Loreto Fermoy 4-13 Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig 1-7

At Ballincollig GAA grounds on Wednesday, May 22nd, Loreto Junior footballers regained the County “A” title at the expense Coláiste Choilm Secondary School, Ballincollig. In doing so they bridged a two year gap having previously won the title in 2011. Once again the Fermoy School showed whilst they are a handful for any team in the county and currently the Munster Champions are a step ahead of the rest.

After a tense opening, Fermoy upped the gears after ten minutes and this game was over as a contest well before the interval. Lining out without team captain and full back Claire Murphy who is recovering from injury, Loreto re-juggled their defence with Grace Kelly taking over at the edge of the square and Fermoy’s Maire Bailey coming into the corner. Though Murphy made an appearance with ten minutes to go, the Bride Rover’s club player made a significant impression.

Abbie Scannell opened the Fermoy scoring in the first minute with a point to be followed by a similar score from Ballincollig’s top player Emer Scally. Further points from Isabel Pyne, Saoirse Moore (0-2) and Grace Culloty stretched Fermoy’s lead and Isabel Pyne ended up in the back of the Ballincollig net, before Ballincollig cancelled with a similar score. From here on it was all Fermoy as the flood gates opened with a host of excellent scores from Loreto, further points from Moore and Scannell before the latter scored Fermoy’s second goal. Isobel Pyne added another point before Scannell was again on hand to find the back of the net. Half-time score Loreto 3-8, Ballincollig 1-4.

What ever chance of a Ballincollig revival in the second half it was quickly put to sleep when Grace Culloty riffled the back of the net from close range. Anne Brennan in goals and the full Loreto defence were again magnificent as a unit and had to take great credit for this excellent result, while Aoife Heffernan and Trish O’Sullivan formed a magnificent mid-field partnership. Wing forwards Niamh Sexton and Karen Sheehan were at their brilliant best with top performances. A host of points from Moore, Culloty, and Scannell closed the game out as a contest though Scally added three late points for Ballincollig it was Moore who closed the scoring with a point as time ran out.

Scorers for Loreto; Abbie Scannell (2-3), Saoirse Moore (0-6), Isabel Pyne and Grace Culloty (1-2) each.

Loreto panel: Anne Brennan (Fermoy), Grainne Collins (Fermoy), Grace Kelly (Fermoy), Maire Bailey (Fermoy), Joanne O’Keeffe (Inch Rovers), Jessica Tonks (Fermoy), Kathryn Buckley (Fermoy), Trisha O’Sullivan (Bride Rovers), Aoife Heffernan (Watergrasshill), Niamh Sexton (Fermoy), Saoirse Moore (Fermoy), Karen Sheehan (Bride Rovers), Grace Culloty (Bride Rovers), Abbie Scannell (Fermoy), Isabel Pyne (Fermoy), Madison Parle (Bride Rovers), Claire Murphy (Bride Rovers captain), Katie Connor (Bride Rovers), Teresa Murphy (Fermoy), Michelle Condon (Ballylanders), Nadine Wheeler (Fermoy), Avril Heffernan (Watergrasshill) and Mollie O’Sullivan (Fermoy).

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