Navan students pass big test to secure All-Ireland final spot

LADIES ALL-IRELAND SCHOOLS

Loreto Navan have reached the Ladies All-Ireland Schools SFC final, after coming through a magnificent semi-final with Munster champions, Loreto Clonmel in Emo on Thursday last.

Sarah Jane Lyons, Ciara Smyth and Orlaith Reilly were the stand-outs for Navan as they helped their side to a famous victory.

Clonmel were highly fancied, having beaten the reigning All-Ireland champions on their way to the Munster crown, but Navan more than stood up to the challenge.

Loreto Navan overcame Scoil Mhuire Trim by 6-4 to 2-7 to lift the Leinster Championship in January, and continued to show their nose for goal against Clonmel.

Clonmel got off to a great start with two scores inside the first 90 seconds. Meath senior star Smyth got Navan off the mark before setting up her team’s first goal, picking out Lyons who raised the green flag in the seventh minute.

Clonmel came back with two quick scores from the outstanding Bríd McMaugh to level the tie.

Lyons and McMaugh traded scores midway through the half before Navan got in for their second goal – a great piece of individual skill from Emma Brogan.

Brogan tagged on a point five minutes before the break to give Navan a 2-3 to 0-5 lead at half-time.

Smyth opened the scoring in the second-half before Clonmel got in for their first goal of the game on 36 minutes. Navan responded immediately, going straight up the field where Tara Traynor got her team’s third goal.

Clonmel had their second goal in the 55th minute to leave just three points between the sides.

First-half substitute, Reilly then took over, scoring 1-2 in the space of five minutes to give Navan a commanding lead.

McMaugh scored three late points for the Munster champions, but they could not make up the difference as Navan ran out deserved winners and will play Sacred Heart Westport in the All-Ireland final on Saturday 1st April

SCORERS

Loreto Navan - Orlaith Reilly 1-2; Sarah Jane Lyons 1-1; Emma Brogan 1-1; Tara Traynor 1-0; Ciara Smyth 0-2 one free.

Loreto Clonmel - Bríd McMaugh 0-8 five frees; Eabha Dolan 1-1; Ava Wall 1-0.

TEAMS

Loreto Navan - Alex O'Connor; Megan Clarke, Megan Coyne, Steffi Finegan; Isabel O'Connor, Zoe Harte, Lily Dwyer; Rebecca Reilly, Mia Brady; Sarah Jane Lyons, Ciara Smyth, Lucy Reynolds; Lauren Woods, Tara Traynor, Emma Brogan. Subs - Orlaith Reilly for Reynolds 23mins, Ava Purcell for Finegan 48m.

Loreto Clonmel - Rebecca Acheson Dennehy; Ailis O’Meara, Gretta Nugent, Ellie Morris; Mia Cahalane, Nora Martin, Thea O’Leary; Bríd McMaugh, Ellie Franklin; Emma Carey, Méabh Russell, Ava Wall; Kate Moore, Eabha Dolan, Summer Peters. Subs - Sarah Mulcahy for Morris half-time, Ava Ryan for O’Leary 35mins, Leah Roche for Moore 51m, Rachel Butler for Cahalane 60m.

Referee - David Hurson (Monaghan).