Moate CS joint captains Heidi Murray (centre) and Chloe Malone and vice-captain Riona Foley (left) who are part of the U-14 team which will contest the Leinster Schools ‘A’ final.

Moate CS girls to meet old rivals in Leinster final

Published: Thu 25 Apr 2024, 7:33 AM

Last updated: Tue 30 Apr 2024, 12:27 AM

The Moate Community School U14 girls team have reached the Lidl Leinster Schools ‘A’ football final which will be played today (Thursday), April 25. Gracefield GAA (the Offaly side of Portarlington) has been confirmed as the venue for the final (throw-in at 12.00).

Moate CS are well familiar with reaching Leinster A finals having last reached the U14 decider in 2022, and winning the same in 2014.

The opponents, Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise are no strangers to the pink and navy girls from Moate CS with many great finals between Scoil Chriost Rí and the Westmeath school in the past.

The MCS girls had comprehensive wins in the group stages over Loreto Navan, Balbriggan and Bunclody of Wexford. Coincidently, the last group game was fixed between the final pairing but with both teams clearly at the top of the group, the dead rubber game wasn’t played. This makes the final an exciting and unpredictable affair with both sides meeting for the first time.

The panel is represented by clubs in Westmeath and Offaly and include players from Moate Ladies, Cill Óige, St Joseph’s, Caulry, Garrycastle, Niamh Ciaran and St Manchan’s.

The Moate CS team is jointly captained by Chloe Malone (Moate), Heidi Murray (St Manchan’s) and the vice-captain is Riona Foley (St Manchan’s).

The team is managed by veterans of the MCS set up Fidelma Quinn and Patrice Smyth, with new staff members Stephanie Patterson, who has played for her native Tyrone, and Caulry player Rachel Maguire, sister of Westmeath senior captain Kevin Maguire, also part of the management.

Moate CS will be looking to build on their phenomenal history in the Leinster PPS school finals and once again bring back a Leinster 'A' title to the school.

Moate CS panel: Aisling Gormley, Ally Duffy, Anna Ryan, Aoibheann Kelly, Caoimhe Brady, Chloe Malone, Daisy Bucys McLaughlin, Diana Heavin, Ellen Madden, Grace Dolan, Hannah Pratlett, Heather Touhey, Heidi Murray, Kelly Lynam, Katie Mears, Laura Fox, Libby McHugh, Lily Daly, Rachel Coghlan, Lucy Martin, Doireann Keena, Lucy Murphy, Sarah Condon, Mella Casey, Lucy Keane, Riona Foley, Niamh Treacy, Ruby Phelan, Sorcha Aspell, Wiktoria Wziatek, Niamh Noone.