LORETO CRUISE TO LEINSTER FOOTBALL TITLE

Loreto under 16 girls travelled to St Laurence’s GAA Club in Kildare on Wednesday last to contest the Leinster Schools Junior D final against Manor House, Raheny and despite the Kilkenny side amassing some huge scorelines throughout the competition, few could have predicted that they would have the title wrapped up before half time against the experienced Dublin school.

The Loreto girls had easily accounted for St Fergal’s Rathdowny and Grennan College Thomastown in the opening rounds of the competition before defeating Banagher 6-7 to 2-2 at Palmerstown two weeks ago. It looked like the Kilkenny school’s run had come to an end when they trailed Scoil Dara Kilcock by two points with ten minutes remaining at Tinryland but a haul of 2-2 in the closing minutes saw the girls earn a six point win and survive a game which would no doubt leave them battle hardened and well prepared for their provincial final.

Raheny started at great pace and had the Loreto backs under pressure in the opening minutes. Dublin under 16 star Lauren Ebbs had bagged 4-2 against Meath recently in the Leinster championship and looked dangerous from the start with some scorching runs through the Loreto defence. Kelly Treacy, Isobel Robinson and Ciara Byrne stood strong in the full back line while Sara Ann Quinlan was a tower of strength at centre back. Raheny’s Lauren Shannon was proving to be a handful but Tullaroan girl Noelle Maher matched the Dublin girl for pace and cancelled out any threat. Loreto’s opening score came in the fifth minute when Maher robbed her player of possession and sent a huge clearance to Emma Maher in midfield. A quick ball to edge of the Raheny square found Orla Hanrick and the Dicksboro girl rounded her player to send and unstoppable shot to the net. Within a minute Loreto had increased their lead when Lucy Sherwin won possession at midfield and found Miriam Walsh who finished a superb forty metre solo run with a pile driver past the Raheny ‘keeper.  Loreto were now dominating in all quarters and their opponents struggled to get the ball past midfield where Lucy Sherwin and Emma Maher were in control and the half back line of Georgina Power, Sara Ann Quinlan and Noelle Maher advanced upfield to keep the pressure on an already overworked Dublin defence. An Orla Hanrick point made it 2-1 to 0-0 on twelve minutes and Sonia Buggy added a third goal after a superb catch on the edge of the square. Raheny were in trouble and made several positional changes but Loreto continued their onslaught with further points from Miriam Walsh (2), Sonia Buggy and a Lucy Sherwin free. Clodagh Power and Niamh Browne were in great form in the wing forward positions keeping constant pressure on the Raheny defence and sending a plentiful supply of ball to the full forward line. A superb move in the twentieth minute saw Sara Ann Quinlan field a high ball at centre back and race through the centre before linking with Annie Condren at corner forward. Condren played a perfect pass across goal to the inrushing Sonia Buggy who gave the ‘keeper no chance with a low shot to the corner of the net. With Loreto leading 4-5 to 0-0 Raheny brought a number of their forwards back into defence to try halt the Loreto machine but to no avail. Loreto’s short passing game was inch perfect and the ball was worked through the Raheny back line for Orla Hanrick to score goal number five and Miriam Walsh pointed from a tight angle after another mazy solo run down the wing. Raheny tried hard to breach the Loreto defence and Lauren Shannon grabbed two points before Teresa O Connor converted a penalty to make it 5-6 to 1-2. Raheny staged a mini revival but the Loreto defence maintained a Thou Shalt Not Pass stance forcing the opposition to shoot from distance. Alex Horan in goal was strong under the high ball and calmly cleared her line finding Niamh Browne who raided upfield before passing to Miriam Walsh for the Tullaroan girl to score a superb point from thirty metres. Sara Ann Quinlan gained possession from the kickout and calmly returned the ball over the bar and with the half time whistle approaching Loreto’s endless pressure resulted in a penalty. The ever dependable Lucy Sherwin calmly slotted the ball past the Raheny ‘keeper to a huge cheer from the very vocal Loreto support. In the closing minute of the half Noelle Maher robbed her player of possession and soloed fifty metres up the wing to find Orla Hanrick close to goal. The Dicksboro girl shrugged off two tackles and the Raheny net rattled again with goal number seven as the whistle sounded. With Loreto in a commanding 7-8 to 1-2 the game was effectively over as a contest and the Raheny girls may have been happy to call it a day.

