Heartbreak for Limerick's Árdscoil Mhuire as they fall to defeat in Munster Schools Final

LIMERICK'S Árdscoil Mhuire's dream of Munster Schools Girls senior glory ended after a 17-5 defeat to Killaloe's St Anne's Community College at Musgrave Park this afternoon.

St Anne's dominated the contest in Cork, with tries arriving from Amy Reilly, Ellen O'Shaughnessy and Rebecca Rogers. Emily Byrne added a conversion. Karen O'Mahony crossed for Árdscoil Mhuire's try.

It was an even opening but it was St Anne's that got the scoring underway in a game that was played in extremely tough conditions.

Rogers took a tap penalty five metres out before passing to Reilly. The St Anne's prop barged over the line to give her side a 5-0 point lead with 13 minutes on the clock.

The Killaloe school continued to dominate the first half and were rewarded with a second try close to half time. Árdscoil Mhuire put in an excellent defence but O'Shaughnessy changed the direction of the attack and scored in the left corner. That left the half time score at 10-0.

Árdscoil Mhuire needed a strong start to the second half but it was St Anne's that got the all-important first try after Rogers touched down following big carries by Reilly and Allanah O'Donovan. Byrne nailed the extras to put them 17-0.

To their credit, Árdscoil Mhuire kept trying to get back into the game but O'Mahony's try proved to be a consolation score and St Anne's deservedly ended with a 12-point winning margin. 

It was an excellent day for the Killaloe school as they also landed the Junior Cup against Colaiste Ide.

Ardscoil Mhuire: Lucia Te Pou, Alex Carew, Grace McInerney, Katie Hehir, Chelsea O’Connell, Hannah Hehir, Bebhinn McInerney; Abbi Flanagan, Amber Foley, Katie Ryan, Ayla Kelly, Rachel Laffan, Nadine Noonan, Grace Hayes, Kelsey Reeves.

Replacements: Aisling Coffey, Ava Collins, Elvan Dilmac, Jodie Griffin, Amy Long, Lauren Bailey, Emma Griffin.

St Anne’s: Zoe Loughran, Ellen O’Shuaghnessy, Anna Hanly, Fionnuala O’Rahilly, Sarah McNamara, Emily Byrne, Rebecca Rogers; Alice Walsh, Edie Reynolds, Amy Reilly, Roisín Mockler, Ellie McEvoy, Alannah O’Donovan, Hayley Byrnes, Karen O’Mahony.

Replacements: Ciara Fitzgibbon, Jessica Duggan, Patricia McWey, Natasha Crotty, Hannah Beck, Aoibhe Slevin, Sarah McEvoy, Alana McKeogh, Poppy McNamara, Caoimhe Maguire.