Offaly trio help Moate CS secure Leinster title

Three players from Offaly were part of the Moate Community School team crowned Leinster champions after a thrilling Senior 'A' ladies football final against Loreto, Navan in Kinnegad yesterday (Wednesday). Final score: Moate CS 6-10 Loreto St Michael's, Navan 4-12.

Hannah Doolan and Saoirse McGuinness (both St Manchan's of Tubber) and Clara’s Ava Cornally were on the Moate CS starting team.

Doolan consistently excelled at wing-back, while Cornally (who scored one of Moate's six goals from a penalty) and McGuinness were full of running throughout.

St Manchan's players Caoimhe Cassidy, Kaytlin Flynn, Cara Greville and Eva Donlon were also part of the panel.

No less than ten goals were scored and Moate CS had to endure a tense period of added time before Shannon Mulvihill's third goal eventually sealed victory.

Moate CS won the last Leinster title played at this grade and subsequently qualified for the 2020 All-Ireland final, but it was never played due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That MCS team was captained by Róisín Ennis from Ballycumber, a player who has also won many honours for Naomh Ciarán.

The Moate girls looked in a great position in yesterday's final when leading 4-8 to 1-8 shortly before half-time. Anna Sheerin finished a rebound to the net for the game's first goal, with Áine Gaynor, Shannon Mulvihill and Cornally (penalty) also finding the net for MCS in the first half.

But the impressive Orlaith Mallon - who finished with a tally of 3-4 - gave Loreto a boost with her second goal just before half-time. That left the score 4-8 to 2-8 at the interval and the Navan girls would have the advantage of the stiff breeze in the second period.

The Meath side scored three points on the trot in the early stages of the second half, while Moate missed some good chances in the third quarter. At the second water break, MCS led 4-9 to 2-11.

Loreto suffered a blow when one of their key players, Ciara Smyth, received a yellow card and was therefore sin-binned for ten minutes.

But with goals from Mallon and Lisa O'Neill turning the game on its head, Loreto looked set for victory as they led 4-12 to 4-10 with about five minutes of normal time remaining.

The Moate girls didn't panic, however. Following good work from Hazel Kelly and Saoirse McGuinness, Mulvihill held her nerve to steer the ball home from close range.

Loreto applied plenty of pressure as they desperately sought an equalising point which would have forced extra-time. Fittingly, however, Mulvihill had the last word, firing to the net in the 67th minute after a patient move.

Afterwards, Moate CS captain Áine Gaynor accepted the trophy from Leinster LGFA chairperson Trina Murray, with Shannon Mulvihill presented with the player of the match award.

Neither team used the number 23 jersey on the day in tribute to the late Ashling Murphy, the hugely popular young teacher, musician and camogie player who was killed last week near Tullamore. A minute's silence was also observed before the throw-in.

SCORERS - Moate CS: S. Mulvihill 3-5 (0-4f); Á. Gaynor 1-4 (0-2f); A. Sheerin and A. Cornally (pen) 1-0 each; K. Whyte 0-1. Loreto, Navan: O. Mallon 3-4 (0-2f); L. O'Neill 1-5 (0-4f); A. O'Dowd 0-2; S.J. Lyons 0-1.

Moate Community School: Emma Quigley; Joyce Conway, Amy Murphy, Cliona McCormack; Hannah Doolan, Chloe Moran, Holly Keenan; Áine Gaynor (captain), Anna Sheerin; Saoirse McGuinness, Megan Clinton, Hazel Kelly; Ava Cornally, Shannon Mulvihill, Kate Whyte. Sub used: Claire O'Donohoe for Keenan (inj., 58 mins). Rest of panel: Aine Maxwell, Ella Grennan, Claire Conlon, Laura Conlon, Eliza Jane Sheerin, Aoife Collins, Caoimhe Cassidy, Niamh Kearney, Rebecca Finlay, Kaytlin Flynn, Emma Murray, Cara Greville, Kasia Wozniak, Eva Donlon. Management team: Fidelma Quinn, Niall Daly, Michelle Doyle, Patrice Smyth.

Loreto St Michael's, Navan: Ciara Blake; Megan Coyne, Aoibhín McKenny, Julieanne Murtagh; Caragh Conway, Megan Clarke, Lucy Reynolds; Amy O'Dowd, Zoe Kirwan; Tara Traynor, Orlaith Mallon, Ciara Smyth; Lilly Dwyer, Lisa O'Neill, Sarah Jane Lyons. Subs used: Lauren Woods for Lyons (41 mins); Ava Sheeran for Kirwan (51); Rebecca Reilly for Conway (64); Niamh McGuinness for O'Neill (66).

Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly).