By Alan Gunn
St Mary’s Mallow 0-14
St Louis Monaghan 1-9
ST Louis’ quest for a fifth Pat the Baker All Ireland senior schools title was dashed by a more physical Cork side in Banagher on Monday afternoon in front of a very large vocal and enthusiastic crowd.
Almost 400 spectators made the trip from Monaghan to get behind their side but in the end they were to go home disappointed. They saw their side out muscled in a very tight and at times exciting encounter. At the finish some of the Monaghan players had the scars to show what a battle they had been involved in and looked more like a side that had come out of a boxing ring that a football field.
Many decisions from Offaly official Ciaran Groome angered the Monaghan supporters and players which left all frustrated. The frustration boiled over and on three occasions with the referee punishing the Monaghan players by moving free’s forward. However, St Mary’s too could feel aggrieved as twice the referee awarded 13 metre free’s despite both been clear cut penalties.
Overall St Mary’s were the better side and should have had the contest wrapped up at the break. The Cork champions shot nine wides in the opening half and on possession wise they dominated proceedings with county senior star Ciara O’Sullivan their main play maker. An early knock to St Louis’ centre half back Ellanna Hackett hampered her contribution and with this both Grainne McKenna and Nicola Fahy had periods on the lively O’Sullivan.
To their credit St Louis never give up and could have snatched victory at the death. Deep into added time the ball broke kindly to Ciara McAnespie but the Emyvale girl’s attempt went over the bar. The same player had another late chance but she was crowded out by a number of St Mary’s players in a passage of play that Monaghan supporters believed could have yielded a penalty as the St Mary’s defenders pulled at the Emyvale girl as she tried to turn.
The game started in lightening fashion and St Louis almost got the ideal start inside a minute. Ciara McAnespie made a strong run before playing in Brid McCarron who rattled the crossbar from close range. The eventual winners opened the scoring on three minutes through player of the match Ciara O’Sullivan (free) and doubled the lead through the equally brilliant Doireann O’Sullivan.
The Monaghan champions almost replied with a goal on seven minutes but Laura Askin’s attempt was blocked on the line by Linda Bartett. Natasha Mohan did open St Louis account on nine minutes with a good score. Ciara and Roisin O’Sullivan extended the lead in a dominant period that also saw the Cork side wide of the target on three occasions between the 8th and 12th minute.
Ciara McAnespie fired over a point on a rare St Louis attack before Ciara O’Sullivan pointed after a strong run that look her in from the sideline. Ciara McAnespie was again on target as we entered the second quarter after good interchange play with both Natasha Mohan and Laura Askin. Two minutes later and Sinead Maguire set up Natasha Mohan to point.
St Mary’s were again off target at the other end before St Louis were dealt a severe blow when Catriona Treanor was sin binned on 24 minutes. Two minutes later Ciara O’Sullivan tapped over a 13 metre free despite the foul on Katie Buckley been inside the small square. Caoimhe Mohan replied to leave just a single point between the sides again. The Cork side then had a goal disallowed for square ball before Ciara and Doireann O’Sullivan fired over points.
A minute into added time Ciara O’Sullivan hit a free but the final say of the half went to Roisin O’Sullivan to leave St Mary’s leading 0-9 to 0-6.
Catriona Treanor was back in the action for the start of the second half but three unanswered points from the Cork side had six between them. Nine minutes into the half St Louis got the lift they required when Natasha Mohan set up her younger sister Caoimhe who coolly fired to the roof of the net.
A minute later they almost rattled the netting again. Ciara McAnespie played in Sinead Maguire who’s blistering shot shaved the top of the crossbar. Suddenly it was a two point game and St Louis were very much back in the contest. Ciara O’Sullivan struck back with yet another soft free but this was to be their final score until the seventh minute of added time.
Play became very scrappy as time after time the referee frustrated the Monaghan players by allowing St Mary’s players over carry and get away with some very hard hitting challenges. St Louis finished the stronger as the clock ticked into added time. Ellanna Hackett had a goal bound shot blocked before Natasha Mahon landed a free. In the fifth minute of injury time Ciara McAnespie added a further point but she will be disappointed not to have found the net.
The Cork side eased the pressure with a point from Katie Buckley but St Louis never give up and in the eight minute of added time they pushed for that winning goal. However, as Ciara McAnespie collected the ball she was crowded out and her attempt drifted wide of the target and St Mary’s had held on for their first ever All Ireland senior title. Eleven of the Cork side had lifted All Ireland medals with their club Mourneabbey in last year’s Intermediate club final.
For St Louis it was their first All Ireland senior final defeat. It was bitter disappointment for them as a number were playing their last game for the school. Despite the bitter disappointment they can be proud of their achievement and they give it their all to the very end.
St Louis: Barbara McKenna, Rebecca McKenna, Grainne McKenna, Aishling McElvaney, Aoife McAnespie, Ellanna Hackett, Tara McElvaney, Nicola Fahy, Natasha Mohan (0-3, 1f), Ciara McAnespie (0-4, 1f), Catriona Treanor, Sinead Maguire (0-1), Caoimhe Mohan (1-1), Laura Askin, Brid McCarron
Blood Sub: Hannah Hughes for N Mohan (3min-8min)
Rest of Panel: Orla Whelan, Louise McPhillips, Vanessa Treanor, Vanessa O’Rourke, Marion Connolly Hughes, Niamh Maguire
St Mary’s: Emma Forde, Rebecca Larkin, Linda Barrett, Niamh O’Regan, Tricia Murphy, Kathryn Coakley, Sandra Conroy, Karen O’Halloran, Roisin O’Sullivan (0-2), Aoife Daly, Ciara O’Sullivan (0-9, 5f), Doireann O’Sullivan (0-2), Eimear O’Callaghan, Katie Buckley (0-1), Brid O’Sullivan
Subs: Marie O’Callaghan for E O’Callaghan, Kerri Wallace for A Daly
