Ulster Junior Camogie Shield final: St Paul's, Kilrea v Loreto, Cavan (Saturday, 12.30pm, MUSA)
FOR the fifth year in-a-row, St Paul's, Kilrea are preparing for the Ulster Junior Shield final - and hoping to end an unwanted record of defeats in the final.
Back in 2008/9, the school won its only title and even reached the All-Ireland final that year. Since then, however, they have lost to St Catherine's, Armagh and then three Down schools - St Malachy's, Castlewellan; St Louis', Kilkeel and, last season, St Columba's, Portaferry. There has been a single-point defeat and last year's disappointment after extra-time, but the signs are better for this season.
At the start of November, this same panel won the U16 championship with a goal to spare over Our Lady's, Newry and they beat the same opposition 4-6 to 2-2 a fortnight ago to reach this Shield final.
Key players for the Bannsiders are Shannon Darragh and Dara McGuckin, who have plenty of experience with Antrim and Derry's underage teams respectively.
Loreto have been working hard to develop the game in the school and have won titles at lower grades, their appearance in this final representing significant progress. But they are certainly there on merit, the 1-9 to 1-4 scoreline in the semi-final last week against Knock the closest anyone has come to them during the competition.
They have a physically strong core to the team and many of the girls also play football. Their key players are in the midfield diamond - Áine Brady at centre-back, the Keenaghan sisters in midfield and Muireann Cusack leading the attack.
This really is a very hard game to call and both teams will fancy their chances. Kilrea have played more games and will come into this final with higher hopes than a few of the ones they lost. This might be the day their luck in finals changes.
TEAM NEWS
St Paul's: S McLaughlin, C Higgins, O O'Neill, K McAllister, K Burke, S McCloskey, N McNeill, S Darragh, H McEldowney, M Thomson, D McGuckin (capt.), E McNeill, M Mullan, E Toal, E Hardy; Subs: C Bradley, R Hardy, A McGilligan, E Mullan, S Black, K McGill, M Tully.
Loreto: A Coyle, L Costello, R Dourneen, E Coyle, M McKenna, A Brady, E Brady, N Keenaghan, C Keenaghan (capt.), E Colwell, M Cusack, E McDermott, R Dourneen, S Coyle, S Cahill; Subs: S Crowe, S Reilly, M Duffy, E Cahill, C Reilly, H Dunne, M Reilly, S Smith, A Keenaghan, M McDonnell, R Finchett, C McIntyre, K Galligan, S Monaghan, S Mulcahy, N Murray
