Heartbreak once more for Mayo school in All-Ireland final

For the second year running, Sacred Heart School, Westport, have been defeated in the Lidl LGFA All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior A final, this time against Our Lady's Secondary School, Castleblaney, who won today's decider in Banagher by 1-8 to 1-5, writes Deniese O'Flaherty.

Trailing by seven points entering the final minutes, Sacred Heart kicked 1-2 to set up a tight finish, but the Monaghan school held on for victory.

Our Lady’s held a three point lead after seven minutes with points from Caoimhe Kelly, Emma Hughes and Niamh Flanagan.

The Westport schoolgirls opened their account in the 10th minute when Larissa Kelly pointed. Minutes later they created a goal opportunity but Christina MacEvilly’s shot went wide.

Despite enjoying possession, Sacred Heart kicked a number of wides which they were to rue.

After 17 minutes, Our Lady’s set up an attack and a shot from Katie McAdam that appeared to be going over the bar ended up in the back of the net.

Sacred Heart got a much-needed point when Hannah Sheehy landed a free in the 18th minute, but Laura Grimes pointed for Our Lady’s to restore their five-point advantage, and went in at half-time with that 1-4 to 0-2 lead intact.

Sheehy kicked a free in the 34th minute to open the scoring in the second half, reducing the deficit, but after squandering a number of scoring chances, Our Lady's eventually got their first score of the half in the 42nd minute when Kelly pointed a free. The gap was six points three minutes later when McAdam landed a neat score.

Try as they might, Sacred Heart couldn’t beat Our Lady’s rearguard, which stood firm despite being put under pressure numerous times.

Our Lady’s were able to get scores on the break and extended the lead to seven in the 52nd minute when Kelly scored her second free and third point overall.

After 24 minutes without a score, corner-back Éabha Carney kicked an excellent point for Sacred Heart.

The Mayo school’s substitutes then made a difference, with Amy Carney scoring a goal in the 58th minute, while the deficit was cut to just two points in the 60th minute when Chloe Chambers got a fine point.

In fairness to Our Lady's, they never panicked and worked another score, Kelly with the free in stoppage time, to seal a historic victory and leave the Westport girls with that dejected feeling.

Sacred Heart, Westport: M. Murray; R. Cafferkey, A. McDonnell, É. Carney (0-1); E. Hyland, B. Hoban, G. McDonnell; S. Mulroy, A. Kelly; H. Sheehy (0-2f), A. Meaney, L. Kelly (0-1); C. MacEvilly, S. Byrne, L. Hastings.

Subs: A. Palasz for Byrne (HT), C. Chambers (0-1) for Palasz (38), H. O’Malley for Cafferkey (55), A. Carney (1-0) for MacEvilly (56), M. Tunney for Sheehy (58).

Our Lady's, Castleblayney: A. Carroll; D. Cawley, T. Renaghan, A. Leer; E. Hughes (0-1), L. Grimes (0-1), L. Carey; A. Gililand, N. Flanagan (0-1); E. Murphy, C. Kelly (0-4, 3f), F. Duffy; K. McAdam (1-1), H. Hughes, E. Flanagan.

Subs: M. Treanor for Leer (49), E. Devlin for Murphy (53).

Referee: S. Mulvihill (Kerry).