Super Sadie Croke on fire for Coláiste Ráithín against St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s 2-5

Sadie Croke scored a devastating hat-trick of goals as Coláiste Ráithín were crowned Wicklow Junior ‘A’ Schools football champions following a commanding win over St. Mary’s on Thursday morning.

The clinical forward scored two goals in the opening four minutes before dispatching a third in the second half as the Bray school resisted a brief comeback from their Arklow counterparts before putting them to the sword.

In a high-octane, goal chance filled game at Éire Óg in Greystones, it took just four minutes for Coláiste Ráithín to set out their stall and establish a lead that St. Mary’s were unable to overcome.

In the second minute, a long ball up the field broke into the path of Sadie Croke, who drifted in off the left before dispatching beyond Sophie Keeley. Her second goal, arriving in the fourth minute, was a carbon copy.

Subsequent points from Croke, Ciara Curran, and Roisin Ni hAodha arrived shortly thereafter as Coláiste Ráithín raced into a 2-3 to no score lead, while St. Mary’s were frustrated with three consecutive wides.

St. Mary’s finally got their first score of the day on the 16th minute. Cara Conway and Layla Cahill combined well to find Jade Carroll, who reignited their chances with a fine finish beyond Sophie Ni Mhuiri.

Yet Coláiste Ráithín rebounded instantly, first with a point through Ciara Curran and then with their third goal of the day when Sadie Croke had a shot at goal blocked before Ciara Curran converted the rebound.

Chances continued to flow, with Layla Cahill getting on the end of a fine pass over the top from Cara Conway to round Ni Mhuiri and score St Mary’s second goal. The two sides traded scores towards the end of the half as Coláiste Ráithín went into the break leading 3-6 to 2-2.

St. Mary’s introduced fresh legs at half-time and those changes manifested a fast start to the second half. The evasive Jade Carroll tacked on two more points to close the gap to six before Layla Cahill won a penalty.

Unfortunately for Arklow, Sophie Ni Mhuiri saved the spotkick, an act which knocked the wind out of St. Mary’s and awoke Coláiste Ráithín from their half-time slumber.

The excellent Sophie Keeley kept her side in the game with quickfire saves from Croke – twice - and Aoibhinn Ni Dhuill. Nancy Ni Artaigh and Nessa Ni Chonchubhair added two more points either side of a save from Ni Artaigh.

Sadie Croke was denied yet again by the St. Mary’s goalkeeper, but the momentum was entirely in the favour of the Bray side, and it was only matter of how many more scores they would get.

Croke finally got her hat-trick by rifling in from an exquisite pass from Ciara Curran while their fifth and final goal arrived late on through Nancy Ni Artaigh.

Coláiste Ráithín: Sophie Ni Mhuiri; Maisy Boyle, Louise McHugh, Aine Ni Bhriain ; Niamh Nic an tSaoir, Nessa Ni Chonchubhair (0-1), Emily Nic Giolla Phadraig; Nancy Ni Artaigh (1-2), Ellie Dempsey; Maria De Roiste, Iseult Nic Giolla Mhaoil, Roisin Ni hAodha (0-3, 2f); Lili Nic An Airchinn (0-1), Ciara Curran (1-3), SadIe Croke (3-3). Subs: Belle Domican Byrne, Beibhinn Nic Aonghusa, Isabelle Ni Annaidh, Aoibinn Ni Dhuill.

St. Mary’s: Sophie Keeley; Amy Hurley, Shyne Leonard, Aoife Higgins; Sinead O’Neill, Siun Byrne, Chloe Byrne; Sadhbh Ward, Sophie Hurley (0-1); Eabha Doyle, Clea Kinsella, Layla Cahill (1-1); Mollie O’Leary (0-1), Jade Carroll (1-2), Cara Conway. Subs: Chloe Hayden, Jamie Kenny, Robyn Keogh, Iga Milon, Abby Murphy, Maeve O’Donovan, Alisha Ryan, Aimee Wolohan, Megan Wolohan.

Referee: Derek Oman