Lucy's heroics play a key role as super St Tola's triumph
Scoil Naomh Tola 1-12 Scoil Chroí Naofa 2-1
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Lucy McGrath of St Tola’s solos clear in the Div 2 camogie decider. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 2 of 5
Neveah Newman, St Tola’s and Katie Buckley, Rochfortbridge, compete for the ball. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 3 of 5
Scoil Chroí Naofa Rochfortbridge, runners-up in the camogie Div 2 final.Image 4 of 5
The St Tola’s team, winners of the Div 2 camogie final.Image 5 of 5
Lexi Murtagh, captain of the winning St Tola’s camogie side.Gerry Buckley
This year’s recent Cumann na mBunscol finals in TEG Cusack Park opened with an entertaining Camogie Division 2 decider in which Scoil Naomh Tola pulled away from Scoil Chroí Naofa, Rochfortbridge in the second half to deservedly win the title.
The sides were level at the end of the opening 10 minutes of what was a 20 minutes-a-side match. Shaynah Mitchell’s goal from point-blank range in the fifth minute cancelled out a hat-trick points for the winners, all from the stick of the outstanding Lucy McGrath – one from a ‘45’, and two from play.
Ava Carroll then nudged the ’Bridge girls ahead for the last time in the match with a successful free, via a defender’s hurl. A long-range goal from Isobelle Mulligan, and fine points from Annie Delaney and McGrath had Scoil Naomh Tola ahead by 1-5 to 1-1 at the break.
Delaney doubled her tally shortly after play resumed, but Molly Cleary reduced the deficit to just two points with a goal for the losers. However, the girls in green went on to dominate the remainder of the contest, during which they added six points without reply to their tally. The white flags were raised by McGrath (three – including a free), Delaney (two – including a free), and Mulligan.
After the match, Derek Butler, the chairman of Westmeath Cumann na mBunscol, presented the cup to the winning captain, Lexi Murtagh.
Scorers – Scoil Naomh Tola: L McGrath 0-7 (1f, 1’35’), A Delaney 0-4 (1f), I Mulligan 1-1. Scoil Chroí Naofa, Rochfortbridge: S Mitchell, M Cleary 1-0 each, A Carroll 0-1 (f).
Scoil Naomh Tola panel: Neveah Newman, Lexi Murtagh, Aoife Curran, Annie Delaney, Lucy McGrath, Isobelle Mulligan, Abbie Smith, Alannah Reihill, Katie McHugh, Caoimhe Gill, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Swiatkowska, Julie Smith, Maria Daugela, Maisie McCormack, Millie Robinson, Alice Hyland, Ella Daly, Emma Clune, Holly Hanrahan, Jessica Hogan.
Scoil Chroí Naofa, Rochfortbridge panel: Sadie Arthur, Orlaith Hanley, Grace Martin, Ava Carroll, Shaynah Mitchell, Liadán Gavin, Katie Buckley, Aubri Sweeney, Sophia Culbert, Amelia McNab, Molly Cleary, Lillian Heeney, Chloe Daly, Anna Heeney, Orla Moore, Emma Gove, Mia Williams.
Ref: Jimmy Weldon
(Lough Lene Gaels).