LORETO, LETTERKENNY won the Elaine Winston Memorial Cup after a thrilling tournament at the Letterkenny school today.
They beat their namesakes Loreto Community School, Milford 3-1 to 2-1 in the final with Aine McGettigan, Grainne Gallagher and Ciana Brogan the goalscorers.
It felt right and fitting, too, that the silverware stayed on the ground and the school the late Elaine Winston loved and on the ground and school that loved Elaine Winston, who passed away in November 2012, aged just 31.
“We know how much this means to Loreto,” was how the winning captain, Meghan Reid, put it afterwards.
“We’re very proud and very honoured to win this Cup. We know what it means to the school and to her family. We’re delighted to have won it. It was tough going, but we did it.”
The sun even came out for the occasion and the setting was befitting of the day that was in it.
An already-touching tournament became rather more poignant when Mary Bourne, the chief organiser, noted afterwards that this is the final year where students taught by the late Ms Winston will play in the competition.
Picture caption: The winning Loreto, Letterkenny team celebrate their victory in the Elaine Winston Memorial Tournament. Picture by Evan Logan
The competitive nature of it all was outlined when score difference was needed to determine who advanced to the final of the four-team tournament involving Loreto, Letterkenny; Loreto Community School, Milford; St Columba’s, Stranorlar; and Mulroy College, Milford.
With just two points to spare when the sums were totted, Loreto Community School Milford advanced to meet Loreto, Letterkenny in the decider after Grainne McDaid’s Milford students defeated Mulroy 2-4 to 2-2 in a final group game that effectively acted as a semi-final.
Loreto, Letterkenny side hit the front with a goal in the fourth minute as McGettigan’s lobbed effort looped over the Milford ‘keeper, Alana McFadden and crept in at the angle of post and crossbar.
That came after Lauren Carr fired Milford in front with an early point, but it was all about Letterkenny until Carr prodded in a goal late in the half that left things delicately poised at the break.
Loreto, Letterkenny led 2-1 to 1-1 at half-time.
Their second goal came in the eighth minute. Brogan’s crossfield ball found Reid, who fed Gallagher and a crisp low finish gave McFadden no chance of a save.
With McGettigan getting a point, following a neat move that involved Brogan and Mya Alcorn, it was looking like one-way traffic until Carr put the cat among the pigeons with her goal.
In first-half stoppage time, Brogan could have netted a third for Loreto, Letterkenny, but a first-time shot was well blocked by McFadden.
Milford equalised when Carr slammed a free straight to the net early in the second half, but the match-winner arrived when Brogan superbly steered home from close range after Grace Trearty’s ball in broke invitingly.
Claire Doherty was denied a fourth Loreto, Letterkenny goal when a close-range shot was blocked by McFadden.
The Milford side tried in vain to make a comeback, but a block by Aimee Bonner typified the endeavour of the Letterkenny girls. Bonner was excellent in the final and was named Player of the Tournament having caught the eye throughout the day, with a number of key interceptions in defence and she also proved a launchpad for the Loreto attack.
Player of the tournament Aimee Bonner receives her award. Picture by Evan Logan
Eimear Alcorn was another who was superb in the final and led the line well when her side needed it.
It was just how Elaine Winston would’ve wanted. Her memory and her spirit lives on and will live long.
Loreto, Letterkenny: Aisling Nee; Aimee Bonner, Katie McGovern; Elanor Trearty, Rachel Hannigan, Eimear Alcorn; Aine McGettigan, Meghan Reid; Grace Trearty, Millie Winfield, Mya Alcorn; Ciana Brogan, Grainne Gallagher. Panel: Eimear Lynch, Ciara O’Donnell, Laura McCann, Shauna McFadden, Caoimhe McGonigle, Laura Crossan, Katherine Kelly, Blaithin Gildea, Molly Roarty, Ciara Bonner, Laura Kealy, Niamh Harkin, Niamh Walsh.
Loreto Community School Milford: Alanna McFadden, Maebh McDaid, Emma McGettigan, Aoife Doherty, Niamh Kelly, Hollie McDaid, Aisling Howe, Daireann McGlynn, Rionach Giles, Lauren Carr, Niamh McDevitt, Hannah Shiels, Niamh Gallagher, Kerrie Gallagher, Julie Trearty, Sinead Gallagher, Cathy Carr, Triona McMenamin, Jenna McGroarty, Nicole Curran, Lauren Gallagher, Aisling McHugh.
GROUP STAGE ROUNDUP:
JULIE Trearty and Hollie McDaid netted the goals for Loreto Community School, Milford to give them the 2-4 to 2-2 win over Mulroy they needed to get through the group and into the final.
Caoimhe Walsh netted a brace of goals for Mulroy, but it was Grainne McDaid’s Loreto who advanced.
Earlier in the group, Loreto Community School, Milford had beaten St Columba’s 3-9 to 1-2 with Lauren Carr (2) and Niamh Gallagher getting the goals.
Shauna McBride’s hat-trick saw Mulroy defeat St Columba’s 3-4 to 1-4 while Megan Ryan’s goal handed Mulroy a 1-7 to 2-2 win over Loreto, Letterkenny, who saw Grainne Gallagher net twice.
Loreto, Letterkenny blitzed St Columba’s 3-8 to 2-1 to confirm their place in the final – Mya Alcorn, Meghan Reid and Laura Kealy found the net in that game.
The day began how it ended, with Loreto, Letterkenny defeating Loreto Community School, Milford. Ciana Brogan, who hit the third goal in the final, netted in the tournament opener to give her side a 1-4 to 0-2 win.
Tags:
