Sacred Heart Clonakilty Secure Girls Schools Cup Double

It was a special day for Sacred Heart Clonakilty as the West Cork school won the Munster Schools Girls Junior Cup and the Pinergy Munster Schools Girls Senior Cup in a double-header at Virgin Media Park today. Clonakilty won out 19-0 against West Cork rivals Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí in the Junior Cup before the senior squad completed a memorable double when they came from behind to defeat Coláiste Muire Ennis 20-10 in the day's second game. Please see below for round-ups of both games.

Munster Schools Girls Junior Cup Final

Sacred Heart Clonakilty 19 - 0 Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí Sacred Heart Clonakilty are the 2023/24 Munster Schools Girls Junior Cup champions after they defeated Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí 19-0 in a difficult conditions at Virgin Media Park. Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí, with a strong wind at their back, dominated possession in the opening minutes of the game but were unable to make that early pressure count. Clonakilty then got their hands on the ball more often and it was Elsa Quirke who got her side on the front foot with a scything break into the Bantry 22. However, Bantry's Alice O'Donovan displayed superb determination to chase down what seemed to be a lost cause and make a crucial tackle. However, with the ball recycled quickly, Elva McCauley found some space to power her way over the line for the game's first try. That was score was brilliantly converted by Keelin McCarthy to give Clonakilty an early 7-0 lead. Clonakilty kept the pressure on with plenty of possession in the Bantry 22. The Bantry defence admirably held firm and forced a number of turnovers until Niamh Hilliard crossed under the posts from close range. McCarthy notched the conversion to give Clonakilty a 14-0 lead. Just before half-time, Clonakilty stretched their lead out further with a try from McAuley but this time McCarthy was unable to notch the conversion. As in the first half, Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí dominated the opening exchanges of the second 40 but couldn't get over for a crucial try to get themselves back into the game. To Bantry's credit, the second half was mostly played in the Clonakilty 22 but despite a huge effort, they were unable to get a try as a resolute Clonakilty defence held firm throughout. Sacred Heart Clonakilty  15. Maria O’Donovan 14. Elsa Quirke 13. Elva McAuley 12. Keelin McCarthy 11. Laura Sexton 10. Lani O’Donovan 9. Julie Finn 1. Maya McMahon 2. Ciara O’Driscoll 3. Meghan Coakley 4. Emily Bell 5. Chloe Galwey 6. Aideen O’Sullivan 7. Amie Millin 8. Niamh Hilliard Replacements: 16. Isabelle Neville 17. Seodhna Walsh 18. Shona Fleming 19. Sophie Bell 20. Ciara Barrett 21. Leah Egan 22. Sinead O’Callaghan 23. Ellie Collins Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí 15. Belle O’Donoghue 14. Sophie O’Shea 13. Ciara Kelly 12. Alice O’Donovan 11. Seren Lehane 10. Abbey Connolly 9. Grace Cronin 1. Leah Barry 2. Maggie Murray 3. Gracie O’Connor 4. Annie Doody 5. Lucy Donaldson 6. Mary Fox 7. Caoimhe McCarthy 8. Muireann McCarthy Replacements: 16. Amy Coughlan 17. Grace Keane 18. Niamh Thorpe 19. Ellie O’Connor 20. Aoife Myler 21. Keelyn O Connor 22. Nicol Lenazun

Pinergy Munster Schools Girls Senior Cup Final

Sacred Heart Clonakilty 20 - 10 Coláiste Muire Ennis Sacred Heart Clonakilty won the Pinergy Munster Schools Girls Senior Cup with a come-from-behind victory against Coláiste Muire Ennis. Ennis took the lead right from the kick off as Lyndsay Clarke collected the ball and showed her international 7s experience to race clear down the touchline for the game's opening try. Eabha O'Driscoll lined up the conversion but it went wide as Ennis took an early 0-5 lead. Clonakilty began to apply pressure and this was compounded when Ennis received a yellow card for a high tackle. With the numerical advantage Solène Skupiewski struck out wide for clon for an unconverted try to level the game. Ennis hit back straight away with a try from Sally Kelly after good work from Orna Moynihan but the conversion was unsuccessful as the game swung in the Clare school's favour once again, At the start of the second half, Clonakilty were held up over the line but they got their next try after Ennis had to ground the ball in their own in-goal area which resulted in a 5m scrum for the West Cork side. The pressure told soon after when Emer Moroney went over for Clonakilty and the try was converted Rachel Twomey to put her side 12-10 in front. Sacred Heart then extended their lead soon after with a brilliant penalty from Twomey to stretch out the lead to 15-10. Entering the final 10 minutes, there was still danger for Clon as an unconverted try from Ennis would see them crowned champions due to having scored more tries. That scenario didn't transpire, however, as Clonakilty captalised on a clearing kick which got caught in the wind and it was Sara O'Sullivan who was first on the scene to dot down and ensure a historic double for Sacred Heart Clonakilty. You can watch back the live stream of today's senior final, brought to you by Pinergy, below. Sacred Heart Clonakilty 15. Solène Skupiewski 14. Clodagh McCarthy 13. Ella O’Sullivan 12. Kate Nolan 11. Tara Fleming 10. Rachel Twomey 9. Caoimhe McCarthy 1. Sara O’Sullivan 2. Aoife Godwin-Coombs 3. Amy Giles 4. Leona Arra 5. Éabha Egan 6. Kate Burton 7. Roxanne Llewellyn 8. Emer Moroney Replacements: 16. Alison McCarthy 17. Emily Moloney 18. Orla Whelton 19. Alison Brennan 20. Charlotte McCabe 21. Olivia Lawlor 22. Eavan Boyle 23. Sinead O’Mahony 24. Orlaith Finn 25. Aisling Dinneen Coláiste Muire Ennis  15. Orna Moynihan 14. Sophie Culleton 13. Ellis O’Flaherty 12. Lucy Power 11. Ella Courtney 10. Lyndsay Clarke 9. Amy Butler 1. Fiadh O’Shea 2. Kiera O’Neill 3. Caoileann Cahill 4. Ciara Frawley 5. Jennifer Weston 6. Ellen Byrne 7. Eabha O’Driscoll 8. Sally Kelly Replacements: 16. Anna Byrne 17. Muireann O’Mullane 18. Victoria Burns 19. Anna Steigerwald 20. Mary McInerny 21. Ella Fitzgibbon 22. Elisha Rowland 23. Sadie Shalloo