A step too far for Mercy College
The Mercy College team that lost out to Skibbereen CS in the Lidl All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior A semi final
After a year to remember, Mercy College’s ladies footballers came unstuck as they lost out 4-11 to 0-3 against a superb Skibbereen CS side in the All Ireland LGFA Senior A semi final.
The Cork outfit possessed an abundance of pace as their slick handling and powerful runs from deep proved too much for Mercy College to handle.
Skibbereen CS did the damage in the first half as they led 2-7 to 0-2 at the interval. Mercy College saw four efforts drift wide but the damage could have been more with Skibbereen registering eight wides in the opening period.
The winners moved 1-5 to 0-0 in front after 18 minutes. Two frees from Eabha O’Donovan were added to by points from Kathlyn McCarthy, Aoife O’Driscoll and Carla O’Regan.
Skibbereen CS found the net as despite Mercy College goalkeeper Kiera Kilkenny making an excellent save from O’Regan, McCarthy was on hand to palm the rebound home.
Lilly Murray got Mercy College off the mark after 19 minutes and despite a boisterous Roscommon following, Skibbereen CS were not perturbed. O’Regan claimed the Mercy College kickout and found full forward Kate Carey who rifled to the net.
Hannah Sheehy boosted her side’s advantage before a Síofra Hession free saw Mercy College grab their second point on the stroke of half time.
Mercy College needed a strong start to the second half to have any hopes of a comeback. However, Skibbereen CS blasted a quick 1-2 without reply as Kate Carey’s brace of points were quickly followed by an Ellen Connolly goal.
That effectively ended Mercy College’s hopes. Hession did hit back with a free in the 38th minute while Shauna Walsh twice went close with attempts on goal thereafter but Skibbereen CS were much too strong on the day.
Carla O’Regan plundered her side’s fourth goal as Skibbereen progress through to the All Ireland ‘A’ final.
There was no fairytale finish for Mercy College this time around but this group can reflect with pride on a trophy laden spell with their school.
**Full report in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald**
