Ursuline Thurles falter in second half to lose another All-Ireland Schools decider

Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary School Senior B Championship Final

Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles 1-10

St Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry 3-12

By Gavin Cawley

St. Attracta’s Community School from Tubbercurry captured the Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary School Senior B Championship title with an impressive display at St Aidan’s GAA club in Ballyforan in Roscommon at the expense of a brave effort from Tipperary's Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles.

The Sligo school came from a point down at the break to oust Ursuline Secondary School from Thurles with two second half goals from Blaithin Lavin proving decisive. 

Ursuline played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half but it was the Sligo school who led by two points after ten minutes with Aoife Cooke and Lavin among the scores for the Tubbercurry school. 

The Tipperary school were slow to start but they were level after 16 minutes of play with Caoimhe Stakelum and the impressive Lucy Purcell both on the mark for Ursuline. 

The same two players were involved a minute later when Purcell fired her side in front for the first time in the match with excellent finish to the net. 

Sarah Corcoran added another point for Ursuline as they led by four points but St Attracta’s responded with 1-2 without reply with goal coming from Lucy Henry.

Ursuline, who finished strongly to lead at the break by point 1-5 - 1-4, started the second half well when they extended their lead when Ciara Fitzpatrick pointed after a super run from Isabelle Carr. 

Unlike the first half Attracta’s were slow to get going at the start of the second half but a point from player of the match Lauren Normanly after a pass from Ellen Giblin settled the Sligo side. 

The key score came two minutes later when Lavin scored the first of two second goals as her first effort was saved by Anna Phelan but the second effort was finished by the half forward. 

Ursuline replied with a point from Purcell after great work in the move from team captain Paula Quirke. 

Four points on the spin from Ciara Brennan, Ellen Giblin and brace from Normanly pushed St Attracta’s five points in front. 

Sarah Corcoran scored twice to cut the deficit on two occasions to four points with five minutes to play but the insurance goal from Lavin secured the title for St Attracta’s.

Scorers for St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry: B Lavin 2-2; L Normanly 0-7 (0-2f); L Henry 1-0; C Brennan, A Cooke, E Giblin 0-1 each. 

Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles: L Purcell 1-4; S Corcoran 0-3; C Stakelum 0-2 (0-1f); C Fitzpatrick 0-1. 

St. Attracta’s Community School: C Gallagher; R Staunton, C King, A Durcan; E Cassidy, J Casey, L Henry; C Walsh, E Giblin; K McCarthy, C Brennan, B Lavin; G Cooke, A Cooke, L Normanly. Subs: M Mitchell for G Cooke (44); T Hosey for A Cooke (59). 

Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles: A Phelan; S Bell, C Fitzgibbon, K Bergin; P Quirke, S Corcoran, I Carr; K Carr, K Ferncombe; L Purcell, C Stakelum, D Ryan; C Fitzpatrick, S Quinlan, O Ryan. Sub: E Smyth for D Ryan (52). 

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon)