Basketball: Intense is the only word to describe the battle for the All-Ireland Schoolgirls' Senior A title at the National Arena in Tallaght yesterday. Mercy Heights, Skibbereen, were looking for their first title having lost three previous finals but the breathtaking display of Niamh Dwyer from Presentation Thurles eventually forced them to concede defeat, 45-40.
The Thurles victory, however, required a persistent chase before they sneaked ahead in the dying minutes. April Cahalane and Niamh McCarthy were the most significant figures in a more balanced Skibbereen side, yet that was still not enough to keep a handle on Dwyer - who ended up with 33 points. Heading into the last 10 minutes, the Cork girls edged into a seven-point lead. Dwyer then shot two significant threepointers and with Assumpta Fogarty also claiming some crucial scores, suddenly Thurles had stolen the momentum.
There was a hugely emotional victory for Stella Maris, Ballycastle, in the Senior C final. Only once had they made national finals before, winning bronze medals, but with the school due to close in June, the girls had added inspiration and determination to win their first (and only) all-Ireland title.
And it took a rousing game with Mount Temple Comprehensive to do it. Level at 28 points apiece heading into the last five minutes, Cora Early and Kara Finnerty then started making the difference for Stella Maris. Suzanne Ahern made sure Mount Temple were still in with a shout but when Deidre Gardiner completed two free shots in the dying seconds, Stella Maris were assured of their historic success.
Schoolgirls' Hockey: Wesley College avenged their defeat a fortnight ago by Loreto Bray in the cup semi-finals by beating the same opposition 1-0 in yesterday's Leinster Senior League final at Grange Road, winning the competition for the second year running, reports Mary Hannigan.
Rebecca Stuart got the game's only goal after 10 minutes, connecting, first time, with a Nikki Symmons cross.
Wesley had the better of the game, with Davina Porter and Emma Delahunt producing faultless displays at the back, but a fine second-half performance by Bray's Linda O'Neill threatened to change the outcome.
Wesley College: C Proctor, E Delahunt, S Walker, S Geoffroy, L Beck, R Wallace, P Agar, A Carson, R Stuart, N Symmons, D Porter. Subs: L McCoy, E Braithwaite, H Comiskey, L Jenkinson, R Carson.
Loreto Bray: L Doyle, I Joyce, T Kelly, E McManus, C Murray, L O'Neill, A Challoner, L Barrie, L Spillane, C Joyce, L Byrne. Subs: R Freeman, G Howe, S Doyle, V Bennett, S O'Toole.
Umpires: P Hale and A Murray.
Mount Anville survived the agony of conceding a last-minute equaliser in normal time of their Junior A League final to beat Loreto Dalkey 4-3 on penalty strokes. Kate O'Donnell converted the winning flick.
Jenny Loughney gave Mount Anville the lead after 11 minutes, scoring from a rebound following a short corner. Amy McCabe cleared a Beth Maguire shot off the line before Dalkey made it 11 after the final hooter had sounded when Marian Kernan scored from their sixth corner in quick succession.
Mount Anville: L Coady, A McCabe, K O'Donnell, C McGowan, A McKeating, C Sexton, K Quigley (capt), C Quinlan, G Davy, J Loughney, A Tierney. Subs: S Griffith, R Copeland, S Farivarz, J David, L Steen.
Loreto Dalkey: R Conlon, P Grehan, F Keogh, K Morrissey, M McCarthy, C O'Brien, E Smyth, M Kernan, S Cunningham, B Maguire, F McCormick. Subs: K Dillon, M Spillane, R A Kilty, L Kennedy, F Healy.
Umpires: K Eppel and B Carroll.
