Dunboyne pupils take the laurels
The girls from Dunboyne brought the Meath Primary Schools" Div 1 title back to the school for the second year in-a-row following Saturday"s decider against St Oliver Plunkett"s, Navan. Dunboyne laid the foundations for success with a storming first-half which produced a brace of goals from Michelle Melia and a fine strike by Elaine Doyle on the way to a 3-4 to 0-5 interval advantage. Kelly Marie Harris drove St Oliver"s on with some inspirational play as she sent over three points while Niamh Donnelly and Francesca Kalonzo also split the posts. Dunboyne struggled for points during the opening half until the closing stages when they reeled off vitasl scores from Melia (two), Ruth Glynn and Sarah Rice for that nine-point interval advantage. St Oliver"s changed tactics for the second-half with Katie Tolan moving into the full-forward line. The change paid an instant dividend when Tolan finished to the net after Harris created the opening with a probing run from midfield. Tolan was denied another goal when she hit the bar soon after, but the danger was cleared by an alert Dunboyne rearguard in which Maeve Clince was outstanding. Dunboyne, who won the title last year, recovered from that setback and restored their superiority with another goal from Melia, but on this occasion the St Oliver"s mentors were looking for a free-out. When Aifric O"Malley added Dunboyne"s fifth goal it effectively finished the game as a contest. Battling St Oliver"s were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude in the final minute when substitute Bronagh Farrell raced through for a goal. However, it wasn"t enough on this occasion and the Navan girls had to settle for the runner-up position for the second successive year. Dunboyne celebrated the victory with great excitement and team mentors Pauline Buffini, James Minnock, Linda Manning, Donal Scanlon and David Gallagher could look back on a successful campaign which brought victories over Stamullen, Duleek, Laytown, St Mary"s and St Seachnall"s. Dunboyne - Louise Nixon; Maeve Clince, Sinead Clince; Caoimhe Curran, Claire Gilligan, Louise Grant; Sarah Goodwoin, Lauren Byrne; Aifric O"Malley (1-1), Ruth Glynn (0-1), Elaine Doyle (1-0); Michelle Melia (3-4), Sarah Rice (0-1). Subs - Roisin McBrien (0-1), Sarah Higgins, Alison Grant, Sarah Bugler, Susan Culhane, Leanne McLoughlin, Lauren McKeon, Cliodhna Murphy, Claire Buckley, Amy Carolan, Alison Jones, Katie Hyland. Mentors - Pauline Buffini, James Minnock, Linda manning, Donal Scanlon, David Gallagher. St Oliver Plunkett"s - Nicola Byrne; Katie Tolan (1-0), Amy Hanratty; Orlaith Keys, Maria Lynn, Lauren McLoughlin; Gillian Ishola, Francesca Kalonzo (0-1); Lauren Moriarty, Kelly Marie Harris (0-4), Ella Devine; Niamh Donnelly (0-1), Regina Hand. Subs - Kelsey Nesbitt, Bronagh Farrell (1-0), Laine Gavin, Orla Davis, Aoibhin McGoona, Ruth Maguire, Joanne Casserly. Mentors - Emer O"Neill, Ronan Carley, Declan Kearns.