The junior camogie players of Loreto College, Kilkenny gave themselves an opportunity of securing a famous double for their school after reaching the O’Neills All-Ireland post primary A final with a 5-7 to 3-9 victory over Cross & Passion, Antrim.
They will have to wait another week to find out if St Brigid’s, Loughrea will provide the opposition in the decider, just as they will in the senior final, after the Galwegians were held to a draw by Coachford College (0-8 to 2-2).
St Brigid’s will probably be disappointed that they didn’t emerge from Cloughduv with the final berth booked having registered eight scores to Coachford’s four.
The Cork side have displayed tremendous character throughout the campaign though, going as far back as needing a replay to win the county title, and goals from Leah Dineen and Ciara McCarthy kept their dreams alive.
The other semi-final was an action-packed, open affair and though Loreto had their noses in front throughout, they could never shake off a gritty Cross & Passion unit and there was relief all-round in the Noreside camp when the final whistle was blown in Dunmore.
In the junior B championship, Our Lady’s, Terenure won their semi-final in enemy territory against St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge. As is so often the case, green flags proved the determining factor, with Saoirse Malin and Isabelle Costelloe doing the damage. Costelloe added a couple of points too as they prevailed by 2-5 to 0-8.
They will play Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig in the decider as the Cork and Munster champions produced all the aces in their semi-final against a valiant St Killian’s, Galway 6-15 to 3-4.
Team captain, Louise Mannion fired two goals as Banagher College saw off Catherine’s of Armagh in a goal-fest, 7-4 to 4-2 in the junior C semi-final at St Rynagh’s club grounds. Chloe Reilly weighed in with a goal and three points as well in an eye-catching performance.
They will play Scariff Community College in the final as the Clare girls had far too much firepower for Claregalway Community College and eased to victory in Whitegate.
St Anne’s, Killaloe will contest the D final as they came out on the right side of a humdinger in Meelick. Skipper, Aoife Power’s contribution was the defining one as she totted up a goal and six points, while Maeve Óg O’Leary and Anna Lee Marsh split the remaining scores evenly between them on the way to a 3-8 to 1-6 success of St Mary’s, Naas.
