Heather Touhey on the ball for Moate CS as Ella Gilsenan of Eureka SS, Kells gives chase during the Leinster Schools Junior 'A' final last December. Photo: Terry O'Neill

All-Ireland semi-final fixture confirmed for Moate CS

Kieran Galvin

Published: Wed 18 Feb 2026, 11:49 AM

Moate Community School will face Cork outfit St Mary’s, Macroom in the Lidl LGFA All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Junior 'A' semi-final early next month.

The game will be played on Thursday, March 5 in Fethard Town Park, Co. Tipperary, with the throw-in scheduled for 2pm. It’s a lengthy trek of around 150 kilometres from Moate to Fethard, but the journey from Macroom to the South Tipperary venue is also quite long.

The Moate CS girls defeated Eureka SS, Kells in the Leinster final by 6-6 to 3-5 in Kinnegad towards the end of last year. Ally Duffy (Cill Óige) scored three goals in that Leinster decider with Moate's other green flags raised by Lucy Martin (two) and Anna Ryan of Naomh Ciarán.

MCS are the reigning All-Ireland champions at the junior grade, the Westmeath side having defeated Ursuline SS, Thurles in last year's final. And it was Ursuline, Thurles whom St Mary's defeated in the Munster decider last month. Goals from Shauna Keane and Olivia King helped St Mary’s to claim a 2-12 to 2-7 victory over their Thurles opponents.

Roisín Ní Liatháin played a key role in the Macroom side's win and she was top scorer on the day with eight points (five frees). St Mary's had to produce a comeback to claim that victory, having trailed by six points at half-time.

The other All-Ireland junior semi-final is between Sacred Heart School, Westport and Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry. It's also due to be played on March 5, with Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford chosen as the venue.

Moate CS have enjoyed considerable success in ladies football over recent years. The school is also preparing to contest the All-Ireland Schools Senior 'A' semi-final, having completed a Leinster senior and junior double in December.

Moate Community School (Leinster Junior 'A' final team) - Lilly Daly; Grace David, Riona Foley, Libby McHugh; Hannah Pratlett, Daisy Bucys McLoughlin, Mella Casey; Chloe Malone, Lucy Martin; Anna Ryan, Heidi Murray, Kelly Lynam; Ally Duffy, Wiktoria Wziatek, Heather Touhey. Subs used: Aoibheann Kelly, Ellen Madden, Gemma Turley and Diana Heavin.