LIDL ALL-IRELAND SEN PP ‘C’ GIRLS’ FINAL
Battling Holy Faith fall short in final
Daire Walsh
THEY produced a battling display at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday, but Holy Faith, Clontarf ultimately suffered a seven-point defeat (4-11 to 2-10) against Presentation SS, Thurles in the LIDL All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior ‘C’ decider.
The Dublin champions had advanced to this stage with a maiden Leinster success over Heywood CS of Laois, and a superb penalty save by goalkeeper Zoe Power kept them on level terms early on. Impressive attacker Aoibhe Bell also registered a 19th-minute goal, but similar scores from Casey Hennessy (two) and Lauren McCormack gave Presentation a 3-4 to 1-4 lead at the break.
With Bell (who finished with an outstanding haul of 1-5), Sinead Quigley and Sarah Fagan all in fine form, Holy Faith kept the Thurles outfit on their toes after the resumption. However, with Hennessy and McCormack amassing a combined tally of 3-6, Presentation remained in the ascendancy.
A Sara McKevitt goal placed the outcome beyond doubt, but a determined Holy Faith did end their season on a positive note – as Quigley fired past opposition netminder Saoirse Fanning on 58 minutes.