Clean sweep of Ulster schools’ camogie titles for St Patrick's Mahera

St Patrick’s Maghera 2-03  ...  St Mary’s Magherafelt 2-01

St Patrick’s Maghera have completed a clean sweep of Ulster schools’ camogie titles for the second time in three seasons as a result of this derby win over St Mary’s Magherafelt in Castledawson on Wednesday.

Maghera of course have the added bonus of maiden All-Ireland Junior and Sevens crowns.

In the first half of this Davitt’s Cup decider St Mary’s were the better team, but after the break Maghera had the bit between their teeth and came out deserving, if narrow winners. It was an intense but very skilful game and both teams excelled in defence. That meant a low-scoring encounter and small things had a big impact on the final result.

St Mary’s edged the opening half in terms of possession and the number of attacks they mounted. But they found the Maghera defence solid and when they managed to break through, Katie McAleese pulled off a couple of excellent saves. She also did well after the break with another couple of stops.

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Maghera’s best period of attacking play was at the start of the second half when they hit three points in a row inside six minutes. Central to that was Saorlaith McHugh driving forward, while Rosie McLaughlin just seemed to be in the right place at the right time to poach two goals and a point off McHugh’s work.

Others to shine going forward were Clódagh Scullion and midfielders Ria O’Neill and Grace Kelly for St Patrick’s while St Mary’s defence was well-supported by Caoimhe McKenna, Amy Kelly and Emma Diver.

McLaughlin opened the scoring with a goal in the third minute. But Caoimhe McKenna responded with a point less than 60 seconds later and Amy Kelly grabbed a goal in the 9th minute. Those were the only scores of the opening half with both defences playing superb camogie and backing each other up.

St Patrick’s upped their game at the start of the second half. Ria O’Neill pointed two frees won by McHugh and Rosie McLaughlin batted over after two shots from McHugh were saved on the St Mary’s line.

However Magherafelt battled their way back into the game and Emma Diver drove to the Maghera net eight minutes into the second half. Amy Kelly also flashed a shot off the crossbar before McHugh made another strong run. Her shot was saved by Aoife Dowdwell but Rosie McLaughlin was again quickest to re-act to put her team in a lead they held until the final whistle.

Maghera have therefore completed the season winning all five Ulster titles and two All-Irelands. Their only defeat was in the All-Ireland senior final that they lost narrowly to Loreto Kilkenny. The talent coming through the under-age structure in the school at present suggests that they might well break through that glass ceiling in the near future.

St Patrick’s: Katie McAleese, Aoibhe Burke, Ella Friel, Grace Sargent, Sarah Sheehan, Saoirse Donoghue, Grace Heaney, Ria O’Neill 0-2 frees, Grace Kelly, Orla White, Clodagh Scullion, Aideen Heaney, Laoise Kelly, Rosie McLaughlin 2-1, Saorlaith McHugh.

Sub: Emily O’Kane for L Kelly

St Mary’s: Aoife Dowdwell, Aela O'Kane, Brooke Higgins, Rei McElhone, Paige Doherty, Saorla Coyle, Aimee McErlean. Emma Diver 1-0, Mia Reid, Caoimhe McKenna 0-1, Amy Kelly 1-0, Sophia McCann, Cora Diamond, Sadie Birt, Anna Dunne.

Sub: Grace Gunning for A Dunne.

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)