Saturday is set to be a huge day for Ursuline College Thurles as they face a formidable Loreto Kilkenny side in the Post-Primary Schools Senior A Final.

The Ursuline have enjoyed remarkable success in schools camogie in recent years, capturing five Munster Senior A titles in 2017, 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2026. However, an elusive All-Ireland crown remains the missing piece. The Thurles school reached the All-Ireland finals in both 2017 and 2024, only to be denied on those occasions by Saturday’s opponents.

The team is guided by an experienced management trio. Olivia Hogan leads the setup, joined by former Waterford inter-county player Karen Kelly and past pupil and current Tipperary senior player Eimear McGrath.

Their road to Saturday’s decider has been impressive. Along the way Ursuline accounted for Presentation Secondary School Thurles and Coachford College before overcoming Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig in the Munster final, and most recently defeating Cross and Passion College Antrim in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The side is anchored by centre-back Kate Dowling of Moycarkey Borris and captained by Thurles Sarsfields and Tipperary senior star Caoimhe Stakelum. The panel also features county minor players Alice Butler, Ella Friend and Jessie Shanahan, alongside an exciting group of county U16 talent including Mel Flannery, Molly Jones, Kate Duffy and Lorna Ryan.

Standing in their way is a powerful Kilkenny outfit packed with inter-county experience including key players such as Ona Kennedy and Emily Phelan, setting the stage for a thrilling contest. A cracking game is in prospect, and a big Tipperary support could make all the difference as Ursuline Thurles bid to create history. The game throws in at 12pm in Gortnahoe and will be broadcast live on Tipp FM Radio and streamed on the Camogie Association’s YouTube Channel.