Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Inspirational Ivers fires St Mary’s to glory

St Mary's Enfield had to survive a stern second-half test from St Nicholas' Longwood before securing the Girls Div 1 Shield at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Shauna Ivers personal contribution of 1-4 was fundamental to St Mary's success, but it was their second-half defensively solidity that got them over the line as the Longwood side mounted a brave recovery, which ultimately fell short because of 11 wides fired over the 50 minutes.

Playing against the wind in the opening half proved to be no hindrance for St Mary's Enfield as they dominated the first period and led by eight points at the break.

Despite playing so well St Mary's fell behind early on as Jasmine Brennan opened the scoring for St Nicholas'. However, it didn't take Enfield long to settle as the powerful Shauna Ivers converted a free and then blasted a close range goal following a surging run to establish a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

The excellent Brennan replied with a point for the Longwood school, but Enfield were well in control and they continued to extend their lead with Leanagh Treacy twisting one way before turning the other and firing over. Ivers cut through the middle for Enfield's third point and in the 18th minute she added a free to her tally to push St Mary's 1-4 to 0-2 ahead.

St Nicholas' were wasteful down the other end as they kicked six wides in the opening period.

Enfield pushed their lead out to eight with a lobbed goal from Makayla Brady and when Anna Glynn added a point it underlined Enfield's dominance.

However, Longwood refused to give in and Caoimhe Dixon pointed before the break to close the gap to 0-3 to 2-5 at half-time.

It took Ivers just 24 seconds to stretch Enfield's lead after the break, but amazingly that proved to be their only score of the half despite playing with the breeze at their backs.

St Nicholas' looked much better playing against the wind and they were on the board within 90 seconds of the restart when Isabela Giles pointed.

Five minutes later Longwood were given a massive boost when Dixon toe-poked to the net after her initial effort was well saved by Jodie Clinton.

From the kickout Dixon won possession again and added a point to close the deficit to four points with 19 minutes remaining.

However, that was the end of the scoring as Longwood kicked wide after wide and St Mary's defended stoutly to claim the honours.

St Mary's Enfield - Jodie Clinton; Laoise Derivan, Cara Tuomey, Sophie Davy; Lauren Cronin, Róisín Farrell, Saoirse Crowley; Shauna Ivers (1-4 two frees), Léanagh Treacy (0-1); Ella Byrne, Anna Glynn (0-1), Katie Ryan; Holly Boyle, Aisling Kilcoyne, Makayla Brady (1-0). Aoife Cahill, Isobel Fay, Abbie Dolan, Gráinne Duggan, Ameya Vallamkonda, Isabelle Mulligan, Ella Ryan, Ruby McDwyer, Áine Mullan, Aoibheann Doyle, Aisling McNally, Kayleigh Glynn, Ríonadh O'Donnell, Lauren McGuinness, Emma Kelledy-Mulhern, Helen Cooney, Melanie Carroll-Browne, Anna Treacy, Robyn O’Neill, Amber Babooram. Mentors - L Codd, E Clancy.

St Nicholas' Longwood - Amelia Alawiye; Ruby Weir, Niamh McQuaid, Caoimhe Brangan; Yuru Wang, Ayda Colgan, Ruby Birmingham; Isabela Giles (0-1), Jasmine Brennan (0-2); Sadhbh Sharkey, Ruth Maguire, Kayla McCann; Natalie Collins, Caoimhe Dixon (1-2), Molly Lawlor. Leena Weir, Katie Bowers, Méabh Greene, Posi Connolly, Lucy Coules, Zoe Brady, Lilly Masterson, Hannah Murray, Megan Scully, Ellie-Mai Ennis, Amber Cleary, Maeve Nicholson, Bláthnaid Kelleher, Saerlaith Wiessenhaan, Lucia Donlon, Lexi-May Hewitt-Donald, Heidi Morris, Lucy Geoghegan, Freya Kavanagh, Hannah Henrick, Róisín Pickard, Robyn Flynn, Missy Ennis-Souroukides, Lilah Barron, Caoimhe McLoughlin, Chloe Stynes, Mia Holton, Luíseach Wiessenhaan. Mentors - Laura Bagnall, Julie McLoughlin, Louise Keogh.

Referee - Jimmy Walsh.