Late rally not enough as Sacred Heart School’s All-Ireland dreams shattered

Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary School Senior A Final

Sacred Heart School Westport 1-5

Our Lady’s School Secondary School Castleblayney 1-8

Maggie Chambers in Banagher

It is a heartbreaking loss that will take some time to heal.

Sacred Heart School Westport were unable to reverse the disappointment from last year’s All-Ireland final, despite getting a goal in the dying minutes of this afternoon’s meeting with Our Lady’s School Secondary School Castleblayney.

The Westport side battled hard and outscored the Monaghan team in the second half, but ultimately, Our Lady’s of Castleblayney left the Banagher GAA grounds as All-Ireland A champions for the first time in their history. 

The opening half consisted of outstanding teamwork, and the Monaghan side showcased an immense display of tackling and dispossessing the Westport side.

The Ulster team were leading 0-3 to 0-1 with 15 minutes played, but the major blow came in the 16th minute.

Castleblayney corner forward, Katie McAdam, hit a long-range effort, which crept into the top corner of the Sacred Heart Schools net. 

Despite the blow, the Covies did not drop their heads and went in at the interval trailing 1-4 to 0-2.

The second half followed the same trend as the first. Castleblayney defended in numbers, and Sacred Heart School were unable to play as they would have liked.

With ten minutes left to play, the teams were separated by seven points, and it appeared that the game had been won.

However, Sacred Heart School substitute, Amy Carney, managed to raise the green flag, and it seemed as though there was a possibility of a comeback, but it was not to be for the Westport side.

A disappointing end to a brilliant season.