Ursuline Thurles produce a top performance to qualify for the All-Ireland Final

All-Ireland Senior A Camogie Schools Semi-Final

Ursuline Thurles 3-11

Presentation Athenry 2-7

Played in Moycarkey Borris GAA’s dry, well-manicured Littleton pitch on Saturday, Ursuline raced into a quick three-point lead with points from Lucy Purcell, Danielle Ryan, and Caoimhe Stakelum. Athenry, playing with a stiff wind, settled into the game and drew level after 15 minutes.

Thurles missed a few goalmouth chances as the Galway keeper twice batted the sliotar in front of the goal. A Sarah Corcoran goal was responded to quickly by a Vivien Blaine Athenry goal.

Moments later a deceptive side step put Caoimhe Stakelum clear of her marker and blasted to the Galway net to restore Thurles’s lead of four points.

Just before half-time, a long-range Athenry free by number 11 Siobhan Carr went straight to the Ursuline net. Under sustained pressure at the end of the first half, Rachel Phelan and Alison Fitzgerald were relieving pressure by winning key possession in the full-back line.

Caoimhe Stakelum then scored a huge free from almost halfway against the wind to leave the scoreline 2-5 to 2-4 at half-time in Ursuline’s favour.

The second half saw Thurles race into a six-point lead within ten minutes of the restart. A long-range Caoimhe Stakelum free went straight to the Pres. Athenry net.

Athenry tried to run at Ursuline in the last quarter with Caoimhe Fitzgibbon managing their dangerous corner forward Blaine well. Two vital interventions by Aoife Bourke and Sarah Corcoran prevented Athenry's goals.

Kate Ferncombe, Robyn Fitzgerald, Lucy Purcell, and Danielle Ryan won frees in the second half while Paula Quirke dominated the right flank. Caoimhe Stakelum was excellent on frees throughout the game.

A Lucy Purcell point was followed by Sarah Corcoran scoring a super ‘Icing on the Cake’ point from play to give Thurles an unassailable seven-point lead which they held until the final whistle. Roll on February 10th and All Ireland A Final versus the winners of the Ulster versus Leinster champions.

Ursuline Thurles: Orla Ryan; Rachel Phelan, Alison Fitzgerald, Caoimhe Fitzgibbon; Aoife Bourke, Aoife Kavanagh, Paula Quirke; Danielle Ryan, Sarah Corcoran; Kate Ferncombe, Robyn Fitzgerald, Lucy Purcell; Caoimhe Stakelum, Maria Ralph, Ava Bevans.