Munster Senior A Colleges Camogie Final 2025
Presentation Thurles 3-09 Ursuline Thurles 0-14
In a repeat of the 2024 Munster Senior A Post Primary Schools Final it was neighbours Ursuline and Presentation Thurles who did battle for the title once again on Saturday, 18 January. The Ursuline were looking for their third Munster Final in a row. The Pres were determined to stop them. The County Camogie grounds in The Ragg was the setting for this important decider. Crowds of supporters from both schools turned out hoping their girls would be the ones lifting the Dripsey Woolen Mills Cup at the end of the hour. Pres got a dream start with an opening goal in the first two minutes of play. Ursuline responded with points from right-half forward Orla Ryan, centre forward Caoimhe Stakelum and left-corner forward Kate Dowling. The sides drew level on three occasions during the first half at the fifteenth minute, Pres 1-1 UCT 0-4; the seventeenth minute Pres 1-2 UCT 0-5 and twenty-fourth minute, Pres 1-3 UCT 0-6. The three Ursuline points came courtesy of Caoimhe Stakelum frees. She sent one more over the cross bars just before half time to give UCT the slightest advantage going into the dugout, Pres 1-3 Ursuline 0-7. Pres had the benefit of the strong breeze in the second half which Ursuline hadn’t fully capitalised on. Despite this Ursuline came out in the second half and immediately went on the attack adding another point to their tally thanks to Jane Corcoran. But this tenuous lead did not last long with the Pres getting a second goal with in two minutes. The maroon girls now took a one-point lead 2-4 to 0-8. Ursuline mid-field, Issy Carr got her name on the scoreboard with a great point from play. This pulled Presentation back to a slim one-point lead. Ursuline would continue the chase, closing the gap to one or two points throughout most of the second half but never taking the lead. Caoimhe Stakelum kept Ursuline there or there abouts with her accuracy on frees. Centre-back Lucy Purcell also added two more points from frees to the Ursuline scoreboard. Pres goalie, Danielle Butler’s long puck-outs were picked up down the field in the mid and half forward lines and translated into scores to give her side the edge over UCT, particularly in the last twenty minutes. Ciara Shelly and Grace Flanagan produced some fine examples of points from play. Prayers that the Ursuline girls could find that final five-minute scoring surge from the end, were on the lips of the UCT supporters. Alas it was not to be and seemed less and less likely after the third Pres goal hit the back of the net to give them a five-point lead. Even though Ursuline reined them back to three points with around five minutes to go Pres continued to fight for the title with everything they had. Ursuline just didn’t get the opportunity to pose a danger to their goal end, especially in the dying minutes of the game, despite several breakthroughs from the Ursuline mids and forwards. The Pres defences held tough to give them their first Munster Senior A win since 2018. Well done to Ms Hogan, Ms Kelly and Ms McGrath and all the panel on their commitment to School Camogie. Thanks in particular to the Sixth Years who have trained, played and worn the UCT jersey with pride down through the years.Congratulations to the Presentation with everyone at UCT wishing them the best in the All Ireland Colleges series. Here’s hoping they can take the Corn Sceilge Trophy for Tipperary and Munster.
Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition
Congratulations to the three Ursuline Certified Irish Angus Beef teams who travelled to Moorepark, Fermoy on Tuesday, 14 January, to compete in the Regional Final of the competition.Ruth Maher, Lily Duffy, RóisínFercombe and Amy O’Connor investigated the role of women in agriculture and their positive contributions to the sector, with a view to seeing what measures could be taken to increase female participation in the industry. Orla Carey, Grace Moore, Molly Hayes and Mary Ryan researched ruminant animal diets and how their emissions can be mitigated, along with exploring how grazing beef cattle helps maintain grassland areas. Margaret Gaynor, Aobha Minogue, Isabella Jones and Sarah Rochford examined emissions across all aspects of Irish agriculture, from farm to fork, with a focus on the merits of Ireland’s sustainable pastures, based on the farm model of production. They now wait to hear if they have secured a place in the National Final in Croke Park in March. Fingers crossed for them all.
Ursuline Sixth Years trip to King Lear
Sixth Year English students studying King Lear for their Leaving Cert travelled to Waterford’s Theatre Royal to catch their production of this Shakespearean tragedy. It was a great way to revise their single text before the English mock exams begin. They enjoyed the day out and seeing the play brought to life on stage.
Basketball
Ursuline First and Second Year Basketball teams started the season last week with opening round games against ColáisteMhuire, Thurles. Both sides secured wins with many players demonstrating great skill and producing some fine baskets.
Some UCT students who train with local basketball club, Tipperary Knights, got the amazing chance to travel to Spain last week. First Years Grace Kennedy, Emily Ryan, Emma Griffin, Jayne Leamy, Sophia Kennedy, Carra Molloy and EmilijaKaleja, played against local sides, got to experience training sessions and took in a Spanish League game. It was a fun experience and a great opportunity to get a more international perspective on basketball, hopefully bringing back what they learned to put to good use in their club and for their school teams.
Hockey
Well done to the Ursuline Minor Green team who beat Villiers on Thursday, 16 January in the first round of the Cup. It was vice-captain, Julie Shanahan who got the only goal of the game. The team saved their best play for the last quarter with Julie finding the net with ten minutes to go. This win ensure qualification to the next round.
Football
The Ursuline Junior Footballers are into to a Munster A Final after a win on Tuesday, 14 January against Skibbereen. The final score was UCT 2-18 Skib 3-6. This is a fantastic achievement, as it is the school’s first year in the Junior A provincial division. They will play fellow Tipp side Loreto Clonmel in the final. Best of luck to the team and to coaches Mr McLoughlin and Ms McGrath.
Nadia Kowalczyk qualifies for Dance World Cup
Congratulations to First Year student Nadia Kowalczyk who has secured a place in the Dance World Cup in Spain. She will represent Ireland in one of the largest dance competitions in the world. The Dance World Cup hosts 9000 dancers aged 6-25 from every corner of the globe. Nadia was selected from a very tough field of competitors, placing first in her section during the qualifiers and will be training hard in preparation for this prestigious event. She is a student with DAPA studios in Thurles where her coaches have recognised and nurtured her talent. She is a very hardworking and dedicated dancer. Everyone is UCT is so proud of her success and wishes her all the best when she travels to Spain during the summer.