All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior A Semi-final Report

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January 29, 2024

All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior A Semi-final


Ursuline Thurles 3-11    

Presentation Athenry 2-07 


Played in Moycarkey Borris GAA’s dry, well-manicured Littleton pitch on Saturday , Ursuline raced into a quick 3 point lead with points from Lucy Purcell, Danielle Ryan and Caoimhe Stakelum. Athenry, playing with a stiff wind, settled into the game and drew level after 15 minutes. Thurles missed a few goalmouth chances as the Galway keeper twice batted the sliotar in front of goal. A Sarah Corcoran goal was responded to quickly by a Vivien Blaine Athenry goal. Momenets later a deceptive side step put Caoimhe Stakelum clear of her marker and blasted to the Galway net to restore Thurles’s lead of 4 points. Just before halftime a long range Athenry free by No. 11 Siobhan Carr went straight to the Ursuline net. Under sustained pressure at the end of the first half, Rachel Phelan and Alison Fitzgerald were relieving pressure by winning key possession in the full back line.  Caoimhe Stakelum then scored a huge free from almost halfway against the wind to leave the scoreline 2-05 to 2-04 at halftime in Ursuline’s favour.


The second half saw Thurles race into a 6 point lead within 10 minutes of the restart. A long range Caoimhe Stakelum free went straight to the Pres. Athenry net. Athenry tried to run at Ursuline in the last quarter with Caoimhe Fitzgibbon managing their dangerous corner forward Blaine well. Two vital interventions by Aoife Bourke and Sarah Corcoran prevented Athenry goals. Kate Ferncombe, Robyn Fitzgerald, Lucy Purcell and Danielle Ryan won frees in the second half while Paula Quirke dominated the right flank. Caoimhe Stakelum was excellent on frees throughout  the game. A Lucy Purcell point was followed by Sarah Corcoran scoring a super ‘Icing on the Cake’ point from play to give Thurles an unassailable 7-point lead which they held until the final whistle.  Roll on February 10th and All Ireland A Final versus the winners of the Ulster v Leinster champions. 


Ursuline: Orla Ryan, Rachel Phelan, Alison Fitzgerald, Caoimhe Fitzgibbon, Aoife Bourke, Aoife Kavanagh, Paula Quirke, Danielle Ryan, Sarah Corcoran, Kate Ferncombe, Robyn Fitzgerald, Lucy Purcell, Caoimhe Stakelum, Maria ralph, Ava Bevans.