Christ King Girls’ Secondary School, Cork 5/2 Sacred Heart School, Tullamore
Megan Connolly (49, 53, 65, 67) Laura O’Brien (73) (Lisa Gorman (Pen, 5) Bronagh Kane (23)
IRELAND Under/17 international Megan Connolly spearheaded a five/star turnaround as holders Christ King Girls’ SS marched into the Umbro FAI Schools Senior Girls All/Ireland Cup Final:
Connolly celebrated her 16th birthday in style with four goals as the Cork school overturned a two/goal half/time deficit to beat Leinster champions Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, in Roscrea yesterday:
Sacred Heart went into the game on a high after capturing their first provincial crown within just three years of starting a football team in the school and stormed into a comprehensive half/time lead against the odds:
Following Lisa Gorman’s successful fifth/minute penalty at Killavilla United FC, Bronagh Kane doubled their advantage on 23 minutes with a clinical finish with Gorman turning provider yet again
Niamh McGreevey struck a wonderful ball on target but Erin O’Donovan was placed well to save between the posts with a half hour played:
However, Christ King were not about to give up on retaining their title – and claiming a third in four years after their win in 2010 – and Connolly levelled with strikes from a free/kick and corner within 10 minutes of the restart:
Connolly completed a 20/minute hat/trick with a left/footed finish before poking home another after a scramble in the box, leaving Laura O’Brien to grab the fifth in the closing minutes:
In a repeat of last year’s Cup Final, Christ King will now meet old rivals Moville Community College in the decider which is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20 KO 12:30pm
CHRIST KING GIRLS’ SS, CORK: Erin O’Donovan, Orla Murphy (Orlaigh Magner 75), Michelle Murphy, Aoife Russell, Nicole Connolly, Sarah Geaney, Megan Dennehy, Laura Cooney (Capt), Niamh McGreevey (Eadaoin Downey 75), Megan Connolly (Saoirse Noonan 75), Laura O’Brien:
Subs not used: Elysha O’Donovan, Avril Burke, Chelsea Noonan:
Teacher: Fergal O’Leary
SACRED HEART SCHOOL, TULLAMORE: Deirdre Coonan, Chrissie Cocoman, Thanyara Da Silva (Kim Cobbe 60) Emma Cuddy, Lauren Keenahan, Cliona Owens, Lisa Gorman, Aoife Norris, Bronagh Kane, Orla Gorman, Shauna O’Meara (Niamh McDermott 50):
Subs not used: Megan O’Reilly, Roisin Kane, Maeve Byrne, Emma Byrne, Noelle Cocoman, Niamh Bolger:
Teacher: Seán McFadden
REFEREE: Alex McCormack (Roscrea)