It took a match winning
performance from Cahirs Aisling Moloney who belied her young age to defeat
defending Munster and All Ireland champions Loreto Fermoy in the highest Post
Primary grade around. Colaiste Dun Iascaigh were to runout 2-10 to 3-5 winners in Ballynoe
Many who took to the field to congratulate
their team at full time will be well aware of the long march to success as it
was not too long ago that the team suffered heavy defeats from both Kerry and
Cork schools on an annual basis.
However today was to be different back
boned with many of the junior winning team and playing an assured brand of
football they led from almost start to finish. Indeed were it not for a lapse
in concentration in the full back line Fermoyâsâ Aoife Heffernan 21M free may
well have been cleared but it was not and Fermoy were to take their only lead
in the game on the sixth minute 2-0 to 1-2.
Cahir got off to the perfect start
scoring from all three attacks inside the first 3 minutes. Roisin Howard taking
her goal well. However, Fermoy showed brief glimpses of their mettle and over
turned the 5 points in a matter of minutes with Abbie Scannell and then Aoife
Heffernans efforts raising green flags. Moloney then came into her own scoring
points either side of Lauren Noonanâs 12th minute goal to restore them
to a 2-4 to 2-0 lead.
As the half wore on Fermoy got to
grips with Cahirs style of play and they began to assert a period of dominance
and outscored the Tipp side by 0-3 to 0-2 to trail by just a goal at the break
and no doubt the happier of the sides.
The second half never live up to
the all action first half and scores were proving more difficult to get as both
sides tightened up considerably. Cahir deployed Moloney to mainly a mopping up
role and the 16 year showed experience beyond her years as repeatedly she
managed to be in the right place. Dillon and Howard were making all the runs as
Fermoy drifted deeper in defence happy to counter attack.
Cahir had themselves in a great position
by the 45th minute as they were out to a 2-9 to 2-4 lead but
the champions struck twice in a minute. First Grace Cullity drifted a 30-yard
effort over the bar before she was again involved in the next move when her
through ball ended up with Aoife Heffernan whose lazy shot trickled past Lauren
Fitzpatrick to give Fermoy a lifeline. Aoife Corcoran reply was instant as her
50th minute effort gave them a little day light to extend the lead to just two
points.
It was a lead they would hold until
the end as both sides failed to score in the last ten minutes, as both
were guilty of their poorest football of the day with a host of missed chances.
Cahir will now play the Connacht
winners in the All-Ireland semi-final. The road to All Ireland glory has just
begun for the Tipperary side who become the first side from the premier county
to reach such heights.
Teams:
Colaiste Dun Iascaigh: L Fitzpatrick, R OâDonnell, C Walsh, C
Hickey, L Dillion 0-1, M Murphy, L Keeley, A Corcoran 0-2, A Moloney 0-4
(0-1F), R Moloney, C Condon 0-1(F), L Noonan 1-0, K Burke 0-1, R Howard 1-1, K
Farrell Subs: H Walsh for K Farrell (41), L Murphy for L Noonan (41)
Loreto: A Brennan, J Blackbourne, G Collins, E Condon, J OâKeefe, J
Tonks, U Blackburne, T OâSullivan, A Heffernan 2-2 (1-2F), I Pyne, G Cullity
0-2, S Gleeson 0-1, A Scannell, S Moore, M Cronin Subs: K Sheehan for S Gleeson
(H/T) T Murphy for M Cronin (53)
Referee: M Duffy (Tipperary)
By Donal Barry @Barrydonal
