Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney 1-8
Sacred Heart School, Westport 1-5
In a thrilling showdown at Banagher, Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney etched their name into the annals of school sporting history by clinching the coveted Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior A title for the first time. The talented and hardworking squad secured a hard-fought victory with a three-point win over Sacred Heart School, Westport, in a match that showcased their skill, determination and teamwork.
From the outset, Our Lady’s asserted their dominance, making a fine start to the game with an early lead. Caoimhe Kelly, Emma Hughes, and Niamh Flanagan spearheaded the charge, swiftly putting points on the board. Despite Sacred Heart's best efforts, including Larissa Kelly's opening point, they struggled to match the momentum of the Castleblayney side.
A key moment arrived in the 17th minute when Katie McAdam's shot found the back of the net, bolstering Our Lady’s lead. Laura Grimes further extended their advantage with a well taken point, showcasing the team's dominance on the field. As the first half drew to a close, Our Lady’s held a commanding 1-4 to 0-2 lead, testament to their defensive set up and strong counterattacking play.
Though Sacred Heart rallied in the second half, narrowing the gap with well-taken points, Our Lady’s remained resilient. Despite sustained pressure, their defence held firm, denying Sacred Heart any breakthrough opportunities. Crucially, Our Lady’s continued to capitalise on scoring chances, with Kelly's accurate free-taking extending their lead.
As the final minutes ticked away, Sacred Heart mounted a spirited comeback, yet, it was not enough to stop Our Lady’s determined pursuit of an All Ireland title. With Kelly's decisive free in stoppage time, the Castleblayney school sealed their historic triumph, sparking jubilant celebrations among players, supporters, and staff alike.
Scorers – Our Lady’s: C Kelly 0-4 (3fs), K McAdam 1-1, E Hughes 0-1, L Grimes 0-1, N Flanagan 0-1.
Our Lady’s Castleblayney: A Carroll; D Cawley, T Renaghan, A Leer; E Hughes 0.01, L Grimes 0.01, L Carey; A Gilliland, N Flanagan 0.01; E Murphy, C Kelly 0.04, F Duffy; K McAdam 1.01, H Hughes, E Flanagan. Subs: M Treanor for A. Leer (49), E Devlin for E. Murphy (53), A. Donnelly, A. Mc Gahon, K. Lennon, T. Mc Fadden, R. Cassidy, M. Boyle, G. Ruxton, N. Kelly, T. Reilly, M. Ward