With an unassailable lead, Martina Griffin introduced a number of subs for the second half and the Kilkenny side took up where they left off with points from Lucy Sherwin and Miriam Walsh. After an energy sapping first half the relenting heat slowed both teams but Loreto were never troubled and Rebecca Knox and Jenny Hayes combined for Hayes to hit the net from close range midway through the half. Loreto were already in celebratory mood while Raheny defended in numbers to prevent any further damage. The Dublin side added two points and Eva Maher put the icing on the cake for Loreto when she scored a great goal in the closing minutes. With the Kilkenny side leading 9-10 to 1-4 the final whistle sounded and the large Loreto support were in full song. Loreto were worthy of their win having dominated from the start with the defence solid throughout while upfront the Kilkenny girls gave the Dubs a lesson in scoring. Amidst great celebrations Kathleen O Loughlin of Leinster Council presented Loreto captain Orla Hanrick with the trophy and congratulated the Kilkenny girls on a much deserved win.  Any number of Loreto players could have been named Player of the match with the honour going to Miriam Walsh after an exhibition of scoring from the young Tullaroan girl. Captain Orla Hanrick paid tribute to the hard work of Martina Griffin and Martin Power who have moulded the team into a formidable outfit and have earned yet another ladies football title for the cats who have proved in recent years that the Kilkenny ladies are more than capable of mixing with the big guns of football. Many of the Loreto girls are preparing for exams but it is hoped that all the players will feature on the club scene this summer with the first under 16 and under 18 club competitions due to kick off in July and August.

Loreto: Alex Horan, Kelly Treacy, Isobel Robinson, Ciara Byrne, Georgina Power, Sara Ann Quinlan, Noelle Maher, Lucy Sherwin, Emma Maher, Clodagh Power, Miriam Walsh, Niamh Browne, Annie Condren, Orla Hanrick (capt), Sonia Buggy, Eva Maher, Sarah Madden, Maggie Byrne, Jenny Hayes, Megan Foley, Rebecca Knox, Megan O Keeffe, Vikki Cudmore, Roisin Breen, Sinead Twomey, Fionnula Quinlan, Miriam Holden, Jenny Clifford, Kirs

2009/2010 has been a brilliant year for gaelic football at loreto. As we go to print we are competing in Leinster finals at both U14 and U 16 level in the next week.

 

 

It has been a long year for the girls, many of whom have been training since last september often under a generous amount of rain or kicking against the cool west wind. This has also had its advantages as the advancement of skills and the unity and teamwork among the girls is evident to anyone who has seen them play.

The U16 championship kicked off (literally) on October 20^th with a 14-11 to 1-1 win over Rathdowney. This was followed by months of inactivity competition wise due to a series of walkovers and the harsh weather conditions. During this time though the training continued and the players never lost focus. The proof was in the pudding with a decisive victory over Thomastown on a scoreline of 9-24 to 2-2.

we played Tullow community school in the Leinster play off game. The propensity of our forwards to exploit all weakness was once again proved in style and we beat Tullow in their school grounds 9-16 to 2-5. this brought us to our next opponents- ferbane Co. Offaly in the quarter final. The loreto girls were once again in flying form at home in Dicksboro, they sent the girls back to King`s county realising that it`s not just hurling and camogie they do in style in Kilkenny. The scoreboard in Dicksboro read 6-7 to 2-2 for the home side.

