Summerhill girls lose out to Roscommon side

St Joseph"s College, Summerhill"s dream of capturing the Connacht Schools Senior soccer title went up in smoke at a rain sodden Lissywoollen on Tuesday afternoon. In a game that was quite even for large spells, it was Convent of Mercy who grabbed the only goal of the contest on the stroke of half-time through the game"s best performer Cliodhna McHugh. McHugh showed excellent speed and power to surge past a couple of St Joseph"s defenders before drilling a low shot across the face of the outstanding Emma Freeborne. Convent of Mercy had the majority of chances in the opening period, with Freeborne forced to save well from McHugh and Anna McCormack inside ten minutes. Freeborne was again on her toes to save when McHugh"s shot took a wicked deflection and looked like spinning into the roof of the net. Summerhill"s best opportunity of the first half fell for Niamh O"Brien after a 50-50 challenge with visiting "keeper Sarah Staunton, but O"Brien"s effort was inches wide with the goal unguarded. McHugh took centre stage on the stroke of half-time, gliding past a couple of Summerhill defenders before planting a perfectly placed shot across Emma Freeborne and into the bottom corner of the goal. Chances dried up during the opening stages of the second half, with Summerhill coming more into proceedings. Caoimhe Dunning and Michelle Harney-Nolan were doing their bit in defence, while midfielders Blaine Gately, Martina O"Brien and Rosa Shine were contributing well, too. Substitute Kayleigh Dunning found herself in a couple of decent positions as the second half progressed but was unlucky not to score on a few occasions. The closest Summerhill came to equalising was when Mercy goalkeeper Sarah Staunton had to fling herself into front of the on-rushing Gillian Egan to deny her a certain goal. With Summerhill pushing more and more players forward in the dying moments, Convent of Mercy almost doubled their advantage on a couple of occasions, with Freeborne making a brilliant save to deny Anna McCormack and Ashling McHugh watching her injury time effort drift just wide of Freeborne"s goal. St Joseph"s College, Summerhill: Emma Freeborne; Caoimhe Dunning; Kimberley Finlass; Leanne O"Brien; Michelle Harney-Nolan; Martina O"Brien; Rosa Shine; Blaine Gately; Gillian Egan; Niamh O"Brien; Ashling Byrne. Subs: Kayleigh Dunning for Finlass (40 mins); Ashling Lennon for Byrne (60); Elaine Cormican for N O"Brien (63). Convent of Mercy, Roscommon: Sarah Staunton; Ashling Rogerson; Ashling McNeill; Edel Menton; Ashling Lammon; Ashling McHugh; Anna McCormack; Cheryl Scally; Cliodhna McHugh; Deirdre Regan; Elaine Morris. Subs: Gertie Dowd for Scally (64 mins). Referee: Noel Parkes.