Róisín Upton will bid to crown a magnificent Munster schools hockey career by leading Crescent College Comprehensive to a third successive Munster Senior Schoolgirls Cup success at Rosbrien, Limerick today (2pm).
The Irish youth Olympian midfielder – who has accepted a scholarship from the USA’s number four hockey college, University of Connecticut, for next season – leads her side into battle against Bandon Grammar looking for another senior crown to add to a haul that also includes two junior cups and a minor cup.
Having missed most of the league campaign with a fractured foot, Upton returned for the cup semi-final battles with Ursulines Thurles, in which Crescent eventually prevailed 1-0 in a replay following a 0-0 stalemate in the first tie.
Clodagh Moloney, Karen Fitzgerald and the Barrett sisters, Lisa and Michelle, will lead Crescent’s charge but their hopes could yet be dashed by a Bandon Grammar side who have also shown grafting qualities en route to the final as they bid to annex a first title since 2009.
Caroline McHugh’s side is the more experienced, with Vicky Burns, Acacia Taylor and Laura Buttimer all set to play crucial roles while Lorraine Copithorne’s pace is a huge asset at set pieces at both ends of the pitch.
They quelled a free-scoring Scoil Mhuire side in the semi-finals but Crescent’s defence, manned by Fitzgerald, have nonetheless proved an equally tough nut to crack.
Short corners could therefore decide it, with the winner going on to represent Munster in the Kate Russell All-Ireland championships, though just one side from the southern province – Mount Mercy in 2006 – has won that competition in the past 15 years.