St. Leo's defend Leinster crown
Tuesday February 23 2010
LEINSTER GIRL'S schools junior A football champions for the first time last year, St. Leo's College are seeking back-to-back championships when they play St. Mary's of Edenderry in the final next Tuesday (March 2) at Annanough, Vicarstown at 12noon.
When they triumphed last season they had the aid of up to seven of the senior team which won their eastern title also, but this year they are reduced to just four of the first team – Jane Moore, Ciara Callinan, Lauren Dwyer and Amanda Kinsella.
The Offaly school will be more than anxious to lift the trophy if only to gain revenge for St. Leo's defeating their senior girls in the recent provincial decider in Vicarstown.
The Carlow team reached the final via Loreto, Wexford and Cnoc Mhuire of Granard with the holders forced to dig deep in both to survive.
Co-trainer, along with Brendan Hayden, Mick Moore (father of Jane) considers the final to be a much closer affair than any of the school's matches over the last two seasons, part reason that they do not have the same senior experience on board this time.
"Both our matches so far have been tight enough and I'd expect another close contest in this final," says the former Laois player who is encouraged by the performances of gymnast Sara Rennick and 12 years old Roisin Byrne whose switch to midfield in the semi-final was central to St. Leo's passage against Granard, while others who have shown consistency this year include Orla Moran Ciara Callinan and Derbhalla Kelly.
They will all have to be on top of their form to qualify for the all-Ireland semi-final and hopefully atone for losing the national final last year to Loreto of Omagh in Navan by 4-12 to 2-9 when floored by three goals in less than two minutes midway through the second half.
Seven of the St. Leo's team which lost in Pairc Tailteann are still in harness, Ciara Moore, her cousin Jane who captains the team (her sister Anna, a Laois senior was player of the match when 'Leo's won the senior all-Ireland two years ago) Elaine Kehoe Ciara Callinan Orla Moran Amanda Kinsella and Avril Kelly.
