ST Patrick’s, Maghera have become the first school from Ulster to lift the Purcell Cup for the All-Ireland camogie sevens since the competition was introduced almost four decades ago.
Winners of the Ulster FMC Appliances Cup a fortnight ago with a late, late show in the final against St Killian’s, Garron Tower, St Patrick’s coasted through the round-robin series of the finals held in the Meath Centre of Excellence in Dunganny yesterday.
They defeated Presentation, Athenry (8-4 to 2-1), holders Loreto, Kilkenny (2-6 to 2-2) And Munster champions Ursulines, Thurles (5-6 to 4-3). Kilkenny reached the decider with two wins under their belts.
In the decider, Swatragh’s Emma Quinn grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and scored three goals and nine points in a 6-10 to 4-6 victory, with Brianna Doherty (2-1) and Gracie Diamond (1-0) their other scorers.
While Quinn was superb at one end of the field, goalie Gracie Mae Bradley excelled at the other, regular coming off her line in a sweeper role to help Eimear Conway and Aoife McWilliams in the Derry side’s defence.
Another Derry school, St Pius X, Magherafelt represented Ulster in the B competition and, while they failed to reach the final, they came close in all of their three games. St Mary’s, Charleville collected that trophy with victory over Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown
St Dominic’s, Belfast were appearing at this stage for the first time ever after lifting the FMC Shield in Ulster. They beat High Cross College, Tuam and St Fergal’s, Rathdowney to reach the final. However they lost the decider narrowly to Munster champions Shannon Community school.
