Scoil Mhuire prove too strong for Coláiste Íosagáin in All-Ireland Colleges Final

A question to begin with, who is the last Kilkenny player to win a Senior All-Ireland Football Medal?

The answer to the above question is one that will have those into their historical facts and figures racking their brains, but don’t do too much thinking on that question.

In this All-Ireland Senior ‘A’ Colleges Victory for Scoil Mhuire from Carrick-on-Suir there was five players from the Piltown area, Emily McCarthy, Lisa Norris, Jennifer O’Dea, Aoife Doyle and Kelly Ann Doyle involved with the rest of the players coming from South Tipperary and the Comeragh Rangers Club in Co. Waterford.

Played at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, the Murray Triplets, Katie, Aoife and Emma all played a pivotal park as did the likes of Kelly Ann Doyle, Keeley Corbett-Barry and Geraldine Power in this win for Scoil Mhuire while for the loosing side, Tarah Ní Shuilleabháin, Grace Ní Shé, Hannah Ní Dheá and Michelle Ní Chiardha all performed well.

The Carrick-on-Suir side never trailed in this game.

They settled quickest kicking an early point through Aoife Murray from a free, but it was soon cancelled out with an effort from Michelle Ni Chiardha. Katie Murray and Hannah Ni Dheá followed up with points for  their respective sides after which Aoife Murray and Michelle Ni Chiardha from a free swapped scores to level matters for the third time.

For the rest of the first half Scoil Mhuire were well on top kicking 1-4 without response.

Aoife Murray from a free got the ball rolling after which Keely Corbett-Barry struck for the games first goal following some good work by Angela McGuigan in the build up.

Geraldine Power gave Scoil Mhuire a 1-5 to 0-3 lead before Katie Murray landed a brace of scores to give her side a 1-7 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

The second half began with Aoife Murray extending her sides lead before Coláiste Íosagáin hit a purple patch as Billy-Kate Huggard, Grace Ó Shé and Michelle Ni Chairdha landed successive scores to cut the Scoil Mhuire lead to 1-8 to 0-6.

Points from Aoife Murray and Áine Power before another Aoife Murray score from a free was registered to give Scoil Mhuire a 1-11 to 0-6 lead with forty-two minutes played.

Geraldine Power landed the first of her two goals to extend her sides lead to eleven points and it was starting to look as if the South Tipperary College side would pull away but Coláiste Íosagáin hit back with a brace of Sinead De Bhuilde goals and a Michelle Ni Chiardha point from to leave just four between the sides with eleven minutes on the clock.

Grace Ni Shé and Geraldine Power swapped scores before a second goal from Geraldine Power for Scoil Mhuire put some further day light between the sides with time ticking down and when Katie Murray followed up with a brace of scores it was looking good for the South Tipperary side.

Keeley Corbett-Barry and Katie Murray laded further points for Scoil Mhuire and Beth Norris goal shortly before the end proved to the last score of the game and one which helped the Carrick-on-Suir College side to a double score victory.

This was a fantastic win for Scoil Mhuire and one that will do a great deal to promote the game in the three counties from which the panel was picked.

The win was all the more special when you consider that just a few short years ago, Scoil Mhuire were competing in the Munster ‘D’ Colleges Championship and are now All-Ireland ‘A’ Champions, proving that when the work is put in the fruits of it will be reaped.

Scoil Mhuire: Cailín Power; Emily McCarthy, Kate Hahessy, Hallanah White; Áine Power, Jodie Nugent, Aoife Doyle; Kelly Ann Doyle, Emma Murray; Geraldine Power, Katie Murray, Beth Norris; Keeley Corbett-Barry, Aoife Murray, Angela McGuigan. Subs: Heather Phelan for Angela McGuigan (61); Cora Murray for Beth Norris (61). Unused Subs: Jenni O’Dea, Ciara Hahessy, Emma Curry, Cora Murray, Lisa Norris

Scorers: Geraldine Power 2-2, Aoife Murray (4 frees) Katie Murray 0-6 each, Keely Corbett Barry 1-1, Beth Norris 1-0, Áine Power 0-1.

Coláiste Íosagáin: Clodagh Ní Shíocháin; Ruth Ní Nualláin, Laoise Nic An Tuille, Eavan Nic Gearailt; Muireann Ní Ghormáin, Tarah Ní Shuilleabháin, Kim Ní Fhearáin; Hannah Ní Dheá, Michelle Ní Chiardha; Laura Ní Chatháin, Billy-Kate Huggard, Lasairíona Huggard; Niamh Ní Chairdha, Niamh Ní Shíocháin, Grace Ní Shé. Subs: Sinead De Bhuilde for Laura Ní Chatháin (HT); Louise Ní Shé for Eavan Nic Gearailt (47); Grainne Ní Dhrisceoill for Niamh Ní Shíocháin (52). Unused Substitutes: Orla Dhúill, Niamh Ní Chiardha, Naoise Ní Mhaonaigh, Orlaith Seoighe, Aifric Ní Fhaoláin, Caoimhe Blennerhasset, Aoibheann Nic Giolla Ríogh, Sinéad Ní Dhonnchú, Sadhbh Nic Uilegóid, Meadbh Ní Ghallachóir, Síobhra Nic Aindriú

Scorers: Sinead De Bhuilde 2-0.Michelle Ní Chiardha 0-4 (3 frees), Grace Ní Shé 0-2, Hannah Ní Dheá, Billy Kate Huggard 0-1 each,

Referee: Mel Kenny (Mayo)