Presentation Thurles defeat rivals Ursuline in brilliant Munster Schools Camogie final

Munster Post Primary School Senior Camogie Final

Presentation Secondary School Thurles 3-9

Ursuline Secondary School Thurles 0-14

By Michael Dundon

The Munster Post Primary Schools senior camogie title stays in Thurles but in a different location as the girls of the Presentation Secondary School got the better of their Ursuline neighbours in a thrilling final at The Ragg on Saturday.

Ursuline were bidding for a third consecutive title and a fifth in all, while Presentation, beaten finalists last year, were chasing their first since 2018 and their fourth success in the competition. 

It all made for an engrossing encounter and the teams did not disappoint with Presentation making amends for their loss to Ursulines last year to take the title and go forward to the All-Ireland stages of the competition.

The healthy state of the under-age game in the county is reflected in the fact that Tipperary schools have now won seven of the last eight titles, the success of St Angela’s of Waterford in 2019 preventing a clean sweep, with Cashel Community School lifting the trophy in 2022.

From the word go Presentation were on the move, with a goal by Anna O’Brien who applied the finishing touch to a slick team move in the third minute, giving them a huge boost playing into the fresh breeze. 

Presentation always threatened goals when on the attack and might have had a couple more in the opening half. 

Still, Ursulines, with Caoimhe Stakelum their main attacking threat, slowly settled into the game, and by the 18th minute were level at 0-5 to 1-2, three Stakelum frees. Two from Orla Ryan accounted for their scores while Elana McGrath and Ciara Shelley added to Presentation’s tally.

By half time Ursulines had moved ahead 0-7 to 0-6, a margin that might have been greater but for an Ava Bevans shot for goal skimming wide as the game approached the break. 

Clearly, there was nothing between the sides but with the breeze to their advantage in the second half, the scales looked to be tipping in Presentation’s favour.

Five minutes into the second half, after the sides had swapped points, Presentation struck a decisive blow when Lucy Callanan set up Anna O’Brien for her second goal and a 2-4 to 0-8 lead. Over the next 15 minutes, the sides went toe to toe, sharing six points, but significantly, the Ursuline were relying almost entirely on Caoimhe Stakelum for their scores, while Presentation had more options in that regard.

Presentation, with Elana McGrath now having a huge game, had their name on the trophy in the 49th minute when Ciara Shelly netted for a 3-7 to 0-11 lead. 

Ursulines did not falter but Presentation were not for surrendering and in a nail-biting finish they closed down all avenues to goal for Ursulines, leaving Una Duggan to accept the cup on behalf of her Presentation teammates.

While the stats indicate fourteen Ursuline scores to twelve for Presentation, the winners' ability to get goals made all the difference. They got three, might have had another three, and showed greater penetration than their rivals. 

Elana McGrath played a starring role but Anna O’Brien and Lucy Callanan also had big games. Ciara Shelly got through a huge amount of work at midfield while in defence Neasa Dwan was outstanding with Leanna Coppinger and Una Duggan also prominent.

Ursulines came up just short in their bid for a hat-trick of titles and could not be faulted for effort. They contributed immensely to a great contest. 

Caoimhe Stakelum was their stand-out player throughout the competition and was again a constant threat despite being closely tagged all day. 

Lucy Purcell at the heart of the defence, Isabelle Carr, Orla Ryan, Emma Corcoran and Jane Corcoran were others to lead the Ursulines by example.

Presentation Thurles: Danielle Butler (Éire Óg, Annacarty); Leanna Coppinger (Thurles Sarsfields), Una Duggan (St. Anne’s), Mairead Duggan (St. Anne’s); Caitlin Shelly (Moycarkey Borris), Eva Ralph (Moycarkey Borris), Neasa Dwan (Boherlahan Dualla); Ciara Shelly (Moycarkey Borris, 1-2), Aoife O’Grady (St. Anne’s); Lucy O’Brien (St. Patrick’s, 0-1), Emer Dwan (Cashel King Cormacs), Elana McGrath (Holycross Ballycahill, 0-5, 0-3f); Anna O’Brien (Cashel King Cormacs, 2-0), Lucy Callanan (Moycarkey Borris), Grace Flanagan (Cashel King Cormacs, 0-1).

Subs used: Sophie Lee (Holycross Ballycahill) for Flanagan (43); Roisin Burns (Lisdowney) for A O’Brien (55).

Ursuline Thurles: Roisin Ferncombe (Clonoulty Rossmore); Maria Ralph (Thurles Sarsfields), Roisin Duffy (Burgess), Moya Brennan (St. Anne’s); Ella Frend (Toomevara), Lucy Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields, 0-2f), Niamh Lanigan (Gortnahoe Glengoole); Isabelle Carr (Holycross Ballycahill, 0-1), Emma Corcoran (Moycarkey Borris); Orla Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore, 0-2), Caoimhe Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, 0-7f), Jane Corcoran (Moycarkey Borris, 0-1); Clodagh Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Ava Bevans (Borris-Ileigh), Kate Dowling (Moycarkey Borris, 0-1). 

Subs used: Rosie O’Brien (St. Patrick’s) for Lanigan (HT); Amy O’Connor (Cahir) for Brennan (42).

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)