All-Ireland glory at last for Sacred Heart

LGFA All-Ireland PPS Junior ‘A’ Championship – Final 

Sacred Heart School, Westport 3-9 

Moate CS 2-10 

Denise O’Flaherty at Orchard Park, Elphin 

Sacred Heart School from Westport are the new Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary School Junior ‘A’ champions after they won a pulsating final against Moate CS at Orchard Park in Elphin last Thursday afternoon.

Both sides produced some outstanding football in a contest that was played in a very sporting manner. There was high quality fielding, superb scores and excellent defending. Moate will rue missed chances but Westport got the scores at crucial times.

With just two points between the sides entering stoppage time Moate went in search of a dramatic late goal but Anna Ryan was denied by Westport goalkeeper Lauren Cusack and then Daisy Bucys McLaughlin hit her follow-up effort wide.

The victory came as a massive relief to Sacred Heart School, who had lost a junior ‘A’ final back in 2022 and subsequent senior ‘A’ finals too, in 2023 and ’24.

Moate looked hungry for goal right from the early stages of this final but Sacred Heart showed their defensive qualities. In the tenth minute Lauren Cusack pulled off an excellent save to deny Anna Ryan and for all the chances that Morate created, it was actually Westport’s Emma McGing who got the opening score in the eighth minute. Moate’s reply was a goal from Ryan minutes later. It was an all-action game and in the 13th minute a long range free from Aoibhinn McNamara landed in the middle of the Moate goalmouth where Saoirse Reynolds was lurking to divert the ball into the net and put the Westport school back in front.

Sacred Heart, jointly managed by Brian Regan and former Mayo footballer Clodagh McManamon, had plenty of pace in their team and with Reynolds looking very lively in attack, they tried to play a lot of ball into her. At the other end, Anna Ryan was the playmaker for Moate. In fact, both defences were under pressure for periods of the half but they put in resolute displays and were able to frustrate the opposition forwards. Westport got a second goal in the 21st minute through Rheanna Hoban.

Moate created a goal chance in the 25th minute but Chloe Malone was unlucky to see her effort hit the butt of the post. Ally Duffy and Ryan scored late points for Moate to leave the half-time scoreline at 2-4 to 1-4 in favour of the Westport students.

A second goal from Ryan levelled matters in the 36th minute but Sacred Heart were resolute. Player of the Match Katie Hughes nailed a couple of crucial points, including one from a free, and then the Mayo girls were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute for a foul on Reynolds. Displaying nerves of steel, Aoibhinn McNamara put away the spot-kick and suddenly the Clew Bay outfit held a commanding 3-7 to 2-5 lead.

Moate responded well, and a 45th minute sin-binning for Caragh Keane was a definite hindrance to Sacred Heart, but they were able to hold on for an excellent win and bring the All-Ireland title back to Mayo..

Scorers - Sacred Heart: Saoirse Reynolds 1-2, Katie Hughes 0-5 (1f), Aoibhinn McNamara 1-1 (1-0pen), Rheanna Hoban 1-0, Emma McGing 0-1.

Moate CS: Anna Ryan 2-4, Chloe Malone 0-5 (2f), Ally Duffy 0-1.

Sacred Heart, Westport: L Cusack; M Mulchrone, S McGing, K Moran; E Conway, C Kennedy, C Keane; A Meaney, R Malone; K Hughes, E Casey, E McGing; S Reynolds, A McNamara, R Hoban. Subs: E Walsh (for Malone 19), K McGing (for Hoban ht), R Malone (for Meaney 59).

Moate CS: L Daly; G David, R Foley, L McHugh; D Bucys McLaughlin, H Pratlett, M Casey; C Malone, L Martin; A Duffy, H Murray, K Lynam; A Kelly, A Ryan, H Toughey. Subs: G Dolan (for Martin ht), K Corcoran (for Casey 44).

REF: Philip Conway (Armagh)