ST JOSEPH’S Spanish Point’s remarkable senior adventure finally ended in agonising disappointment at the final hurdle but there was certainly no shame in defeat as Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College were a hugely impressive side on their way to a maiden All-Ireland success.
Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College, Knock 4-11
St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point 2-07
Venue: Netwatch Dr Cullen Park, Carlow
Physically imposing and full of threat, the Ulster champions fully merited their historic triumph as four goals in a twenty minute blitz put paid to any hopes of Spanish Point’s return to the top of the national senior pile after a 29 year gap.
Simone Considine, Kayla Talty-Darcy, Abi Kelly and Ellie Hanrahan all did their utmost to stem the tide but having been sucker-punched by two first half goals in the space of a minute through outstanding duo Evie McHugh and Grace Guest, there would be no way back for the West Clare side.
Pushing up on Spanish Point’s restarts, midfielders Isa McCarron and Lara McNicholl turned the screw and from there, Paul Reidy’s side were feeding off scraps.
Backed by the conditions in the opening period, Spanish Point did snatch the whip hand in the eighth minute when Emily Shannon’s teasing lineal fell perfectly over the top for Ellie Hanrahan to strike low to the net at 1-1 to 0-2.
It was a lead they would protect for the next 15 minutes but there would be an irrevocable sea-change in the 24th minute when captain McCarron intercepted a restart and played in player-of-the-game Evie McHugh to produce an instinctive first time finish under goalkeeper Ella Cushen.
Supporters didn’t get a chance to draw their breaths when a second major billowed the net this time McHugh turning provider to the unmarked Grace Guest to round the goalkeeper and fire to an empty net at 2-4 to 1-2.
Indeed, the Belfast school might have even grabbed a third goal within 90 seconds, only for McHugh to hastily slice her volley wide on their way to a 2-5 to 1-3 interval cushion.
Half-time couldn’t come soon enough for Spanish Point to regroup, with Kayla Talty-Darcy leading the way on the resumption with a point after only 40 seconds.
Ellie Hanrahan also matched a Hannah Cassin point by the two-thirds mark but the Clare side would be fortunate that the same player would have a subsequent goal ruled out for overcarrying in the build up.
It was a warning sign that Spanish Point didn’t heed as within five minutes, the Ulster champions had put the result beyond doubt as goals through Holly Donnelly and Grace Guest would bookend a superb 2-4 eight minute blitz to power 4-10 to 1-05 clear entering the final quarter.
Things would get worse for the Munster winners when Abi Kelly was issued a yellow card entering the final ten minutes before an incident involving Isa McCarron and Allisha Ryan saw the Our Lady and St Patrick’s captain isa McCarron receive a yellow card and the Clare player a straight red.
However, despite finishing with only 13 players, true to form, Spanish Point kept up the fight and would be rewarded with a spectacular Simone Considine consolation goal to lessen the final damage to ten.
While it was a difficult pill to swallow, in time Spanish Point’s players will reflect on an unforgettable season in which they finished as the second best school in the entire country.
Scorers for Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College: Grace Guest 2-3, Evie McHugh 1-3 (1f), Holly Donnelly 1-1, Abigail Hanvey 0-2, Hannah Cassin 0-1, Cara McDermott 0-1
Scorers for St. Joseph’s Spanish Point: Ellie Hanrahan 1-3 (2f), Simone Considine 1-0, Michaela Sexton 0-1, Aoibheann Ryan 0-1, Kayla Talty-Darcy 0-1, Emily Shannon 0-1
Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College
1: Erin Boyle (Naomh Brid)
2: Maria McLornan (Carryduff)
3: Helen McGeough (Bredagh)
4: Dara Cotter (Bredagh)
5: Hannah Cassin (Carryduff)
6: Caoimhe Hefferon (Naomh Brid)
7: Niamh Napier (Carryduff)
8: Isa McCarron (Carryduff)
9: Lara McNicholl (Naomh Brid)
12: Holly Donnelly (Bredagh)
11: Abigail Hanvey (Carryduff)
10: Orla Hughes (Carryduff)
13: Rose Horisk (Carryduff)
14: Grace Guest (Bredagh)
15: Evie McHugh (Carryduff)
Subs
17: Cara McDermott (Bredagh) for Cotter (37)
23: Orlaith Mann (Bredagh) for McLornan (52)
20: Florence O’Brien (Naomh Brid) for Hughes (54)
18: Cara O’Donnell (Bredagh) for Horisk (56)
19: Ellen Farrell (Carryduff) for Guest (56)
St. Joseph’s Secondary School
1: Ella Cushen (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
4: Leah Darcy (Miltown Malbay)
3: Aoife Martin (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
2: Emma Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
7: Abbie Gallagher (Doonbeg)
6: Simone Considine (Cooraclare)
5: Aine O’Keeffe (Miltown Malbay)
8: Abi Kelly (Miltown Malbay)
9: Ide O’Connor (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
12: Aoibheann Ryan (Doonbeg)
11: Allisha Ryan (Doonbeg)
10: Kayla Talty-Darcy (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Michaela Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
14: Ellie Hanrahan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: Emily Shannon (Miltown Malbay)
Sub
16: Aoibhinn Mescal (Cooraclare) for O’Keeffe (54)
Referee: Philip Conway (Armagh)
