Moate CS U-16 captain Kate Whyte (left) on the attack during last year’s All-Ireland Schools Senior ‘A’ semi-final against Ella Boylan of Loreto College, Cavan.

Moate CS U-16 ladies set for Leinster decider

Kieran Galvin

Published: Wed 18 Jan 2023, 7:16 AM

Last updated: Wed 18 Jan 2023, 9:52 AM

The Moate Community School senior boys’ team is getting ready for their eagerly awaited Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ quarter-final against St Peter’s College, Wexford this Thursday in Killeshin, Co. Laois (12.30).

But they are not the only team from the school preparing for a big game this week - as the Moate Community School junior ladies gear up for the Lidl Leinster Post-Primary Schools U-16 ‘A’ final. This is one of the few titles MCS ladies have never won so it is a chance for the school to create a slice of history.

The final will be played in Kinnegad today (Wednesday), January 18 at 12.00. The opposition, Loreto St Michael’s Navan, are no strangers to Moate CS.

It was Loreto that Moate CS girls beat in the 2022 Leinster Senior A final, coincidentally at the same venue, and this is expected to be another tense and tight affair.

The girls in navy and pink will be hoping for the same outcome at the Westmeath venue.

En route to the final MCS defeated Loreto Secondary School, Wexford and Holy Faith SS, Clontarf, before beating midland rivals Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise in their semi-final.

The MCS squad consists of players from the following LGFA clubs - Moate, St Joseph’s, Caulry, Cill Óige, Garrycastle, Milltown, St Manchan’s and Naomh Ciaran.

The team captain is Kate Whyte from Ballymore who was part of the Milltown team who won the Westmeath LGFA Senior Championship in 2022, and she was on the MCS Senior panel that reached the All-Ireland final last year.

The vice-captain is Eunice David from the Caulry club. Eunice was also selected for the U16 Irish basketball squad this year.

There is a multitude of talent and experience in this MCS panel, with many girls reaching the Leinster Schools U-14 ‘A’ final last May.

Moate CS squad: Emily Nally, Niamh Kelly, Keelin Robbins, Emily Winters, Kate Whyte, Kellie McLoughlin, Aoife Ross, Isabelle Madden, Grace Shortall, Lucy Champ, Hannah Madden, Mya Doherty, Niamh Seery, Orla Ross, Chanelle O’Neill, Alex Kelly, Katie Doolan, Lauren White, Aine Bracken, Sarah Cunniffe, Eunice David, Cliodhna Aspell, Eva Fox, Neasa Trainor, Kacey Mulvihill, Claire Flynn, Molly Doherty, Sarah Jayne Hasson, Roisin Slevin. Team management: Carol Price (Moate) and Mairead Fox (Cill Óige).

*Considering the weather conditions, anybody intending to travel to the match is advised to check if it's still going ahead as plannned before departure.