PPS Senior C Final

Entertainment at its very best as Tipperary school St Anne’s are rewarded for their resolve and never-say-die attitude. A point down and staring defeat in the face a Roisin Carew free in the eighth minute of additional time flew all the way to the net to see St Anne’s crowned Munster Senior C champions for 2026. It was a victory that, in all truth, never seemed likely. Second best for lengthy spells Brian Fox’s charges showed character in abundance to ultimately claim the spoils. They did lead at the interval but one wondered how as after what was a pulsating opening thirty minutes they incredibly took a four point lead to the sanctuary of the dressing rooms on a 3-2 to 1-4 scoreline. Incredible because, quite simply, SMI Newcastle should have been out of sight. Dominant from throw in they opened the scoring inside sixty seconds with a quality Kayleigh Hurley white flag. Just moments later, not one but two goal opportunities were created but not taken as an Emma Horgan effort cannoned off the upright, while full forward Isabelle O’Brien blazed wide when close range. It was all the Limerick school in the early stages, and corner forward Horgan raised another white flag to put her side 0-2 to no score in front. The Tipperary school seemed rattled but showed tremendous character with their first foray into their opponent’s half resulting in the game’s opening major, with Aine Crowe toe poking home from close range. With the game opening up SMI created yet another opportunity but once more failed to convert. Just before the end of the opening quarter, a lovely interchange of passes between Chloe O’Neill and corner forward Crowe ended with the outstretched arms of Kerry official John Purcell signalling a penalty, which Roisin Carew dispatched with aplomb low to the bottom right-hand corner. The third Tipperary green flag was football at its finest as the mercurial O’Neill gathered possession thirty yards out and blazed past a host of players before rifling home.

On the resumption of play, a Mia Smith point cut the arrears to three, and from here SMI took over once more. With Emma Horgan delivering a masterclass they raised white flag after white flag to level the contest in the 47th minute. It was all SMI, and a Hazel Horgan point saw them hit the front with just four minutes remaining. St Anne’s, who hadn’t scored from play and indeed had only one point registered courtesy of a Roisin Carew converted free, looked like the proverbial beaten docket, but when the fourth official signalled for eight minutes additional time, they got a shot of energy and laid siege to the Newcastle rearguard. With the clock ticking down, though, it looked like they were going to come up short; that is, until Carew’s last gasp free that sailed to the net to break Limerick hearts while sending St Anne’s into ecstatic celebrations.

Overall, a cracking contest and a great advertisement for the sport that saw St Anne’s captain Lily Maher receive the trophy from the first-ever female president of Munster LGFA, Lorraine Royale.

Scoil Mhuire agus IDE Newcastle Maeve Cussen, Grace Kelly, Keelin Carr, Ailis Kelly, Eabha Kelly, Cora Long, Sarah Cagney, Olivia O’Brien, Kate O’Gorman, Hazel Horgan, Mia Smith Ciara Lanigan, Kayleigh Hurley, Isabelle O’Brien, Emma Horgan

Subs: Beanne Larkin for E Kelly (HT), Anna Horgan for G Kelly (50), Grace Kelly for K O’Gorman (57)

Scorers: Emma Horgan 1-4, Hazel Horgan 0-3 (2 F), Mia Smith 0-2 each, Kayleigh Hurley 0-1

St.Anne’s Caoilinn Grogan, Claire Gubbins, Therese Ryan, Rebecca Crosse, Jessie Nugent, Lily Maher, Odharnait Crowe, Molly Crowe, Isabel Heuston, Sophia O’Grady, Chloe O’Neill, Lauren O’Dwyer, Aine Crowe, Eliza Gleeson, Roisin Carew

Subs: Anna Butler for A Crowe (45), Aine Hayes for O Crowe (56), Erin Chapman for J Nugent inj (60+2)

Scorers: Roisin Carew 2-2 (1-2 F, 1 pen), Chloe O’Neill 1-1, Aine Crowe 1-1