Mulroy All Ireland Champions Once Again

Mulroy College, Milford, Donegal 3-0 Coláiste Mhuire, Ballymote, Sligo

Caoimhe Walsh (42) Michelle Doherty (58, 76)

Pauline Anne Gavigan’s side won the UMBRO FAI Schools Senior ‘B’ Girls All Ireland Cup for the third time yesterday (Wednesday, February 6) in Lakeside Leisure Centre, Ballyshannon. Their previous triumph’s came in 2009 and 2012.

Torrential wind and rain swept across the country during the week meaning playing standards were far from ideal but both sides served up a treat for the travelling spectators

Manager Alan O’Mainnin took his team to Ballyshannon as underdogs but the early exchanges weren’t to script as the Ballymote bombers made an electric start in their first appearance in an All Ireland decider. The first 20 minutes of action saw the Coláiste Mhuire crew on top.

Shauna Healy had the ball in the Donegal net inside the opening ten minutes only for the assistant referee to flag for an offside infringement. Nicole Martin hit the woodwork soon after while some brave defending from Mulroy’s Lianne Boyce denied the lively Shauna Healy yet again.

Mulroy settled into proceedings but there was little action for Ballymote keeper Gemme Gurrie inside the half hour mark.

A set piece on the stroke of half time produced a goal for the Ulster ladies. Michelle Doherty and Amanda Callaghan combined well in the corner to set Caoimhe Walsh up in the box to fire home from close range.

1-0   at the interval

Captain Aoife McDevitt, Michelle Doherty and youngster Zoe Green were putting in immense performance for Gavigan’s side. A huge talking point in the game came on 58 minutes as Ballymote goalkeeper Gemma Gurrie took down Lucy Marie O’Flynn in the box. The keeper stayed on the park, referee Liam Farren brandishing a yellow to the young Sligo net minder. Doherty made no mistake as she slotted the penalty past Gurrie.

Colaiste Mhuire weren’t giving up just yet and a flurry of high pressure against Mulroy which saw them create plenty of chances but it wasn’t to be their day.

Mulroy pressed soon after looking to seal the win and did just that in the final minutes of the game when Michelle Dohery’s long range effort lobbed over the Ballymote keeper to bag her second of the day and the All Ireland title for her school.

Mulroy College, Milford: Carla McBride, Roisin McElwaine, Zoe Green, Orla McGonigle, Lianne Boyce, Mariosa Friel, Lucy Marie O’Flynn, Michele Doherty, Aoife McDevit, Amanda Callaghan, Caoimhe Walsh, Eimear Gibbons (45), Roisin McElwanie(77), Grainne Friel (77), Orla Sweeney, Louise Lynch, Cora McCloskey, Claragh Giles, Aoife Sweeney

MANAGEMENT: Pauline Anne Gavigan (Manager) Aisling Crawford, Paul McGovern (Coaches)

Colaiste Mhuire, Ballymote: Gemma Gurrie, Aoife Conlon, Lisa McGrath, Sorcha Torny, Claire Tansey, Deirdre Kerins, Denise McGrath, Emmer Hannon, Nicole Martin, Shauna Healy, Zara Stafford, Sinead Langton, Roisin Cawley, Kelly Geithins.

MANAGEMENT: Alan O’Mainnin (Manager)

REFEREE: Liam Farren