White and Greene guide Mount Temple girls to victory

An Grianán NS 3-10 St Clare's NS 0-8

Although An Grianán NS proved the better team in this Cumann na mBunscol Division 2 girls' football decider on Wednesday of last week, the final scoreline is undoubtedly harsh on St Clare's NS, Tubberclare.

With regulation time almost up, An Grianán were clinging on to a four-point lead (1-9 to 0-8), before the Mount Temple outfit embellished their victory with a brace of late goals.

Overall, An Grianán were the slicker team with players like team captain Alison White and Nicole Greene leading the way, and they found scores that bit easier to acquire than a spirited St Clare's side.

In this clash of two neighbouring schools from the south of the county, Claire Daly opened the scoring for St Clare's. But the Mount Temple girls replied with a necklace of three points, two from the outstanding Alison White, either side of one from Farah Fox. Zoe Buckley soon had a goal chance but St Clare's keeper Alise Berga saved well, picking up a knock in the process.

Aoibheann Reid Toolan scored Tubberclare's second point, but An Grianán responded in style by scoring an unanswered 1-3 before half-time. Nicole Greene started the sequence with a point and just after pointing a free, White struck for a well taken goal. A goal attempt by Fox was foiled but Fiadh Peters followed up by clipping over a point, leaving the Mount Temple side 1-6 to 0-2 ahead at half-time.

White maintained her influence by opening the scoring in the second half, but St Clare's then enjoyed a productive spell during they scored four points. The sequence was bookended by points from team captain Kellie O'Connor, the second of which was an inspiring score, while Roisín O'Keeffe and Emma Kelly were also on target.

In addition, An Grianán temporarily lost White to injury after she had executed a determined block, but the influential Greene steadied the eventual winners' nerves by scoring two points (one free).

St Clare's reignited their hopes with a brace of points from Robyn Donovan (one free) to leave just four between them (1-9 to 0-8) with time almost up.

In stoppage time, a move involving Julianne Heavin and Greene ended with Farah Fox grabbing a goal despite the St Clare's goalie getting a touch. This score removed any remaining doubt over the outcome, but there was still time for Leah Allen to find the net. Fittingly, the scoring was completed by White, who pointed a free having returned to the fray for the closing stages.

Afterwards, Westmeath Cumann na mBunscol chairperson Derek Butler presented the trophy to a worthy recipient in An Grianán NS captain Alison White.

Player of the match: Alison White (An Grianán NS). Alison showed plenty of skill and determination, while she managed to return to the field after picking up an injury. Nicole Greene also excelled for the winners.

Scorers - An Grianán NS: A White 1-5 (0-2 frees); F Fox 1-1; L Allen 1-0; N Greene 0-3 (1f); F Peters 0-1. St Clare's NS: K O'Connor (1f) and R Donovan (1f) 0-2 each; C Daly, A Reid Toolan, R O'Keeffe and E Kelly 0-1 each.

An Grianán NS, Mount Temple - Ellie Mae Harney, Annie Ledwith, Aoibhín O'Brien, Grace Cleary, Fiadh Peters, Nicole Greene, Alison White (captain), Farah Fox, Leah Allen, Sophie Keating, Zoe Buckley, Jessica Browne, Orlaith Hunter, Julianne Heavin, Éabha Hughes, Zoe Conlon, Ellen Campbell, Aoibhinn Dolan, Kaylee McCormack, Maedbh Matthews, Allie Doyle, Sadhbh O'Donoghue. Teachers/coaches: Ambrose McGowan, Anna Cahalin, Carmel Rooney.

St Clare's NS, Tubberclare - Alise Berga, Rose Walsh, Elena Laffey, Lily Mae McCormack, Emma Kelly, Kellie O'Connor (captain), Hazel McDermott, Claire Daly, Taragh Shine, Roisín O'Keeffe, Aoibheann Reid Toolan, Aoibhín O'Keeffe, Emily Pettit, Eleanor Coghill, Maggie Martin, Margaret Menton, Alice Rock, Mila Dunbar, Eleanor Meaney, Charlotte Meares, Robyn Donovan, Eva Keegan, Kara Martin, Lily Martin, Sadhbh Finnegan, Ciara Flanagan, Ava Kiernan, Ruby Donoghue, Grace Farrell, Isabella O'Keeffe, Maisie Wynne, Derval McLynn. Teachers/coaches: Ross Mulvihill, Joanne Hickey.

Referee - Mick McAdden (St Loman's, Mullingar).

*See this week's print edition for a special 20-page supplement on the Westmeath Cumann na mBunscol finals.