Historic success for the girls of Snugboro N.S. in Mayo county final

by Patrick Hennelly

Yesterday was a memorable and historic occasion for St. Peter’s National School, Snugboro, as their girls’ team won a much sought after county title, capturing the Mayo Cumann na mBunscol Division One B football crown with a 6-9 to 1-2 victory over Claremorris National School.

The Snugboro supporters cheered on their team from first whistle until last, with the yellow and blue playing some brilliant attacking football which caused the Claremorris defence plenty of problems.

The opening exchanges were keenly contested, with Snugboro’s Ali Clarke and Claremorris’ Maria Keane trading points.

However, the game swung in favour of the west Mayo school when Lauren Masterson fired home an early goal, and that lead was further enhanced courtesy of a brace of points from her team-mate Ali Clarke.

Further daylight was bridged between the sides when Isabelle Rice skipped towards goal and rustled the back of the net.

Claremorris desperately tried to halt their opponent’s momentum, but another Snugboro major, this time from Ruby McNamara, garnered a healthy 3-2 to 0-1 lead for the yellow and blue.

St. Peter’s continued to create goal-scoring opportunities and Clarke added a crucial fourth goal for the west Mayo school.

Claremorris very nearly reduced the arrears towards the end of the opening half, but Megan Judge was unlucky to see her attempt on goal fizz inches wide.

The opening exchanges of the second half were enthralling, with Snugboro’s Clarke seeing her shot saved, before her team-mate Ruby McNamara rustled the back of the net.

Claremorris finally had some luck in front of goal when the busy Hannah O’Reilly snatched a goal for the blue and white.

However, Snugboro ended the game in impressive fashion, with three points from Hannah Dever (one free), boosted by Sarah McGrath acquiring 1-1.

St. Peter’s Snugboro: Sofia Staunton, Ruby Murrihy, Cara Conway, Caoimhe Murrin (0-1), Jessica Fahey, Aoife Coleman, Hannah Dever (0-4, 1f), Sarah McGrath (1-1), Lauren Masterson (1-0), Ali Clarke (1-3), Emily Brennan, Isabelle Rice (1-0), Ruby McNamara (2-0), Molly Mae Leonard, Molly Kenny, Maya Gargan, Mia McHugh, Sophie Cosgrove, Kaya Byckaluk, Sienna McLelland, Ava Irwin, Ella Dunne, Kaylen McAndrew, Meadhbh Gavin, Sophia Teresko, Annie Smyth, Isla Gargan.

Claremorris: Hillary Oates, Keira McGahon, Rimas Mnaa, Maria Keane (0-1), Grace Mullins, Sophie Doyle, Nicole Ciweck, Amelia Cummins, Annabelle Hayes, Olivia Connolly, Abbie Kirkpatrick, Hannah O’Reilly (1-0), Megan Judge (0-1), Keita Kuza, Mia Kuzmarskyte, Tori Rosney, Maddie Byrne, Eimear Hunt, Emma Monaghan.

Referee: Michael McHale.