Heartbreak for St BrigidÕs in big defeat in colleges final

Loreto Kilkenny 4-11St Brigid’s Loughrea 1-10

Eoghan Cormican at Templederry

St Brigid’s bid to secure a first ever All Ireland senior colleges camogie title ended in bitter disappointment as they were outclassed by a stronger and more skilful Loreto Kilkenny outfit at Templederry on Saturday.

Two opening half goals put Loreto on their way as they copperfastened their reputation as the undoubted aristocrats of colleges camogie, retaining their crown in a final that turned out to be more of a procession than a contest.

Indeed, from the moment Sarah Dunphy bagged Loreto’s opening goal on nine minutes until the closing stages when Sarah Ann Quinlan blasted to the net, the reigning champions looked assured, composed and in command.

For St Brigid’s part, they can have no qualms about this one. Frankly, they were soundly beaten by a more accomplished side. It didn’t help however that St Brigid’s more talented exponents failed to deliver and this in no small way contributed to the fact that they were cleaned out between the 45s.

Their half forward line and midfield were completely outgunned, althought the switch of Rachel Monaghan to centre-forward in an attempt to curtail the influence of centre-back Miriam Walsh did somewhat stem the tide.

Further back, the St Brigid’s rearguard was under ferocious pressure and while centre-back Lorraine Farrell delivered a towering second half display, the half-back line was hit for 2-7 over the hour.

Remarkably, Loreto’s entire front six as well as midfielders Lydia Fitzpatrick and Niamh Leahy got on the scoresheet. Throw in an unrelenting work ethic all over the field and it’s easy to see why Saturday represented Loreto’s third successive All Ireland College’s victory.

They had excellent attacking performances from Claire Phelan, Sarah Ann Quinlan and Jenny Clifford and thanks to the industry of corner forward Orla Hanrick, plus Lydia Fitzpatrick, Kate Holland and Miriam Walsh further back the field the supply lines were strong enough to provide them with rich rewards on the scoreboard.

By way of contrast, St. Brigid’s conjured up just 1-3 from open play, displaying an over-reliance on the unerring free taking abilities of Rachel Monaghan.

That said, Mullagh’s Patricia Manning worked her way in brilliantly from the right to shoot of the hurl in opening the Loughrea School’s account. It was to be the only time Brigid’s would hold the initiative however as Sarah Dunphy supplied the finish to a sweeping move involving Niamh Leahy, Lydia Fitzpatrick and Claire Phelan to nudge the Kilkenny stickwomen two ahead.

Loreto settled and began to stamp their authority on proceedings with the likes of Walsh, Fitzpatrick and Phelan all to the fore in driving the Kilkenny College to a seven point lead at the turnaround.

Loreto weren’t completely dominant in the opening quarter but were far more clinical in possession and more often than not took their chances when they arouse.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.