Primary School Finals: Sharkey boosts Baconstown to victory in stunning style

Holly Sharkey scored 5-2 as Baconstown NS retained the Girls Div 4 title they won in 2019 with a resounding 9-8 to 1-0 victory over Moynalvey at Pairc Tailteann on Friday.

The winners dominated from the off and with Sharkey excelling and Louise Kane, Kate Cleary and Leah Kane also impressive they were not to be denied what was their fourth title in six attempts.

Baconstown started on the front foot with Sharkey opening the scoring with a wonderful point which left her with a broken boot.

With Sharkey off the field for running repairs Lucy McKenna was denied by a fine save from Hannah Regan, but when Sharkey returned she ran half the length of the field before blasting a brilliant goal to stretch Baconstown's lead.

It was all Baconstown as they attacked the hospital end and another storming run from midfield, this time from Louise Kane, resulted in a brilliant second goal and two minutes later Sharkey turned provider to set up Fiadh Dorgan for a simple third goal which made it 3-1 to 0-0.

Moynalvey defended stubbornly for the following seven minutes and held Baconstown at bay, but it was Sharkey again who got the scoreboard ticking over with a fine finish after great work by Dorgan and Leah Kane.

The excellent Louise Kane ensured her side led by 4-2 to 0-0 at the break with a fine point.

Dominant Baconstown remained in control when play resumed with Leah Kane adding a point before Dorgan's second goal made it 5-3 to 0-0.

A superb point from Sharkey was followed immediately by another brilliant goal from Sharkey and by the sixth minute of the half the Spirit of the Final winner added another goal after a 40-metre run.

Dorgan added a point from a fisted effort and after Kate Cleary pointed, Sharkey scored her fifth goal before being forced off with a hand injury.

With Sharkey off the field Moynalvey looked threatening and were rewarded with a goal from Aoife O'Shea which drew the biggest cheer of the game.

Dorgan was denied a third goal by a good save from Regan, but Baconstown's ninth goal came from Sorcha Coffey before the outstanding Louise Kane concluding the scoring with the last two points.

Baconstown NS - Charlotte Burke; Ella Rose Doherty, Sarah Heffernan; Aoibhinn Ward, Jasmine Counihan, Louise Kane (1-3); Kate Cleary (0-2), Holly Sharkey (5-2); Leah Kane, Fiadh Dorgan (2-1), Lucy McKenna. Subs - Sorcha Coffey (1-0), Emily Gilsenan, Keelin O’Rafferty, Lucy Conway, Aoife Monaghan. Mentor - Ariana Harris.

Moynalvey NS - Hannah Regan; Máire Logue, Chloe Brewer; Lucy Bannon, Bridget Corcoran, Aoife O’Shea (1-0); Sophia Anthonsen, Eva Gannon; Stephanie Dunne, Áine Corcoran, Aisling Keogh. Subs - Ríonach Murphy, Robyn McHale, Sophie Teehan O’Neill, Rachel Treacy, Sarah Clarke. Mentors - Anna Flynn, Denis O’Shea, Aileen Dunne.

Referee - Niamh O'Sullivan (St Seachnall's Dunshuaghlin).