Crescent Comprehensive’s All-Ireland hopes went up in smoke at the first day of the Kate Russell All-Ireland Championships in Dangan yesterday, as they couldn’t match Coláiste Iognáid or Loreto Kilkenny in Group A.
A 3-0 defeat to holders Jes was followed by more misfortune as they went down 2-1 to Loreto Kilkenny, meaning they were left in a playoff with Salerno to avoid the wooden spoon.
Happily for Ollie O’Connor’s girls, they finished with a real flourish, defeating the Galway side 3-0 thanks to a Karen McGrath double and a Ciara Moloney effort.
St Andrew’s produced an incredible comeback to fight their way into the final, recovering from a three goal deficit to tie with Royal School, Armagh.
Laura Pinder hit home a short corner on the final hooter to level the game 3-3 and advance ahead of the Ulster champions – who were going for a third title in four years – on goal difference by virtue of an earlier 6-0 win over Salerno.
Armagh mustered four goals against the Galway side and looked on course to take up a final berth when youth internationals Leah Ewart and Anna-Mae Morton along with Jill Johnston built what looked a commanding lead against Andrew’s.
But Niamh Atcheler gave them a lifeline 20 minutes from the end before Chloe Watkins netted a penalty stroke to set up a grandstand finish.
Zoe Troughton kept out numerous penalty corners from the Dubliners but she was powerless to prevent Pinder’s last gasp effort, capping an incredible comeback.
The Booterstown school now face reigning champions Colaiste Iognaid in the final today (1.30pm).
The Jes had a slightly simpler passage, defeating Crescent College 3-0 before coming back from a goal deficit to defeat Loreto, Kilkenny before winning out 3-2 with Brenda Flannery, Lynsey Trainor, Elaine Carey and Katie Codyre key performers.
It sets up a repeat of last year’s epic group match which ended 2-2 in normal time, precipitating a penalty shoot-out to see who topped the group after all variables were tied.
The Galway girls prevailed 4-2 before defeating Foyle in the final to take the trophy back to Connacht for the first time since 1988.
Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships
Group A
Colaiste Iognaid 3 (Niamh Codyre 2, Lynsey Trainor) Crescent Comprehensive 0
Colaiste Iognaid 3 (Elaine Carey, Michelle Carey, Eavan Murphy) Loreto Kilkenny 2 (Grace Walsh, Aoife Murphy)
Loreto Kilkenny 2 (Aisling O’Grady, Aine Curran) Crescent Comprehensive 1
Final standings: 1. Colaiste Iognaid 4pts (+4) 2. Loreto, Kilkenny 2pts (0) 3. Crescent Comprehensive 0pts (-4)
Group B
Royal School Armagh 4 (Joanne Orr, Sarah McMahon, Leah Ewart, Beccy Anderson) Salerno 0
St Andrews 6 (Niamh Atcheler, Laura Stephens, Hayley Sarratt, Chloe Watkins, Sophie Marshall, Joanne Lavery) Salerno 0
Royal School Armagh 3 (Leah Ewart, Anna-Mae Morton, Jill Johnston) St Andrews 3 (Laura Pinder, Niamh Atcheler, Chloe Watkins)
Standings: 1. St Andrew’s 3pts (+6) 2. Royal School Armagh 3pts (+4) 3. Salerno 0pts (-10)
Friday’s fixtures:
Final,1.30pm: St Andrew’s vs Colaiste Iognaid
3rd/4th place, 11.30am: Loreto, Kilkenny vs Royal School, Armagh
5th/6th place, 9.30am: Salerno vs Crescent College
Words: Stephen Findlater
A trip to far for cresent. What goes around goes around.
Well said Frank. Sound like they were out of their depth really.
Who is Frank Smyth?
You’re a beaut ‘Frank Smyth’ – posting a nasty comment about a school team? You’re a big man!
major jealousy from ‘frank’
did u win the senior cup 2010? didnt think so.
the KR is just a bonus and they did our province proud, no need for the sourness
it appears frank is stuck in a moment. how was the parking?
To be fair, Crescent played quite well at the KR’s and were beaten by the Jes, who had several U18 internationals in their squad. The stronger sides in the competition all had international U18s and U16s in their squads, 2 of whom have international caps at senior level.
”What goes around goes around” – what is that supposed to mean?
Some people are so sad, what does everyone have against Crescent? Hockey is becoming a joke, its all down to politics,its all about Cork. Crescent won the senior cup by beating all the rest of the teams fair and square and went on to the Kate Russel as the winners of the cup do. Obviously they were the best team in munster so they probably did better then any of the other munster teams would do. It’s people like Frank who are ruinning hockey for young people, your taking the fun out of it. People like that should be ashamed of yourselves, you are such awful sad people. and I’m guessing Frank is from Cork too.