Five star Loreto take title

MFC Ulster U-20 A Schools final

Loreto, Cavan 5-8 St Mary’s, Magherafelt 1-6

A DOMINANT display, which included five goals helped Loreto, Cavan to the MFC Ulster U-20A Schools title at the expense of St. Mary’s Magherafelt in Brewster Park on Tuesday evening.

The Breffni side had a dream start, being awarded a penalty with just 1 minute 6 seconds on the clock. Player of the match Sarah Clarke dispatched the resulting penalty to set her side on their way. Further Loreto points followed from Ailbhe Kennedy and Ellie Brady before Jemma Shivers opened St. Mary’s account in the 11th minute.

Entering the second quarter, Kate Fegan pointed for Loreto before Aoife Doherty fired over a brace of points for the Derry side. Between Doherty’s points there was a let off for Loreto as Shivers 17th minute shot flashed across the goalmouth and narrowly wide. Loreto finished the half strong. Katie Mc Gahern and Kate Fegan both goaled while the last score of the half was a point from the excellent Katie O’Mara. While leading at the break 3-4 to 0-3 Loreto were dealt a blow with Kennedy being sin binned.

Mary’s opened the second half scoring, with a Leah Stewart point but then disaster struck. Aoife Doherty’s high ball into the square somehow stayed out of the goal, Loreto gained possession and, in a flash, went the length of the field were corner forward Kate Fegan finished to the net. This was the start of a Loreto purple patch which seen full forward O’Meara hit 1-3 without reply.

To St. Mary’s credit they never gave up and were rewarded with a goal of their own when Doherty’s rocket of a shot rattled the net in the 19th minute. Doherty then brought her tally to 1-3 with a nice point. With ten minutes remaining both teams emptied their bench. Sarah Clarke and Brooke Taylor then exchanged points before referee David Hurson brought matters to an end.

In her acceptance speech Loreto Captain Ellie Brady said she was delighted to win the title in her final year at the school. Sarah Clarke was named MFC player of the match. Next up for Loreto is a mid-March, All-Ireland semi-final game against Leinster champions, Maynooth Education Campus.

Loreto: A McDermot, K Cahill, D McGovern, N Smith, A Kennedy (0-1), C Crowe, K McSeain, E.Brady (0-1), R Gilmartin, L Miney, S.Clarke (1-1), K Bartley, K McGahern (1-0), K O’Meara (1-4), K Fegan (2-1)

Subs Used: C O’Reilly, M Donohue, A Galligan, A.Smith, R Boyle Drought

St. Mary’s: R McGurk, A Rocks, S Scullion, A Gilligan, M McLarnon, L Scullion, C McKeefry, A Henry, E Convery, A O’Neill, J Shivers (0-1), L Loughran, L Stewart (0-1), A Doherty (1-3), A Shivers

Subs Used E Forbes, B Taylor (0-1), E Rafferty, A McCann

Referee: D.Hurson (Monaghan)