Bitter blow for Moate CS as final hopes are dashed

Moate Community School’s hopes of playing their LGFA All-Ireland Schools Senior ‘A’ final have been dashed.

Moate CS (pictured above after winning the Leinster title) were preparing to face Loreto SS, Clonmel in the All-Ireland final last March, until the Covid-19 outbreak led the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) to cancel all post-primary schools competitions for 2020.

But the Moate camp refused to give up on their dream of playing in their first All-Ireland final at this level.

And the fact that Leinster GAA rearranged the Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ final (St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge v Naas CBS) for this Friday had boosted Moate’s hopes of a re-fixture.

However, the pleas of the Moate side, and indeed of their Clonmel opponents, have fallen on deaf ears.

“We, the management of Moate CS Senior ladies football team, are bitterly disappointed with the LGFA decision not to play the Senior ‘A’ All-Ireland final. It is both disappointing and disillusioning for all the players, especially those in Leaving Certificate,” said the MCS management team (Fidelma Quinn, Niall Daly, Michelle Delaney, and Patrice Smyth).

“Our disappointment is compounded by the fact that ladies football is back in full swing across the country. We cannot understand why the LGFA think it is not ‘feasible’ to play one hour of football given that both schools concerned had agreed to do ‘anything it would take’. The huge commitment by players and teachers since last September to March seems to be dismissed without good reason. The LGFA have let down a large cohort of players, parents, mentors and school communities in both Moate and Clonmel.”

The MCS management said rearranging the All-Ireland final would have been “an opportunity to showcase ladies football” and “to give players closure on a big part of their school sporting lives”.

“The school and team management are immensely proud of all the players and we will now have to accept and appreciate our status as Leinster Senior ‘A’ champions. We wish the players every success with their respective clubs over the next few weeks.”

In correspondence sent to Moate CS, the LGFA said its management committee had reviewed the feasibility of completing the 2019/2020 post-primary schools competitions.

“After much debate and taking into account all considerations, the decision to cancel the competitions last March was upheld. We appreciate this is disappointing for your school; however, the Association has had to make a number of extremely difficult decisions over the past number of months due to circumstances outside of our control,” said the LGFA.

A few months ago, the Moate CS management team wrote to the LGFA, urging them to reconsider their decision to cancel the All-Ireland final and to seek a date for the final later in the year.

Moate CS captain Róisín Ennis and vice-captain Emma Kelly also wrote to the LGFA, making a heartfelt plea for their All-Ireland final to be played.

However, their fervent hopes have not come to fruition and they won’t get the chance to add the All-Ireland title to the Leinster Senior ‘A’ crown won towards the end of last year.

*See separate article on Moate CS player Shannon Mulvihill's letter to Minister for Sport Catherine Martin about the situation - HERE.