First Half Blitz Enough for Scoil Críost Rí

Scoil Críost Rí 8-11

Scoil Mhuire agus Padraig 3:06.

The TESCO Post Primary School’s All Ireland Junior C Football Final was contested in Tubberclair and it was a high scoring encounter between Scoil Mhuire, Swinford and Scoil Criost Ri Portlaoise. A 5 minute purple patch midway through the first half was to prove the difference between the two sides as Scoil Criost Ri scored 3 rapid fire, unanswered goals and never looked back as they made use of the strong wind at their backs in the second half.

The two teams struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard in the opening minutes as Scoil Criost Ri held a slender 2 points to 1 lead but the game burst into life in the 14^th minute as Emma Lawlor struck for her first goal. The young full forward was to be a thorn in the Scoil Mhuire agus Padraig sides all afternoon and her wonderful understanding with Erone Fitzpatrick bore plenty of fruit as the two combined for her second goal which followed just a minute later. Scoil Mhuire and Padraig were shell shocked and left reeling as Lawlor struck again to complete her hattrick of goals, all scored in a three minute period. Scoil Mhuire responded to the threat of Lawlor and Fitzpatrick by dropping Melissa Devaney back as a sweeper to cut off the space in front of Lawlor. However, Scoil Criost Ri did strike for another goal as Grainne Moran saw her effort for a point hold up in the strong breeze and drift into the net. The teams went in at half time with Scoil Muire facing an uphill task  as they trailed 4-03 to 0-04.

The second half began with a flurry of goals as Emma Lawlor stuck again for her fourth maximum, set up again by Erone Fitzpatrick but Scoil Mhuire replied immediately through Vanessa McHugh. However, any chance that Scoil Mhuire had of completing an unlikely comeback was quickly dashed as Lawlor added her fifth goal with Erone Fitzpatrick adding a much deserved goal of her own and Orla Carroll also netting. To their credit Scoil Muire agus Padraig never gave up as they scored goals of their own through Allanagh Durkin and Lisa Devitt to make the scoreboard more respectable as it finished 8-11 to 3-06 for Scoil Criost Ri

For Scoil Mhuire agus Padraig there were good performances from Melissa Devanney, Saoirse Timothy, Lisa Davitt and captain Roisin Durkin. On the Scoil Criost Ri side there were plenty of heroes but Grainne Moran, Maeve Phelan and Orla Carroll were particularly impressive. Emma Lawlor was also outstanding for the winners as she scored no fewer than 5 goals but the Player of the Match performance came from Erone Fitzpatrick who acted as the conductor of the orchestra and scored a tidy 1-04 herself.

Scoil Criost Ri

Eva Booth, Deirdre Phelan, Elaine Daly, Roisin Larkin, Zoe Keegan, Maeve Phelan, Eabha Dunne, Orla Carroll (1-00) Allanah O’Toole, Erone Fitzpatrick (1-04, 3 frees), Grainne Moran  (1-06, 2 frees), Isabelle O’Toole, Aoife Daly, Emma Lawlor (5-00), Jenny O’Neill.

Scoil Mhuire agus Padraigh

Aoife Groarke, Claire Walsh, Maeve Peyton, Liadan Forkan, Allanagh Durkan (1-00), Noelle Spain, Sarah Cusack (0-01) Rebecca McHugh, Vanessa McHugh (1:00), Michaela Walsh (0-01, 1 free), Anna Tierney, Siobhan Hennigan, Orna O’Brien, Lisa Davitt (1-00), Roisin Durkin (0-03, 1 free)