Heartbreak for Loreto Clonmel, whose late fightback comes up short in Munster schools final

Munster Ladies Football PPS Senior ‘A’ Final

St Joseph’s Spanish Point 4-12

Loreto Clonmel 3-13

By Michael Heverin

It was heartbreak for Loreto Clonmel in the Munster Ladies Football PPS Senior ‘A’ Final against Clare side St Joseph’s from Spanish Point at Banteer Community Sportsfield on Saturday.

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Trailing by nine points during the second half, goals from Ailíse Fitzgerald and substitute Zoe Tierney helped to reduce the margin to just one in injury time. As the Clonmel girls maintained the pressure for an equaliser to force extra time, St Joseph’s made a quick breakaway and captain Aoibheann Ryan kicked the insurance point.

It was a cruel blow for Loreto after such a spirited display. They showed tremendous heart and courage, mixed with some brilliant football - and had wonderful encouragement in the stand from supporters dressed in every form of green and red attire - against a Spanish Point side featuring the inspirational Ellie Hanrahan, who was virtually unmarkable.

Hanrahan is a Clare county senior footballer and her 2-7, including four frees, went a long towards achieving victory for her side – St Joseph’s included two other county panelists in Abi Kelly and Aoibheann Ryan.

And yet Loreto matched them in all facets of the game. Wing back Summer Peters was outstanding, with team captain Éire Grace and Sadhbh also strong in defence. Eavann Duffy and Sarah Whelan had big games at midfield, with Farrah Madigan leading the line upfront, with Ailíse Fitzgerald and Emma Cullinan both posing a threat. Zoe Tierney looked sharp on her introduction in the second half and her goal helped kickstart the side’s comeback.

It was Loreto who had enjoyed the better start, Farrah Madigan pointing in the opening minute and Eavann Duffy following up with a lovely goal within sixty seconds. It was a dream start, but within ten minutes, St Joseph’s had turned the game around to lead 2-2 to 1-1, goals from Kelly and Hanrahan and two pointed frees from Hanrahan.

Hanrahan then pointed from play and a free before the Clonmel side had their first score in fifteen minutes. A crucial turnover from the outstanding Summer Peters started a move that ended with a free that Madigan pointed. She added another from a free before Spanish Point struck for their third goal from Hanrahan.

When Abbie Gallagher fisted over a point and Emily Shannon pointed a free, it put the Clare side 3-6 to 1-3 ahead ten minutes before half time. But with St Joseph’s down to fourteen players when Aoibheann Ryan was sent to the bin, Loreto finished the half well with three unanswered points – Madigan from a free, Emma Cullinan from a free after Emma Kiely was just wide when on an advantage, and Madigan with the third when also on an advantage, to leave it 3-6 to 1-6 at the interval.

That quickly became 4-6 for St Joseph’s when Abi Kelly won the throw-in and put Allisha Ryan clear for a great goal. Clonmel hit back with a lovely team score, Chloe Keane and Farrah Madigan involved in the build-up for Emma Cullinan to point.

Simone Considine for St Joseph’s and Farrah Madigan, from a free, swapped points, before Clonmel dragged themselves back into contention. Eavann Duffy cut through the Clare defence with a superb run before finishing with a point, and then Ailíse Fitzgerald scoring a goal to make it 4-8 to 2-9, the move started by Summer Peters and continued by Rebecca Hewitt.

Hanrahan replied with a point, and another goal for Loreto looked on when Madigan was put clear but she shot over for a point. But their fourth goal did come midway through the half when another St Joseph’s player, Allisha Ryan, was in the bin. Chloe Keane was fouled following a great run from defence and when Madigan floated the free into the danger area, substitute Zoe Tierney fisted to the net to make it 4-9 to 3-10.

Again, Hanrahan responded with another point, before two in a row for Loreto brought the margin down to a single point – Madigan from a free following great work from Eavann Duffy and Rebecca Hewitt in the build-up, and Emma Cullinan in the next move.

The game was in the melting pot as excitement reached fever-pitch among both sets of supporters in the stand. The remarkable Hanrahan calmed Spanish Point nerves again with a point, but the lead was down to the minimum again when Madigan pointed a free in injury time. The next score would be crucial and it fell to St Joseph’s with Aoibheann Ryan hitting the clincher. 

Loreto Clonmel: Lily O’Donoghue; Niamh Dunphy, Éire Grace, Grace Carrigan Smyth; Clodagh Hallinan, Sadhbh Hannifan, Summer Peters; Evann Duffy (1-1), Sarah Whelan; Chloe Keane, Emma Kiely, Ailíse Fitzgerald (1-0); Emma Cullinan (0-3, 0-1f), Farrah Madigan (0-9, 0-6f), Rebecca Hewitt.

Subs used: Zoe Tierney (1-0) for Kiely.

St Joseph’s Spanish Point: Ella Cushen; Emma Talty, Aoife Martin, Leah Darcy; Aine O’Keeffe, Simone Considine (0-1), Abbie Gallagher (0-1); Abi Kelly (1-1), Ide O’Connor; Allisha Ryan (1-0), Ellie Hanrahan (2-7, 0-4f), Aoibheann Ryan (0-1); Michaela Sexton, Emily Shannon (0-1), Kayla Talty Darcy.

Subs used: Emma Griffin for Shannon.

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork)

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