Disappointing day for Loreto
It certainly wasn't from a lack of trying that Loreto Navan's bid for Leinster Girls' Schools SFC ended in disappointment in Kinnegad today as they lost this pulsating final by 4-12 to 6-10.
Moate CS, who reached the All-Ireland final in 2020 but didn't get to play because of Covid, were impressive from the off with the excellent Shannon Mulvihill forcing Ciara Blake into the first of a number of fine saves, but the rebound fell kindly for Anna Sheerin to tap to the net from close range.
Lisa O'Neill and Aine Gaynor (free) traded points before Orlaith Mallon benefited from Emma Quigley's lapse as her shot from distance fell to the net to make it 1-1 to 1-1.
Two points from Mulvihill, one free, pushed Moate clear again and they maintained that two-point cushion as Mallon, Sarah Jane Lyons and Amy O'Dowd (two) saw points for Loreto cancelled out by scores from Gaynor (two), Mulvihill (free) and Kate Whyte.
O'Neill narrowed the deficit to the minimum from a free, but Gaynor blasted an unstoppable goal before Mulvihill converted another free to make it 2-8 to 1-6.
Mallon replied with a free for Loreto, but Moate continued to press and a brilliant sweeping move ended with Mulvihill firing to the net. Another O'Neill score closed the gap to six points, but when Moate were awarded a bizarre penalty out of nothing Ava Cornally converted to make it 4-8 to 1-8.
Almost immediately Loreto responded with Mallon finishing a fine move to close the gap to 2-8 to 4-8 at half-time.
Turning with the wind at their backs it took Loreto almost nine minutes to half the deficit with frees from O'Neill (two) and Mallon. In between those scores Blake made a fine save to deny Mulvihill.
Another strange refereeing call gifted Moate a 13-metre free even though Aoibhin McKenny's foot block to deny Mulvihill a goal was clearly inside the large square, but Mulvihill tapped over the free to make it 4-9 to 2-11.
Another harsh call by the match official saw Ciara Smyth sent to the sin-bin in the 45th minute and just before the second water break Whyte struck the Loreto crossbar.
When play resumed Gaynor stretched Moate's lead, but then two more goalkeeping errors gifted goals to Mallon and O'Neill as Loreto some how found themselves 4-11 to 4-10 in front.
When Mallon increased that lead with a point there looked like only one winner, but Moate had other ideas as Mulvihill rounded Blake to restore her side's one-point cushion.
Loreto hit three wides in succession in the closing stages and from almost the last kick out the game Mulvihill wrapped up the win for Moate with her third goal to leave Loreto devastated.
SCORERS
Moate CS - Shannon Mulvihill 3-5 three frees; Aine Gaynor 1-4 three frees; Anna Sheerin 1-0; Avan Cornally 1-0 penalty; Kate Whyte 0-1.
Loreto Navan - Orlaith Mallon 3-4 two frees; Lisa O'Neill 1-5 four frees; Amy O'Dowd 0-2; Sarah Jane Lyons 0-1.
Check out next Tuesday's Meath Chronicle for full match report and more photos from today's thrilling final.