Our toughest challenge came on May 12^th against scoil Dara, Kilcock, Co. Kildare in the semi final. The Kildare girls showed their football prowess from the throw in . The loreto girls had to dig deep and battle as a united force to come out on top in this exceptional display of football. It was a proud (if extremely nerve wrecked) pair of coaches that watched, prompted, encouraged and roared from the side line. Our incredibly talented group of girls defended like tigers while supporting each other in defence, broke down balls and redirected play in the centre and put on a masterful display in accuracy and dominance up front.

These two teams put on a display worthy of any senior A exhibition. It was impossible to ever judge who had the edge as it was neck and neck all the way through. It was a collective sigh of relief followed by a joyous cheer that greeted the referee`s final whistle. The delighted Loreto team had earned their place in the leinster final with the score of 5-8 to 4-5.

we play Manor house Raheny , Dublin in the final . Huge thanks is extended to Martin Power for all the help he afforded Ms Griffin in the coaching of the team.

The wonderful Leinster finalists are: Alex Horan(Dicksboro) Kelly Treacy (Gowran), Isobel Robinson(Clara), Vicky Cudmore(Dicksboro), Sarah-Ann Quinlan(Gowran) Noelle Maher(Tullaroan), Ciara Byrne(Clara), Georgina Power(Freshford), Lucy Sherwin(Dicksboro), Emma Maher(Freshford), Clodagh Power(Freshford), Miriam Walsh(Tullaroan), Niamh Browne(Dicksboro), Annie Condren(Dicksboro), Orla Hanrick- Captain(Dicksboro), Sonia Buggy(Dicksboro), Sarah Madden, Megan O Keeffe(Freshford), Rebecca Knox((Dicksboro), Megan Foley, Sinead Twomey, Kelly Hutchinson(Gowran), Eva Maher(Dicksboro), Margaret Byrne, Fionnula Quinlan(Gowran), Miriam Holden(Gowran), Sara Ann Quinlan(Gowran). Kirsty maher, Jenny clifford , Roisin Breen

 

 

The U14 championship was a lot more straightforward, but no less successful than the U16 team. The U14 championship begins every year in January, but the worst winter in 20 years had a huge effect on the timely participation in games at other levels. This resulted in huge delays in the U14 championship and put many schools under pressure in releasing teachers. Our first game was not played until April 20^th and our opposition was Grennan college, Thomastown. The outcome was never in any doubt with the Loreto girls making their mark from the throw in and emerged the

 

victors with a scoreline of 10-22 to 1-2. we then unfortunately were given walkovers from Mountrath, Rathdowney and Bagenalstown which brought us straight through to the quarter final versus Ashbourne Co. Meath. This was a fantastic game of football and took a tremendous display from our panel of talented players to run out the winners in a game that finished 4-9 to 4-6. This was a win of the tightest of margins for a team that really lacked match practice through no fault of their own . It is a testament to the importance of attendance at training sessions when you can really dig deep to overcome rivals as talented as this Meath squad were.

A subsequent bye means that we are through to the Leinster final on Monday 24^th May against tough opposition in the form of St. Louis , Dundalk , a school no stranger to attaining gaelic football titles. We wish the girls , Ms Griffin and Martin Power all the very best in the final. Here`s hoping that we can make history at Loreto with Leinster titles for gaelic to add to the immense cache of sporting trophies on display in our school.

U14 panel: Kirsty Maher, Evelyn Walsh, Danielle Kenny,, Sinead Twomey, Maggie Byrne, Ciara Byrne, Jenna Sherwin, Megan Foley, Clodagh Power (captain), Jenny Clifford, Laura Murphy, Roisin Breen, Aoife Prendergast, Eva Maher, Annie Condren, Fionuala Quinlan, Kelley Hutchinson, Sharon Quinlan, Saoirse Claffey, Bridget Sweeney, Ann-Marie Byrne, Aine Buggy, Nicole Brophy.

