Disappointment for Sacred Heart in All Ireland semi-final

LADIES FOOTBALL

ALL IRELAND POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS JUNIOR A SEMI-FINAL

FCJ Secondary School Bunclody 3-8

Sacred Heart School Westport 1-11

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon in Banagher, the old saying 'goals win games' was truly applicable.

Sacred Heart's dreams of an All Ireland double fell at the hands of FCJ Bunclody, of county Wexford, who scored three goals in the first half, to secure their place in the final.

Despite a cagey start to the game, FCJ first hit the back of the net with 13 minutes on the clock, and ultimately, did not look back.

Despite the best efforts of the Mayo side, and in particular, wing-forward Larissa Kelly, who hit 0-4 from play in the opening half, each time Sacred Heart looked to be coming back into the match, their Wexford opponents would raise the green flag.

The teams went in at halftime, with Bunclody leading 3-4 to 0-9.

The second half was a much tighter affair. FCJ Bunclody outscored the Coveys 0-4 to 0-2 in the opening 20 minutes of the second period and looked to have the game wrapped up. That was until with 57 minutes on the clock, and an All-Ireland final on the line, the impressive Aoife Meaney stepped up to rattle the back of the net with a short-range free. 

This brought the deficit back to three points, but it would not be enough for the Connacht champions - and unveiled a disappointing end, to a brilliant season.