St.Mary’s Magherafelt (Derry) Vs Kinsale Community School  

3:13 to 2:11  

It wasn’t to be for the tenacious Kinsale Community School side who narrowly lost out on the title to a talented St.Mary’s Magherafelt from Derry. Both teams made the journey to the Connacht Centre of Excellence and had the opportunity to represent their schools, playing in the dome. Both schools were well represented with supporters made of up classmates, teachers, family and friends. 

St.Mary’s started well with a point from play from the throw in. They added two more unanswered points before Kinsale’s Emma Mc Sweeney scored an excellent point from play. After Catherine Murphy was fouled just inside the 45, Mc Sweeney slotted over another point at her ease. The Derry side responded well to the Kinsale challenge with a goal batted in by their full forward Ella Rafferty. Two more points were added to their tally with their centre forward Eva Forbes being on target. However, Kinsale began to find their feet and responded with two points from play from Murphy and the hardworking Caoimhe O’ Donnell.  

Kinsale were working hard in defence with Caitlin Hurley, Faye O Riordan and Aoibhinn Halpin getting the ball to the half forward line. However, the Derry side were very good on the breaks and worked the ball up to Rafferty who found the Kinsale net. O’Donnell fetched a ball from the sky and with a long-range effort narrowed the gap between themselves and Magherfelt. With two more excellent frees from Mc Sweeney, it saw the half time score to be 0:7 to 2:5 in favour of Magherfelt. 

Kinsale came out battling in the second half and put on a heroic display to bring themselves back into contention. After the Throw in, wing back Aoibhinn Halpin delivered a beautiful ball to Mc Sweeney but was denied the goal by a great save from the Magherfelt keeper. The ball went out for a 45’ which Mc Sweeney converted. Kinsale kept rallying and their defence was touch tight with numerous interceptions from Anna Kelleher and Faye O Riordan. Despite their efforts the Derry side managed to add three points from play to their score line now reading 2:08 to 0:08.  

Sarah Lynch at centre back and Hannah Deasy helped transition the ball out of defence to the dangerous O Donnell and Murphy. The Determined Catherine Murphy delivered a ball into the full forward line which was pulled on by half time substitute Erin Ridgeway to find the back of the net to put just a goal between the sides. Murphy followed with another point from play. Kinsale we’re back in contention.  

Magherfelt responded with a point from a free and one more from play. Gutsy Kinsale had found their feet and began to deliver long range balls into their full forward line, time and time again. Another Murphy effort found Mc Sweeney who buried the ball in the back of the net. Mc Sweeney soon equalised from a placed ball to leave the sides level 2:10 a piece.