O'Meara leads the way as Loreto Cavan make it three All-Ireland Junior A titles in a row

Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Junior A Final

Loreto College, Cavan 3-16

FCJ Bunclody 3-5

By DEAN GOODISON

Loreto Cavan completed a remarkable three-in-a-row of Lidl All Ireland Post Primary school Ladies’ Junior ‘A’ Football championship titles, defeating FCJ Bunclody in the National Games Development Centre, Abbotstown on Saturday afternoon.

The champions were in irresistible form, mixing a sensational attacking performance with a masterclass in defending as a team. FCJ Bunclody battled superbly and showed glimpses of what got them to this decider but there was no doubt about the better side on the day.

FCJ Bunclody got off the perfect start, with Leah Roban speeding away on the right before rattling the net. She quickly added a point but Loreto Cavan didn’t take long to respond, with Kate Fagan majoring after a clean one-two with Katie O’Meara.

Points from Muireann Donohoe and Caitlin Crowe put Loreto ahead for the first time and the Ulster champions showed their devastating attacking quality again when O’Meara flashes to the net to make it 2-2 to 1-1 after eight minutes.

The blistering scoring start was never likely to continue but Bunclody did respond with a second goal of their own, with Roban turning provider for Aoife Somers to crash past Abby McDermott.

Loreto Cavan didn’t blink as Donohoe, Eimear Gannon and Donohoe all tacked on points to move their school 2-7 to 2-1 up. Yet FCJ kept their opponents scoreless for the last eleven minutes of the half, with a Hannah Lawless over leaving five between them at half-time.

Another good start was needed for FCJ if they were to challenge the powerful Loreto and they produced just that when Maura Doyle sent Emily Roban into the clear for another superbly finished goal in the 32nd minute.

However Loreto Cavan hit right back, Katie McGahern and Brianna Quaile both clipped over points before the sensational O’Meara drilled home her second goal.

Weaker teams would have buckled at that point but Bunclody created multiple goal chances in the last twenty minutes, with Orla O’Rourke, Maura Doyle, Emily Roban and Somers all going close to further majors.

However, Loreto Cavan outscored FCJ 0-7 to 0-3 after their third goal, with O’Meara bringing her tally to 2-5 with an outrageous point to see her school safely to a memorable third title in a row.

Scorers – Loreto Cavan: K O’Meara 2-5 (0-2f), M Donohoe 0-4, K Fegan 1-0, C Crowe, E Gannon, K McGahern 0-2 each, B Quaile 0-1.

FCJ Bunclody: L Roban, E Roban, A Somers 1-1 each, H Lawless, K Doyle 0-1 each.

LORETO CAVAN: A McDermott; S Walsh, A Crowe, S Brennan; K McSeain, C Crowe, A McDwyer; K Fegan, M Sharkey; B Quaile, M Donohoe, E Gannon; K McGahern, K O’Meara, M Smith. Subs: C Smith for Gannon (46), Mai Donohoe for O’Meara (58).

FCJ BUNCLODY: A S Byrne; R Dwyer, S Kirwan, K Fitzpatrick; K Doyle, E Guinan, R Byrne; M Doyle, H Bolton-Lee; M Tobin-Cosgrave, L Roban, H Lawless; A Somers, O O’Rourke, E Roban. Subs: E Deegan for Fitzpatrick (48), E Murphy for Kirwan (58), L Nolan for Tobin-Cosgrave (58).

Referee: Raymond McBride (Dublin).