Leinster final heart break for Scoil Chríost Rí after second half surge from Moate CS

Moate CS (Westmeath) 4-9 

Scoil Chríost Rí Portlaoise 3-7 

SCOIL Chríost Rí made the journey from Portlaoise to Kinnegad on a frosty Tuesday morning to face Moate CS in the Lidl Leinster LGFA PPS Senior A Championship Final. The game was neck and neck until Moate took over in the second half out scoring Scoil Chríost Rí by 4-3 to 2-2.

Moate CS overcame St Mary’s of Naas in the semifinal stage while Scoil Chríost Rí defeat Eureka Kells. Moate were in this competitions final last year also where they lost out to Maynooth E.C while Scoil Chríost Rí haven’t lifted the trophy since their victory in 2019.

Alex Kelly got the scoring underway for Moate CS when she pointed a free in the third minute of play. A long range shot from Katie Grant was unlucky not to cross then line when it was fumbled multiple times. Scoil Chríost Rí’s first score then came in the form of a green flag with a superb team worked goal. Anna Mulligan played a low ball into Doireann Brennan, and she found Rebecca Cahill who rattled the lower corner of the net. Scoil Chríost Rí won the resulting kick out and Katie Grant fired the ball over the bar.

The Westmeath natives cancelled out Scoil Chríost Rí’s 1-1 when they pointed four in a row from four different players, they came courtesy of Erin O’Faolain, Anna Ryan, Katie Doolan and a second Kelly free. Anna Milligan replied for the ladies from Laois when she pointed from a placed ball.

With only five minutes to play, Scoil Chríost Rí took control and pointed a further three scores in a row before Moate CS fired over the final score of the game. Cahill pointed two mighty scores while Mulligan pointed her second free of the contest, leaving Cahill’s goal the difference. Moate CS pointed the final score of the half which came from Ryan and narrowed Scoil Chríost Rí’s lead to two at the break, 1-5 to 0-6.

Scoil Chríost Rí topped up their lead by two in the opening three minutes of the second half when Poppy Duff pointed a super score while Mulligan pointed immediately after from the resulting kick out. Unfortunately for Scoil Chríost Rí that was the end of their scoring for now as their opponents took completed control of the following 20 minutes.

Kelly having kicked the frees all game, pointed her first from play while Ryan hit the ground running and buried the ball past Kate Scully Maher who had done very well to keep a clean sheet until then. Ryan followed up with raising a white flag from the next passage of play before Eva Fox found the back of the Scoil Chríost Rí net for their second goal. Moate CS were then awarded a penalty when Scully Maher came out to deny a goal scoring opportunity, but the decision went against her, Fox stepped up and put this one away. Scoil Chríost Rí now had a seven-point deficit to face heading into the final ten minutes.

Things began to look up for the Portlaoise school as Alex Kelly was shown a yellow card meaning they would have an extra player as they attempted to chip away at the gap. Moate CS weren’t finished yet though as Chloe Malone landed a powerful show straight for goals, but Scully Maher was on hand to deny her. The save gave Scoil Chríost Rí a lease of life as they charged down the field in numbers and were awarded a free. Mulligan took the free and it dropped onto the palm of a Moate defender and into the back of the net meaning the gap was only four.

Malone stepped up to a free and similarly to Mulligans free down the other end she managed to find the top corner of the net also. With the help of their school supporting them from the stand Scoil Chríost Rí broke down the field once more, this time it was Lara Culleton who drilled the ball to the back of the Moate net.

Unfortunately, this was all Scoil Chríost Rí had left in their tanks, and the game came to an end after Kelly pointed one final free for the Westmeath outfit who put their 2024 loss to bed and were crowned the Lidl Leinster LGFA PPS Senior A Champions for 2025.

SCORERS:

Moate CS: Eva Fox 2-0 (1-0 penalty), Anna Ryan 1-3, Alex Kelly 0-4 (0-3fs), Chloe Malone 1-0 (f), Erin O’Faolain and Katie Doolan 0-1 each.

Scoil Chríost Rí: Anna Mulligan 1-3 (1-2fs), Rebecca Cahill 1-2, Lara Culleton 1-0, Katie Grant and Poppy Duff 0-1 each.

MOATE CS: Emily Nally; Heather Touhey, Neasa Trainor, Lucy Champ; Lucy Martin, Aine Bracken, Lucy Allen; Erin O’Faolain, Katie Doolan; Anna Ryan, Kacey Mulvihill, Eva Fox; Alex Kelly, Chloe Malone, Heidi Murray.

Subs: Hannah Pratlett for Martin (33m), Ally Duffy for Mulvihill (46m), Grace Galvin for Champ and Maria Loddick for Touhey (Both 62m), Riona Foley for Malone (63m).

SCOIL CHRÍOST RÍ: Kate Scully Maher; Ellen Bergin, Clodagh Fingleton, Abbey Louise Byrne; Sarah McDonald, Lara Culleton, Saffron Adams; Aine Nolan, Grainne Coleman; Anna Mulligan, Katie Grant, Poppy Duff; Rebecca Cahill, Faye Brown, Doireann Brennan.

Subs: Leah Brennan for Coleman (38m), Kara Phelan for Duff (49m), Faye Byrne for Byrne (58m).

Referee: Paul Meaney (Dublin)