Sacred Heart foiled in bid for camogie crown
Scoil Mhuire agus Íde, Newcastlewest 1-16 Sacred Heart School, Tullamore 1-5
Sacred Heart School, Tullamore lost out to Scoil Mhuire agus Íde Newcastlewest in the Allianz All-Ireland Senior 'D' camogie final. A 46th-minute goal really set the Limerick side on the way to lift the Dónal Burke Cup in Nenagh on Saturday.
The Tullamore side followed up Leinster title success by defeating High Cross College, Tuam in their recent All-Ireland semi-final. But their hopes of adding the All-Ireland crown were thwarted by Scoil Mhuire agus Íde.
The Newcastlewest outfit already had a marker laid down at the break when they led by 0-12 to 1-2. However they had still to face the stiff breeze in the second half. Their defence closed down for the third quarter, but it wasn’t until they worked the sliotar up the field at the start of the final quarter that their supporters could begin celebrations.
Player of the match Hazel Horgan buried the Limerick side’s goal, adding to the seven points she had collected over the game. The other main scorer for Newcastlewest, Mia Smith, was also in the running for Horgan’s accolade as were several players in defence.
Tullamore goalkeeper Aoife Fitzsimons was inspired during the first half, while Maeve Duffy and Rachel Cunningham also worked hard to keep the Leinster champions in the game.
Duffy hit the net for Sacred Heart’s first score, but already scores by Horgan (from frees) and Smith from play were eating away at their confidence.
The Limerick pair hit five points each with one each from Kaylaigh Hurley and Sarah Cagney, while Lily Marie Dolan and Rachel Cunningham responded with points for Sacred Heart.
There was plenty of pressure from the Offaly side after the break but despite more points from Cunningham, Horgan’s goal lifted the siege and eased Scoil Mhuire agus Íde over the line.
Scorers - Scoil Mhuire agus Íde, Newcastlewest: H Horgan 1-7, M Smith 0-5, S Cagney 0-2, K Hurley and E Horgan 0-1 each. Sacred Heart School, Tullamore: R Cunningham 0-4 (3fs), M Duffy 1-0, L.M. Dolan 0-1.
Scoil Mhuire agus Íde, Newcastlewest - Sarah Doyle; Emma O'Callaghan, Cliodhna Heffernan, Amy Gleeson; Beanne Larkin, Cora Long, Kate O'Gorman; Eabha Kelly, Isabelle O'Brien; Kate Liston, Grace Kelly, Mia Smith; Ella Cahill, Hazel Horgan, Kayleigh Hurley. Subs used: Sarah Cagney for E Cahill, Emma Horgan for K Liston, Olivia O'Brien for C Long.
Sacred Heart School, Tullamore - Aoife Kavanagh; Lauren Boyle, Rachel McEvoy, Alice Walsh; Katie McDermott, Emily Walsh, Maebh Carey; Katie Fogarty, Kayla Lawlor; Rachel Cunningham , Niamh Hughes, Maeve Duffy; Shannyn Healion, Lily Marie Dolan, Emma Francis. Subs used: Nicole Dunne for S Healion, Hannah Shaw for A Walsh.
Referee - Alan Lagrue (Kildare).