Hat-trick hero Heffernan fires Holy Family to victory
Holy Family NS 10-7 Scoil Mhuire 1-4
Lucy Heffernan scored three goals as Mullingar's Holy Family Primary School took the honours in the girls football Division 2 final at TEG Cusack Park on Wednesday. It was a resounding win for the superior Holy Family side whose fine combination play was a dominant feature and with a 14-point advantage at the break, they were always in control.
On the restart they swooped for four goals in the opening eight minutes to underline their dominance and despite Loughegar's efforts, they could not recover. Scoil Mhuire, Loughegar could not be faulted for their brave efforts, but were forced to give second best.
A brace of Rachel Cummins majors gave Holy Family an early lead and she also notched two points; Lucy Heffernan chipped in with a couple of goals. A Keela Doran free added to Holy Family's lead. Holly Tuite responded with a wonderful Scoil Mhuire point but it failed to put a serious dent in the Mullingar side's lead. At half-time Holy Family led by 4-3 to 0-1.
On the resumption, Holy Family added five goals to leave Scoil Mhuire facing a mammoth task. Aoibhín O’Sullivan, Keela Doran, Lucy Heffernan and Chloe Bell (2) were all on target for the impressive Mullingar side. Heffernan also added a point to enhance their lead and it was 9-4 to 0-1 with 10 minutes remaining. Ella Frayne and Ellen Plunkett (2) then added Holy Family points as their subs made an impact. Suzi Corroon added the coup de grace with a wonderful goal from distance.
Scoil Mhuire didn't capitulate and notched a few consolation scores as the game petered out. The impressive Holly Tuite sent over a fine point from play before notching a free, while Ellie Kelleghan scored a terrific goal from distance. Ella Rose Brennan had the final say for Loughegar with a good point, but at the end of the game there was no denying Holy Family, whose overall performance was outstanding.
Afterwards Holy Family captains Caoimhe McHugh and Keela Doran accepted cup amid joyful scenes as the charges of Anne Reynolds and Jack Murphy celebrated a fully deserved success.
Scorers - Holy Family: Lucy Heffernan 3-1, Rachel Cummins 2-2, Chloe Bell 2-0, Keela Doran 1-1 (0-1 from a free), Aoibhín O’Sullivan 1-0, Suzi Corroon 1-0, Ellen Plunkett 0-2, Ella Frayne 0-1. Scoil Mhuire, Loughegar: Holly Tuite 0-3 (0-1 from a free), Ellie Kelleghan 1-0, Ella Rose Brennan 0-1.
Holy Family: Phoebe Molloy, Caoimhe McHugh, Caoimhe Shanley, Chloe Bell, Mia Dale, Laurie Finnegan, Keela Doran, Suzi Corroon, Aoibhín O’Sullivan, Rachel Cummins, Lucy Heffernan, Holly Molloy, Elizabeth Kelly, Alice Geelon, Amy Smyth, Orla Cosgrave, Sophie Dinu, Ellen Plunkett, Arwen Sheeran, Saoirse Dixon Griffith, Elise Buckley, Eadaoin Ryan, Ella Frayne, Hannah O’Brien, Ellyn Toomey, Hannah Cleary, Zoe Fitzpatrick, Heidi Molloy, Karah Reynolds, Emily O’Neill, Aoife Newcombe.
Scoil Mhuire, Loughegar: Ciara Egerton, Kate Kincaid, Ayla Mahon Bagnall, Ella Rose Brennan, Laura Tansey, Ellie Kelleghan, Holly Tuite, Aoife McCormack, Katie Raleigh, Molly Nea, Ethel Conroy, Sasha Martin, Grace McCarthy, Layla Scally, Emma Lynn, Vanessa Farrelly, Milana Mykhailova.
Referee: Barry Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks).