The Moate girls earned their silverware through character and resilience
Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards in association with Westmeath County Council
Team of the Year finalists: Moate Community School junior ladies team
The long-held ambition of Moate Community School to win an All-Ireland 'A' title in ladies football finally came to fruition in March of this year.
Moate CS were deservedly crowned All-Ireland Junior 'A' champions when they defeated Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles by 6-6 to 4-9 at Glenisk O'Connor Park.
In a final where they played brilliant football during the first half, the Westmeath side then had to demonstrate character and resilience in the second period when they looked in danger of allowing a substantial lead to slip away.
The Moate girls looked like they were going to claim All-Ireland success with consummate ease in the first half. Incredibly, they led by 17 points at one stage (4-6 to 0-1) and it appeared that this would be something of a procession to glory.
Yet All-Ireland titles are rarely easily won at any level and the Moate girls really had to earn the silverware as Ursuline SS launched a determined comeback when wind assisted in the second half. The Thurles outfit had a number of strong ball carriers in their ranks and they caused Moate plenty of problems when they threw off the shackles in the second half.
As the game ticked into a lengthy period of stoppage time, Thurles were awarded some late frees and the Moate defence managed to repel the Tipperary side's despairing efforts to force extra-time.
The final whistle was greeted with a mixture of relief and joy in the Moate CS camp as the celebrations began, paving the way for joint captains Áine Bracken and Erin Ó Faoláin to accept the trophy from LGFA President Trina Murray, herself a native of Moate.
Moate CS attacker Alex Kelly was chosen for the official player of the match award, and considering the Rosemount girl's creativity and scoring ability in an excellent first half performance, it wasn't hard to see why.
Few would quibble if hat-trick hero Anna Ryan was chosen for the accolade either. Chloe Malone was again a key component of an attack in which all players impressed in the first half, while Nessa Trainor excelled in defence. The Moate CS team was jointly managed by Fidelma Quinn and Amy Hughes.
Moate Community School panel: Lilly Daly (Cill Óige); Hannah Pratlett (Cill Óige), Neasa Trainor (Naomh Ciarán), Maria Loddick (Cill Óige); Lucy Martin (St Joseph's), Áine Bracken (Moate, joint captain), Sophie Padden (Caulry); Erin Ó Faoláin (Caulry, joint captain), Chloe Malone (Moate); Anna Ryan (Naomh Ciarán), Heidi Murray (St Manchan's), Lucy Allen (Athlone); Karrissa Burns (Caulry), Alex Kelly (Cill Óige), Heather Touhey (St Manchan's), Riona Foley (St Manchan's), Grace Galvin (Cill Óige), Leyla Jones (Moate), Cliona Molloy (St Manchan's), Libby McHugh (Garrycastle), Maire Cronin (St Manchan's), Aisling Murphy (Caulry), Katieann McHugh (Moate), Grace Dolan (Moate), Zara Moran (Moate), Laura Fox (Moate), Megan Heavin (St Manchan's), Diana Heavin (St Manchan's), Katie Meares (St Joseph's), Aoife Ross (Moate).
The Team of the Year finalists are the Buccaneers RFC U-17 team, St Peter's FC senior team, and Moate Community School junior ladies team
The Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards are in association with Westmeath County Council