LORETO EASE INTO LEINSTER LADIES FOOTBALL SEMI FINAL

 

Loreto College continued their winning streak when they easily accounted for Ferbane community school in the Leinster u16 colleges ladies football quarter final. Having won the All Ireland Senior and junior camogie titles recently the girls showed their prowess at gaelic football in a game played in glorious sunshine at Palmerstown last Tuesday. Loreto had recorded big wins in their earlier games but fielding without the excellent Sara Ann Quinlan they expected a tough battle from the Offaly school. However from the start the Kilkenny girls were well in command with a strong forward line of Clodagh Power, Miriam Walsh and the Dicksboro quarter Niamh Browne, Annie Condren, Orla Hanrick and Sonia Buggy in scoring mode. Lucy Sherwin and Emma Maher dominated midfield and sent a constant supply of possession to their forwards. Sonia Buggy wasted no time in hitting the target when she gathered possession close to goal in the fifth minute and sent an unstoppable shot past the Banagher keeper. Niamh Browne and Miriam Walsh followed up with a point apiece and Lucy Sherwin showed great accuracy when she pointed a free from thirty metres. Freshford’s Clodagh Power got the score her work rate deserved when she shot over on twenty minutes and Sonia Buggy increased Loreto’s lead when she raced in behind the Banagher defence to side foot the ball to the net. With Loreto leading 2-4 to no score the Offaly girls needed a score but a pointed free in the twenty fifth minute was the only return despite some good passages of play. Loreto’s half back line of Noelle Maher, Ciara Byrne and Georgina Power were in great form while the full back line of Kelly Treacy, Isobel Robinson and Vicky Cudmore were rock solid. Dicksboro’s Alex Horan was rarely troubled in goal in the opening half but was calmness personified when called into action, clearing her line well and her long kickouts proved a huge asset to her side with the ball reaching midfield where Sherwin and Maher won most of the exchanges. Loreto added a point through Orla Hanrick five minutes before the break and Annie Condren turned the screw when she grabbed her side’s third goal on the stroke of half time giving Loreto a 3-5 to 0-1 half time lead.

Martin Power and Martina Griffin have worked hard with this talented bunch and the girls duly obliged by upping the tempo even further in the second half when Miriam Walsh grabbed 1-1 to increase Loreto’s lead in the opening minutes. Banagher staged a mini revival and two quick goals made it 4-6 to 2-1 on forty minutes. Alex Horan prevented a third goal with a super catch just under the crossbar and the Loreto girls responded in kind showing the strength and depth of the squad when substitutes Jenny Hayes hit the net and Fionnula Quinlan pointed to give the home side an unassailable 5-7 to 2-1 lead. Banagher added a point but captain Orla Hanrick rounded off an all star performance with a cracking goal in the closing minutes for Loreto to record a well deserved 6-7 to 2-2 win and a place in the Leinster under 16 final. County chairman John Gorey congratulated the girls and paid tribute to the hard work of Martina Griffin who has been coaching the Loreto girls in recent years, developing a talent which many of the girls have displayed with the county under 14 and under 16 sides. Most of the girls are products of the primary schools competition which is in its fifth year and many were in opposition in the first final played in 2006 between St Canices and Clara when today’s Loreto captain Orla Hanrick was named as player of the match with a match winning performance for St Canices despite a titanic battle with her Loreto team mate Isobel Robinson who lined out for Clara primary school.

Loreto panel; Alex Horan(Dicksboro) Kelly Treacy (Gowran), Isobel Robinson(Clara), Vicky Cudmore(Dicksboro), Noelle Maher(Tullaroan), Ciara Byrne(Clara), Georgina Power(Freshford), Lucy Sherwin(Dicksboro), Emma Maher(Freshford), Clodagh Power(Freshford), Miriam Walsh(Tullaroan), Niamh Browne(Dicksboro), Annie Condren(Dicksboro), Orla Hanrick(Dicksboro), Sonia Buggy(Dicksboro), Sarah Madden, Megan O Keeffe(Freshford), Rebecca Knox((Dicksboro), Megan Foley, Sinead Twomey, Kelly Hutchinson(Gowran), Eva Maher(Dicksboro), Margaret Byrne, Fionnula Quinlan(Gowran), Miriam Holden(Gowran), Sara Ann Quinlan(Gowran).

