Scoil Mhuire Buncrana target All-Ireland schools glory

Scoil Mhuire Buncrana’s preparations for their FAI Schools U-20 Senior Girls National Cup Final continue this week with boss Paddy Carr saying the side is aiming for a February 22 decider outing. 

The Buncrana scholars earned their shot at All-Ireland glory with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré last week, courtesy of a stunning freekick from new Sligo Rovers signing Jodie Loughrey. 

That now sets Scoil Mhuire up for a shot at St. Attracta’s Community School of Tubbercurry in the final. 

“We’re provisionally looking at February 22,” said Carr who also explained that a venue for the national showpiece had also yet to be decided. “We’re looking forward to it. Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré, to be fair, really pinned us to our collar. But fair play to Jodie, her set piece made all the difference. 

“She did something very similar too against Carndonagh in the Ulster final. When there is only a kick of a ball between teams to have that in our locker has proved vital. 

“This time out it was the middle of the first-half so it came relatively early on in the game. We did have quite a few chances in that same time, we also had a penalty shout waved away. 

“We sat that little bit deeper after half-time looking to protect what we had. They did push hard late on and a great Ciara McGee tackle just nipped it off Ceola Bergin’s toes. It was a superbly timed intervention”.

Scoil Mhuire progress to the Senior Girls Cup Final where they’ll take on familiar opposition in St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry. The sides last met in the 2022 Junior Girls Cup semi-final decider with the Buncrana girls winning out and going on to win the National title. No doubt the Sligo School will be looking to avenge last season’s defeat.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be back in a final,” added Carr. “For those girls, it’s a great opportunity. It’s the second year on the trot they’ve reached an All-Ireland decider. The U-17 girls, with Eoin Leonard in charge, beat St Attracta’s in the last four last year. 

“There was little to nothing between the teams that day and it will be the exact same this time out, I’ve no doubt about that”. 

He added: “We are still waiting on a number of details regarding the game, time, date, ve nue and so on. We also have girls involved with their clubs in between and we have some also playing Gaelic. But listen, you can easily pick up knocks at training. It will all help keep the girls sharp. So that’s the way we’ll look at it”.