By Alan Gunn

 

St Louis Monaghan 3-14

St Ciaran’s Ballygawley 0-3

 

FOR the ninth year in a row St Louis lifted the Ulster girls senior schools title after another wonderful performance at the superb St Oliver Plunkett Park Emyvale on Monday afternoon.

 

This fantastic unbeaten run never looked in doubt as the Monaghan side raced out of the starting blocks in electrifying fashion. Just 19 seconds had elapsed when they opened the scoring and from there they never looked back. This wonder school may have no pitch but they keep producing the players that nobody in Ulster can stop winning titles.

 

The management team of Pauline Devlin and Dave Mee had the side in great shape and it showed even against a strong wind as they had the game already wrapped up at the break. The side had an array of stars all over the park but at the finish it was Nicola Fahy on her home pitch that collected the player of the match award. The young midfielder had an outstanding game and along with Natasha Mohan they controlled the game from midfield.

 

In defence the Monaghan school were never really troubled and can be very happy at keeping Tyrone senior county player Sarah Connolly to just two pointed free’s and the opposition to just tree points in total. At the other end St Louis led the Tyrone defence a merry dance as they tore them apart. The only disappointing factor may have been their tally of 12 wides which on another day may have been costly. 

 

Facing a strong wind St Louis raced into a commanding lead. The excellent Natasha Mohan showed her speed and skill racing from her own half to open the scoring after just 19 seconds. Aoife McAnespie and Catriona Treanor added further points before Treanor rattled the netting from the penalty spot after just five minutes. The same player hit the crossbar within a minute prior to Ciara McAnespie opening a seven point advantage.

 

St Ciaran’s finally got an attack from which they opened their scoring through Seanan Loughran on eight minutes. County star Sarah Connolly held off the challenge of Ellanna Hacket to create a goal scoring change soon after but the Sean’s girl recovered to make a fine block.

 

At the other end Ciara McAnespie was denied by the St Ciaran’s keeper on ten minutes. Natasha Mohan and Sarah Connolly exchanged points (free’s) but the remainder of the half belonged to the eventual winners. Truagh’s Brid McCarron found the net twice on 18 and 30 minutes with Catriona Treanor firing a point between both majors. This give the Monaghan side an unassailable interval lead of 3-6 to 0-2.

 

Turning around to have the help of the wind St Louis were already on their way to victory. The result was never in doubt and St Ciaran’s could only manage one further point, a free from Sarah Connolly in the 43rd minute. The second period also saw St Louis take the foot off the pedal and their game become a little ragged as they shot eight wides in total.

 

However, they were always able to produce some moments of magic and some very impressive football. Caoimhe Mohan collected a pass from team captain Nicola Fahy to open the halves scoring with just two minutes on the clock. Their second point of the half was possibly their best of the game.

 

A sweeping move involving the hard working Laura Askin, Brid McCarron and Natasha Mohan was finished by Ciara McAnespie. Further points from sisters Natasha and Caoimhe Mohan and one from Brid McCarron extended the Louis’ advantage to 18 points.

 

The dominance was momentarily halted by Sarah Connolly’s free but a further three points in the final ten minutes wrapped up a comfortable 20 point victory. Those final scores coming off the boot of Ciara McAnespie (1free). Next up will be an All Ireland semi-final clash against their Leinster champions after Easter. 

 

St Louis: Barbara McKenna, Rebecca McKenna, Ellanna Hackett, Aisling McElvaney, Aoife McAnespie (0-1), Grainne McKenna, Tara McElvaney, Nicola Fahy, Natasha Mohan (0-3, 1f), Ciara McAnespie (0-5, 1f), Catriona Treanor (1-2, 1p), Sinead Maguire, Caoimhe Mohan (0-2), Laura Askin, Brid McCarron (2-1)

 

Subs: Louise McPhillips for S Maguire, Orla Whelan for T McElvaney

 

St Ciaran’s: Nicola Molloy, Carrie Monaghan, Noelle Holland, Ellen McGrady, Michelle Kelly, Nicola McAnenly, Shauna Shields, Maria Donnelly, Cathy Monaghan, Shauna Kane, Aileen Hackett, Seanan Loughran (0-1), Lisa Marie Skeffington, Sarah Connolly (0-2, f), Paula Donnelly

 

Subs: Julia Mallon for M Donnelly