Loreto under 16 ladies had to contest a rest of Leinster final game before their provincial decider which takes place next Wednesday at Ballitore. The under 16 girls have notched up some fine wins in recent weeks having knocked Banagher out two weeks ago and faced Scoil Dara, Kilcock at Tinryland last week. The game looked to be slipping away from the Kilkenny school until ace forward Orla Hanrick and thirteen year old Kirsty Maher hit two blistering goals in the closing minutes to seal a    5-8 to 4-5 win. Miriam Walsh opened the scoring for Loreto with a point in the second minute and Sonia Buggy added another. Loreto stretched their lead with a fine goal in the tenth minute showing wonderful team play with the ball worked out of defence by Georgina Power who found Lucy Sherwin at midfield. The Dicksboro girl passed to her clubmate Annie Condren who sent an inch perfect pass to Sonia Buggy. Buggy dodged two defenders before sending an unstoppable shot to the net to put her side 1-2 to no score ahead. Kilcock came to life and two pointed frees left a goal between the sides on fifteen minutes. With the aid of a strong breeze the Kildare girls piled on the pressure. Two shots from distance caught the Loreto defence off guard and on twenty minutes Kilcock had eased ahead 2-2 to 1-2. Miriam Walsh and Eva Maher pointed for Loreto but Kilcock had the final say with a point on the stroke of half time to go in at the break leading 2-3 to 1-4.

Kilcock stretched their lead with a goal just after the restart but when Loreto were awarded a penalty Lucy Sherwin showed her Evergreen soccer skill by drilling the spot kick to the net. Kilcock however still held a 3-4 to 2-4 lead and were putting the Loreto defence under constant pressure. Sara Ann Quinlan was outstanding at centre back and lifted the siege with a huge clearance which found Eva Maher on the wing. Maher flicked the ball on to Orla Hanrick who looked like she was going to settle for a point from twenty metres. Seeing the narrowest of gaps ahead of her, Hanrick unleashed a pile driver to the Kilcock net to level the game with fifteen minutes left. Kilcock had a player sin binned but Loreto were guilty of some wasteful shooting and needed to make the best of any chances in front of goal. Martina Griffin introduced under fourteen starlet Kirsty Maher and the ‘Boro girl made her presence felt immediately with a sweet point from a tight angle after an excellent cross field pass from Tullaroan’s Noelle Maher. Maher was the provider a minute later when she fielded a high clearance to set up Miriam Walsh for a point putting Loreto ahead 3-6 to    3-4. Kilcock reduced the deficit to a point and took the lead with a well worked goal with eight minutes left. With the return of their sin binned player and a 4-5 to 3-6 lead the Kildare side pressed for the win and laid siege to the Loreto goal.   Kelly Tracey, Isobel Robinson and Vikki Cudmore defended bravely and with Sara Ann Quinlan in dominant form at centre back, Loreto lifted their game again and two Kirsty Maher points tied the sides at 4-5 to 3-8. It was now the turn of the Kilkenny school to go for the jugular and constant Loreto pressure yielded a twenty metre free. With four players on the Kilcock goal line Kirsty Maher stepped up to take the free and sent a rocket like shot to the net. Kilcock were deflated with time ticking away and when Miriam Walsh sent a ball to the edge of the square Orla Hanrick was quickest to react, pouncing to grab her second goal and seal a hard earned 5-8 to 3-5 win.

Loreto; Alex Horan, Kelly Tracey, Isobel Robinson, Vikki Cudmore, Georgina Power, Sara Ann Quinlan, Noelle Maher, Lucy Sherwin, Emma Maher, Clodagh Power, Miriam Walsh, Eva Maher, Annie Condren, Orla Hanrick, Sonia Buggy, Sara Madden, Kelly Hutchinson, Megan O Keeffe, Maggie Byrne, Sinead Twomey, Jenny Hayes, Megan Foley, Miriam Holden, Rebecca Knox, Fionnula Quinlan, Jenny Clifford, Roisin Breen, Kirsty Maher