Westport students have the Heart for final battle

LGFA Post Primary All-Ireland Junior ‘A’ Final 

Thursday, March 19 

1pm in Elphin 

Sacred Heart School, Westport v Moate Community School 

Sacred Heart School Westport have suffered more than their fair share of All-Ireland final heartbreak but the latest crop of talent will look to end the school’s hoodoo this Thursday afternoon.

They lost the junior ‘A’ final in 2022, followed by defeats in the senior ‘A’ finals of 2023 and 2024, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest this group can make a breakthrough that could lead to sustained success.

In Connacht, an understrength Sacred Heart were well beaten by Coláiste Baile Chlair but they won their next two games to set up a tantalising final group game against St Attracta’s, Tubbercurry, with the winner going on to meet Coláiste Baile Chlair in the Connacht final.

“We won that well enough on the day [against St Attracta’s], and things were starting to really click,” Sacred Heart joint-manager Brian Regan told the Western People. “We could just see them gelling as a group in that game, and it gave a lot of confidence going into the Connacht final. We knew that we'd improved a lot from our first game against Claregalway.” The Claregalway school were the opponents again in the Connacht final back in December, but Sacred Heart matched them, running out 3-15 to 3-10 winners.

“A really good battle, really tough game. We just played well on the day, we clicked well and we had to because they're a fantastic team, multiple county players,” said Regan.

“We knew we were playing a strong team, but we fancied our chances and it went well on the day.” That victory set up an All-Ireland semi-final against Ulster champions Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry. In a game that went back and forth, Sacred Heart overturned a three-point deficit late on to seal a place in the All-Ireland final.

“The girls have just a very good never say die attitude, which has been there all year to be honest. Really good character, a lot of resilience there. I think that's what came to the fore as much as anything in the semi-final.

“They just didn't know when they were beaten and a lot of things didn't go their way, but they just kept at it and kept the heads up. That was great to see.” Among the heroes on the day were goalscorers Katie Hughes and Saoirse Reynolds, as well as Aoibhinn McNamara. Hughes and McNamara’s pedigree is well-established, with both part of the Mayo under-14 side that won the All-Ireland Platinum ‘A’ championship in 2023 and they started for the Green and Red in the All-Ireland under-16 ‘A’ finals in 2024 and 2025. Regan praised the leadership the pair deliver.

“Katie's having a very good year. She had a very good game (semi-final), a very good steady game throughout. She's a good sensible head on her.

“They lost the under-16 final last year but they have lot of experience playing at county level and it does shine through.

“They're very good leaders; we give them that chance to speak up and talk at half-time before games and they're two little rocks of sense there. They're very sensible footballers.

“They can call it very well, they usually know what's going on and they can read the game very well. During the game, on the pitch, it’s invaluable really when you've got players who can sense a game and they can feel what's needed. We've got quite a few girls who have that ability.” That ability to read the game is certainly enhanced by Clodagh McManamon, joint-manager alongside Regan for Sacred Heart. To have a role model like the Burrishoole and former Mayo defender for the group to look up to is also invaluable, believes Regan.

“Every time Clodagh speaks, she speaks from experience and the girls know that. She's walked the walk. She's so experienced, a brilliant career at club and county level, and a really good reader of the game.

“She really knows the game. She's a good student of the game herself. She's a fair old obsessive, no more than myself, but she just is a very good role model. I think it's so important, especially with girls' sport and ladies' sport, that if you don't see it, you won't be it.

“She can really relate to what they're going through at times. She's a real inspiration to the girls. And not just the Burrishoole girls, the Westports and Kilmeena, they’re very fond of her as well. All the club rivalries are put to one side when it comes to the school.

“She's brilliant to work with. It’s great to have her on the sideline. We are very much a team. We're a joint-management and we bounce ideas off each other.” Sacred Heart’s biggest test comes this Thursday against the reigning All-Ireland junior ‘A’ champions. Anna Ryan, hero of Moate Secondary School’s 2025 success, scored a late goal over St Mary’s Macroom to secure their place in another final.

Sacred Heart are familiar with Moate and their manager Fidelma Quinn, having played a number of challenge matches in recent years, but this will be a first competitive outing between the two and Regan anticipates a tough battle.

“We know it's going to be a tough challenge. It doesn't get any easier. Once you get to the last four, the last two in the country, you know you're meeting good teams.

“We're preparing well for it but we know we have to fight for everything. What we get, we’ll earn, that's for sure.”