Moate CS hit six goals en route to All-Ireland title success
Moate CS 6-6 Ursuline SS 4-9
A dominant opening half proved pivotal as Moate Community School claimed the Lidl All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Junior 'A' title with a three point victory over Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles at Glenisk O’Connor Parkm Tullamore this afternoon (Thursday).
Playing with the aid of a strong wind, Moate CS raced into an early lead, and as the opening half concluded held a 13-point advantage, courtesy of well-taken goals from Karissa Burns, Alex Kelly, Chloe Malone and Anna Ryan.
Ursuline SS began the second half in determined fashion and started to impact the scoreboard, with Moate CS seeing their substantial interval lead reduced as the game progressed.
Momentum was now in favour of the Tipperary team, which reduced its scoreline deficit to a mere four points at the end of the game's third quarter.
Without a score for over 20 minutes in the second period, Moate CS eventually raised a green flag when Ryan netted her second of the final.
Ryan added to her scoring prowess as the game approached its closing minutes when she netted her third goal of the contest, but Ursuline SS managed to rally in stoppage time.
A late free was blocked on the goal-line to ensure Moate CS maintained a three point lead and achieved a proud sporting moment in the school's history.
Scorers - Moate CS: A Ryan 3-0, C Malone 1-3, A Kelly 1-2, K Burns 1-1. Ursuline SS: M Flannery 1-7 (1-6fs), A Butler 2-0, S Moynihan 1-0, A O’Connor, C Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
MOATE CS: L Daly; H Pratlett, N Trainor, M Loddick; L Martin, A Bracken, S Padden; E O’Faolain, C Malone; A Ryan, H Murray, L Allen; K Burns, A Kelly, H Touhey. Subs: R Foley for Loddick (50), G Galvin for Burns, L Jones for Touhey (both 60+5).
URSULINE SS: S Carr; R Maher, Z Cosgrove, L Ryan; B Woodlock, R O’Brien, O Pamplin; A O’Connor, C Fitzgerald; A Butler, M Flannery, J Shanahan; A Geoghegan, S Moynihan, E McGrath. Subs: L O’Connell for Maher (50), R King for Geoghegan (60+1), A Brophy for Shanahan (60+3).
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
*See next week's print edition of the Westmeath Independent for the full match report.