Munster Senior A Schools Final

Ursuline Thurles                       1-12

Cashel Community School      2-04

Ursuline Thurles are Munster champions after dethroning Cashel Community School with an impressive display on Saturday afternoon in Boherlahan. A large crowd were treated to a high quality game with great intensity between the top two schools in Munster. Cashel having beaten Thurles last year in the semi final by 5 points and going on to contest the Al-Ireland final were many people’s favourites against a young Thurles outfit. But it was Ursuline who took the game to the holders right from the throw in and led from the 4th minute when Thurles Sarsfields Caoimhe Stakelum split the posts. The Olivia Hogan managed side could have been even further ahead as Louise Hickey had an early goal chance but Mollie Gilmartin pulled off a great save – one of many from the Boherlahan keeper. The match was a real intriguing contest with many county team-mates and some club players on opposing sides. Ursuline had the advantage of a considerable wind in the opening half and were determined to make it count with some lovely attacking play and great determination throughout. A point from the energetic Danielle Ryan in the 10th minute extended their lead before the excellent Sarah Corcoran pointed the first of her 8 frees a minute later. Fifteen minutes were gone before Cashel registered a score, a point from their captain Grace Moloney after some good play from Ellen Browne on the wing. Amazingly this was to be their sole score of the opening half as they struggled to break through the Ursuline rear-guard namely the brilliant half back line of Emma Kelly, Lorna Ryan and Paula Quirke. Three Sarah Corcoran frees made it 6 points to 1 by the 23rd minute before Caoimhe Stakelum who always looked threatening pointed her second from play to give Thurles a 6 point advantage. Another Sarah Corcoran point this time from play made it 8 points to 1 at half time. 

A renewed Cashel came out in the second half knowing they needed to find another gear or the trophy would be heading back to Thurles. Corcoran pointed a free on the 31st minute before a great ball in by Grace Moloney was snatched by Hannah Butler who made a brilliantly timed angled run and she fired home her shot from close range. It was the goal that Cashel badly needed and it immediately gave their supporters and players a huge lift. But they had no time to build on this as minutes later Caoimhe Stakelum was raising a green flag at the opposite end with another well taken score meaning 8 points separated the sides once again. A free from Sarah Corcoran was followed by two points from Cashel’s Anna Fahie (play and a free) before Corcoran once again showed her free taking ability with another point in the 51st minute to leave the score at 1-11 to 1-03. Cashel were working fierce hard trying to create more scores and their determination paid off when a large goal mouth scramble resulted in a second goal. Again, they looked to kick on from here but again the Thurles response was top class with their forwards earning another free which the Moycarkey Borris star duly pointed. In the final 10 minutes Cashel did all that they could to engineer more scores, attacking in droves and never giving up the fight. But the Ursuline defence was immense and they defended in numbers with Aoife Bourke clearing ball after ball while Kate Ferncombe ran herself into the ground in midfield. A late injury time point from Anna Fahie was the final score of the game as Ursuline claimed a famous victory on a final scoreline of 1-12 to 2-04. Next up for the school is the munster Junior A final this weekend against Colaiste Choilm while the seniors take on Loretto Kilkenny the following weekend. 

Ursuline Thurles: Orla Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Aoife Kavanagh (Emeralds), Alison Fitzgerald (Holycross Ballycahill), Caoimhe Fitzgibbon (Moycarkey Borris), Emma Kelly (Borris-Ileigh), Lorna Ryan (JC) (Clonoulty Rossmore), Paula Quirke (Boherlahan Dualla), Kate Ferncombe , Aoife Bourke (Both Clonouty Rossmore), Sarah Corcoran (0-09, 8 frees) (Moycarkey Borris) Louise Hickey (JC) (Emeralds), Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Danielle Ryan (0-01) (Boherlahan Dualla), Caoimhe Stakelum (1-02) (Thurles Sarsfields) Alisha Kearney (Moycarkey Borris)

Subs used: Robbyn Fitzgerald (Holycross Ballycahill), Ava Bevans (Borris-Ileigh)

Cashel Community School: Molly Gilmartin (Boherlahan Dualla), Ella O’Dwyer, Lily Fahie, Lisa Blair, Ellie Butler (All Cashel King Cormacs), Emma Horgan (Boherlahan Dualla), Katelyn Downey, Anna Fahie (0-03), Ciara Moloney, (all Cashel King Cormacs), Ellen Browne (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) Grace Moloney(0-01), Hannah Butler(1-00) (Both Cashel King Cormacs) Lisa O’Connor, Anna Murphy (Both Boherlahan Dualla), Alessia Mazolla (Cashel King Cormacs)

Subs used:  Aoife White, Erin Gillespie