in their first ever All-Ireland senior final were not just there to make up the numbers and by the break they were just one point behind 0-6 to Athenry's 2-1, the second Athenry goal having come from close in from corner forward Laura Loughnane who despite a very crowded square managed to stick the sliotar to the Magherafelt net midway.
Going in at the break the Galway champions may have wondered if they had made enough use of the strong gale as immediately after the restart St.Mary's full-forward Sinéad Mc Loughlin sent over two points within the first seven minutes and so for the first time in the game the Ulster girls were in the lead but not for long as a minute later Athenry's Noreen Coen sent over her side's only point of the second half - a free.
Then it was Magherafelt's turn, full-forward Sinead Mc Loughlin was goal bound two minutes later but she found a tough and strong goal keeper in Deirdre Ward who brought off a great save for a forty five which Attracta Mc Peake sent over to leave it, St.Mary's 0-9, Athenry 2-2 with just twelve minutes of the half gone. With the wind in their sails now, they added a further point a minute later from Eimear Mc Kenna.
Their mentors Orla Donnelly, the Antrim intercounty player and Derry hurler Raymond Kennedy were never short of encouraging their players on the sideline while Galway mentor Eoin Mcgillycuddy was possibly hoping his players could still deliver the goods. With five minutes remaining it appeared they would indeed bring home the Corn Sceilg to Athenry as Noreen Coen went up to take a close in free, but knowing time was against her she spotted Deidre Ward who had come out of goals earlier and so she passed to her with the result that she in turn smashed the sliotar to the net. They were ahead for the first time in the second half.
Magherafelt's supporters really got behind their team with the result that two minutes into injury time captain Michaela Convery sent over the leveller from almost thirty yards out. It was a fitting result to a very open and entertaining game and so both sides will get another chance on March 24th to decide who will take home the Corn Sceilg.
St Mary's Nenagh recorded their first senior 'B' All-Ireland final victory with a 3-6 to 1-8 win over neighbours Castlecomer Community School. Inspiring captain Aoife Mc Loughney played a vital part scoring 2-4 in all. Meanwhile Scoil Mhuire Carrick on Suir also made it a first All-Ireland 'C' title when they overcame Offaly side St.Brendans 4-9 to 1-4. Kilkenny teen star Katie Power was again sensational for Carrick scoring 1-8 in all.
Despite both Kilkenny players, Marie Dargan and Katie Power having starred for their schools on Saturday they also lined out again for the Cats on Sunday in the National League. Marie was a star player with Castlecomer Community School but sadly lost that game to a stronger Nenagh side.
However, the 2006 Young player of the year did make her mark with 0-4 on the score-board. Her fellow county player Katie Power had better success winning her first senior Senior 'C' All-Ireland colleges medal. Her final tally on the day was 1-8 (0-3f)
Colleges All-Ireland Finals:
Senior 'A' Final:
Presentation College Athenry 3-2: N Coen 1-1 (0-1'45), L Laughnane, D Ward 1-0 each, R Walshe 0-1.
St.Mary's Magherafelt 0-11: S Mc Loughlin 0-3, A Mc Peake 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1'45), M Convery 0-2, S O;Kane, K Bradley,E Mc Kenna 0-1 each.
Sen. 'C' Final:
Scoil Mhuire, Carrig on Suir: 4-9, K Power 1-8 (0-3f), N Moore 2-0, G Culleton 1-0, S Long 0-1.
St.Brendans Birr 1-4. A Corrigan 1-2 (0-2f), M Teehan, M Gleeson 0-1 each.
Sen. 'B' Final:
St.Mary's Nenagh 3-6, A Mc Loughney 2-4, O Williams 1-0, C Ryan,M Devaney 0-1 each
Castlecomer Community Sch. 1-8: H Maher 1-1, M Dargan 0-4, M Nolan 0-2, A Dwyer 0-1.
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