Fennessy superb as Loreto, Clonmel, claim Lidl PPS senior A crown

First Munster A title for Loreto, Clonmel

Loreto, Clonmel 1-12
Intermediate School, Killorglin 1-7

CLASSY Loreto Clonmel savoured the taste of victory in the Lidl Munster Ladies Post Primary Senior AFC Final following a deserved victory over Intermediate School , Kilorglin in Mallow on Saturday.

Having enjoyed previous success  in the B and C grades, Clonmel performing in the A for the first time  showed all the ambition and will to win. Indeed, there could be no argument about the outcome, the Tipperary girls far more hungrier, their application surperb and in general, they were far more enterprising.

The dominance of player of the match Kellyann Hogan and team captain Cora Maher gave Clonmel the upperhand to asset their authority at midfield, well assisted by Niamh Martin, Sadhbh Hallinan and Anna Carey. A great move saw full forward Ava Fennessy blast home a goal to  confirm Clonmel’s early supremacy.

Killorglin warmed to their task, twice in quick succession, the woodwork denied Ciara O’Brien before the hardworking Fiadhna Tangney netted to cut the leeway 1-5 to 1-2 at the break. Resuming with the breeze, the Kerry girls looked well placed to mount a comeback yet again, Clonmel looked the more accomplished side with Jenny Everard and Eimear Quirke bisecting the uprights.

Clonmel lost ball carrier Carey for 10 minutes on a sin bin offence and it made for a Killorglin rally, Tangney and Erica McGlynn points narrowed the arrears to two. It was character testing time for Clonmel and though kicking nine second half wides, they wrestled back the initiative, Hogan and Fennessy landing three massive points to claim a historic victory.

Scorers for Loreto, Clonmel: A Fennessy 1-5(0-3f), E Quirke (0-2), J Everard (0-2), A Carey, A Morris, K Hogan 0-1 each.

Intermediate School, Killorglin: F Tangney 1-5(0-4f), C Joy, E McGlynn(f) 0-1 each.

LORETO, CLONMEL:  A Coady; V Van de Wall, M Ryan, V Valuuntine; N Martin, S Hallinan, O Winston; K Hogan, C Maher; A Carey, A Fitzgerald, A Morris; J Everard, A Fennessy, E Quirke.

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, KILLORGLIN: C Fealey; C Griffin, A Clifford, E O’Connor; A Nolan, S Foley, R Evans; A O’Reilly, T Breen; M Duffy, E McGlynn, C O’Brien; E Tangney, C Joy, K Maher. Subs. R Griffin for C Griffin, F Houlihan for Joy, B Brosnan for Maher.

Referee: M Meade(Limerick).