Leinster win Interprovincial series

Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament

Dr. Fionnuala Quigley Memorial Trophy

Leinster win Interprovincial series

Sunday, November 18, 2018

ROB ELLISON’S youngsters captured the Interprovincial tournament series for 2018 with three wins from three to maintain their 100% record in the competition.

The Leinster side only needed a draw in their final game to see them lift the title but a goal in each half sealed a brilliant 2-0 victory over a skillful Munster select in the AUL Complex this afternoon (November 18).

Their first of the afternoon came midway through the half when Palmerstown scholar Jessie STAPLETON netted from inside the box despite the sustained pressure they were under from the attacking prowess of Munster.  

St. Joseph’s Mercy SS, Navan netminder Robyn Murray pulled off a spectacular save to deny Salesian Secondary College star Aine Walsh to keep their slight advantage at the interval.

Then Ellen MOLLOY stuck the match winner twelve minutes into the restart with a fantastic rocket from distance.

Munster continued to go in search of an opener but the crafty Leinster defense kept them at bay to hold out for a clean sheet and an historic title win.

Leinster have a phenomenal record in this competition with eleven titles in nineteen years! Ellison is only in his second year as Head Coach and narrowly lost out to Connacht last season so he was delighted with the victory. The St. Raphaela’s teacher commended his management team of Scott Gaynor, Presentation SS, Wexford and Rachel Graham, Shelbourne Ladies for all their hard work and the remarkable players he had at his disposal this season.

In the earlier fixture of the morning, Connacht were looking for their first win of the campaign as they took on Ulster who had one win and one defeat in the series.

In a highly entertaining encounter, the teams mustered up a five goal thriller as Ulster took the lead on 17 minutes through Carndonagh CS star Ellie LONG following a wonderful Erin Doherty (Coláiste Ailigh) set piece.

Dom Coll’s troops were back in contention two minutes later as Dominican College grad Saoirse Burke equalised in fine fashion from just outside the box.       

Ulster took the lead again three minutes before the interval with Erin DOHERTY lashing a rocket from distance to lodge into the top corner leaving Peggy Ford with no chance.

Convent of Mercy student Aisling Hanly had the teams all square midway through the second period as she converted a stunning effort following good work down the flanks from Aoibheann Costelloe.

Then interestingly Kate THOMPSON (Coláiste Iognaid) scored the winner three minutes from time to ensure the points for Connacht. A remarkable comeback and fantastic team effort from the Westerners to end their campaign with a worthy win.

POTM

Tournament Ambassador, Doireann FAHEY (Ardscoil Rathangan) was on hand to present the Player of the Match accolades to our future starlets.

Doireann was part of the four in a row Leinster success story under the stewardship of Paul Howard (Loreto College, Crumlin) back in 2015. Fahey had a wonderful campaign that season which saw her convert for Leinster to come from 3-1 down to win 4-3 against Ulster in the opening game of the tournament.

She was capped for the Republic of Ireland Schools the following year which saw her line out in Dragon Park and Newport Stadium where the team were runners up in the Bob Docherty Cup that year.

Fahey named Mercy SS, Tuam play-maker Aoibheann COSTELLO as her POTM following a very strong and commanding display for Connacht.

While in the second outing, Doireann selected the experienced Maria REYNOLDS, Loreto Abbey, Dalkey as POTM after her hardworking heroics on the park for the Champions.  

TRIAL PROCESS

International Head Coach, Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh) and his management team will have a tough task on their hands to select a group for trial as the standard of play was so exceptional from all four provinces.

There will be two former Internationals in the mix as Champions, Leinster had two top class players involved over the series with Ellen Molloy (Presentation SS, Kilkenny) and Jessie Stapleton (Palmerstown CS) featuring heavily throughout the three days.

A panel of 30 players will be invited for an initial assessment on Saturday, December 1 in Abbotstown.

The Republic of Ireland Under 15 Girls Schools select will travel to Salou in April for the Bob Docherty Cup.

INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS

CONNACHT | Amy Mahon (St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown), Anna Costello (Salerno Secondary School, Galway), Ella Gilmore (Clarin College, Athenry), Sorcha McCarney (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Kate Thompson, Hannah Glynn & Peggy Ford (Coláiste Iognáid, Galway), Aine Gorman (Mercy College, Sligo), Ailbhe Whyte (Presentation College, Athenry), Alison Long & Sarah Costello (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross), Aisling Hanly (Convent of Mercy, Roscommon), Aoibheann Costello & Laura Higgins (Scoil Bhríde, Mercy SS, Tuam), Saoirse Burke (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Eimear McIntyre (Ursuline College, Sligo), Jessica Casey (St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry)

MANAGEMENT | Dom Coll (Presentation College, Athenry) Fabienne Cooney (Claregalway College), Stephen Lacken (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross).

ULSTER | Bonnie McKiernan (Breifne College, Cavan) Lucy Canning, Cate Toland & Shania McMonagle (Deele College, Raphoe) Keri Loughrey & Molly Boyd (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) Sophie Murphy, Emma Devlin, Ellie Long, Katherine Doherty & Kate McCallion (Carndonagh Community School) Erin Doherty (Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny) Cody Walsh (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar) Rebecca McColgan (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe) Erika Gallagher & Nicole McDaid (Loreto Convent, Letterkenny) Siobhan Cameron (Loreto Community School, Milford)

MANAGEMENT | Bridgeen Harley (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Emma Duffy (Loreto Convent, Letterkenny), Karen Henry (Mulroy College, Milford)

LEINSTER | Robyn Murray & Charlie Murray (St. Joseph's Mercy SS, Navan), Liadan Clynch (Bush Post Primary School, Dundalk), Rebecca McMahon (St. Mac Dara's CC, Templeogue), Abby McHugh (Dunshaughlin Community College), Jessie Stapleton & Emma Gunning (Palmerstown Community School), Lara Phipps (Maryfield College), Maria Reynolds (Loreto Abbey, Dalkey), Emma Walker (St. Leo's College, Carlow), Ellen Molloy & Freya De Mange (Presentation SS, Kilkenny), Orlagh Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College, Naas), Lauren Strong (St. Joseph's College, Lucan), Abby Tuthill (St. Gerard's School, Bray), Summer Lawless (Ballymakenny College, Drogheda), Zoe Gargan (St. Finian's CC, Swords)

MANAGEMENT | Rob Ellison (St. Raphaela's SS, Stillorgan), Scott Gaynor (Presentation SS, Wexford) Rachel Graham (Coach)

MUNSTER | Caoilinn Casey (Cashel Community School), Libby Costelloe (Laurel Hill Secondary School), Jenna Slattery (Laurel Hill Coláiste), Aoife Cronin (Scoil Pól, Kilfinane), Orlaith Deasy (Sacred Heart SS, Clonakilty), Jodie Griffin (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally), Jodie Keane (Crescent College Comprehensive), Abbie Lenihan (St. Mary's SS, Newport), Eva Mangan (Carrigaline Community School), Sadbh McGoldrick (Mount Mercy College, Cork), Nicole McNamara (Coláiste na Trócaire, Rathkeale), Ellie O'Brien (Scoil Muire gan Smál, Blarney), Mia O'Connell (Coláiste Muire, Cobh), Emma O'Sullivan (Presentation SS, Thurles), Heidi O'Sullivan (Regina Mundi College, Cork), Hannah O'Brien (Ursuline SS, Thurles) Aine Walsh (Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry)

MANAGEMENT | Barry Ryan (Presentation SS, Thurles), Eileen O'Brien (Crescent College Comprehensive), Pat Barrett (GK Coach), Andy Russell (Coach)

FIXTURES

Friday, November 16

3.00pm Munster 1-0 Connacht

4.30pm Ulster 1-2 Leinster

Saturday, November 17

1.00pm Munster 0-1 Ulster

2.30pm Connacht 1-3 Leinster

Sunday, November 18

10.00am Ulster 2-3 Connacht

11.30am Leinster 2-0 Munster

Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament Roll of Honour

END