Coláiste íosagáin complete magnificent All-Ireland Junior Schools double dream

DAIRE WALSH

THE month of March has been a truly unforgettable one for Coláiste Íosagáin, who were comprehensive 5-15 to 0-4 winners against Loreto Omagh in the Tesco All-Ireland Schools Junior ‘A’ Ladies Football decider on Saturday afternoon.

This magnificent triumph followed their nail-biting All-Ireland Junior ‘C’ Camogie success over Coláiste na Tríonóide of Doon, and with several players involved in both sides, it is clear that the sporting future is bright in the Booterstown gaelscoil.

Íosagáin, captained by Hannah Ní Dhea (inset), began the proceedings at Inniskeen, Monaghan with a strong wind in their favour, and it was an early three-pointer from Niamh Ní Shíocháin (whose late goal ensured that her school secured the national camogie title) that provided the Metropolitans with a positive early platform.

She showcased some fine footwork before finding the net, and although Orla Ní Dhuill needed to be at her best to divert Ciarraí McCann’s goal-bound effort at the other end of the field, a second Ní Shíocháin goal (after the full-forward fielded a long-delivery) helped Íosagáin to develop an emphatic 2-9 to 0-2 interval advantage.

Because of the strength of the breeze, there was still a slight chance that a gallant Omagh fightback was on the cards when the play resumed, but an early second period goal from Grace Ní Shé (the star player in Íosagáin’s camogie victory) effectively sealed their fate.

Omagh’s Sasha Byrne did her best to stem the Íosagáin tide – she was denied by the woodwork from a dangerous opportunity – but a further Ní Shé major from a later attack created even further daylight between the teams.

Ní Shé and Ní Shíocháin both finished with personal hauls of 2-2, and courtesy of a fifth goal by Laura Ní Chatháin, as well as a sizeable contribution from player-of-the-match Michelle Ní Chairdha, Coláiste Íosagáin recorded an astonishing 26-point win.