Mercy Convent dominate Division 1 final
The Mercy Convent girls celebrate with the trophy after their impressive win over Scoil San Carlo Confey in the Kildare Primary Schools Soccer Division 1 Final in Kerdiffstown Park. Photos: Martin Rowe.
The 2026 Kildare Primary Schools Soccer Girls Division 1 crown belongs to Mercy Convent NS Naas after they were three-goal winners over Scoil San Carlo Confey last week in Kerdiffstown Park.
The game was on a knife edge for the most of the 50 minutes, but two late goals from Claire McGrath and Lucia Kavanagh cemented the victory for Mercy Convent after Kayley Farrell had fired the Naas school in front just before half time.
It took a brilliant intervention from San Carlo's Aimee O'Brien to deny Kavanagh a one-on-one scoring opportunity as Mercy Convent dominated the opening five minutes.
San Carlo took over after that, with Aimee Mooney twice going close, and they had a fabulous chance to take the lead when they were awarded an indirect free kick, only for the the set-piece to malfunction. Another chance presented itself when Alannah Queenan was sent clean through on goal, but she was denied by a great save from Mercy Convent goalkeeper, Ciara Bonner.
The Naas school began to make inroads midway through the half, with San Carlo left to thank their keeper, Aarushi Singampalli for a sensational triple save, first denying Ava Heberlin before keeping out Kavanagh and then Farrell.
But Mercy Convent did take the lead shortly before half time, with Laurel White teeing up Farrell who turned the last defender before picking out the far corner of Singampalli's net.
San Carlo almost hit back immediately through Ava Power, but Naas were back on the attack before the interval and almost doubled their lead, only for Singampalli to produce another wonderful dave to keep it 1-0 at half time.
The San Carlo goalkeeper was called into action again immediately following the restart, with McGrath and Olivia Feighery each drawing excellent saves out if Singampalli.
Meadow Dunne and Millie Keenan led the charge for San Carlo, as the Confey school went in search of an equaliser.
But it was Mercy Convent who moved the scoreboard midway through the second half. Millie Mulhall whipped in a great free that San Carlo failed to deal with; Farrell kept the ball alive and played it across to Kavanagh, who made no mistake at the back post.
Aimee Mooney had the ball in the net for San Carlo moments later, but it was ruled offside. The pain was further compounded in the next attack when a great strike from Alanna Queenan came back off the post.
Some glorious skills and endeavour down the right from Millie Keenan caused problems for Mercy Convent, but goalkeeper Bonner tidied up. Naas went on the counter-attack from there and moments later had their third goal of the day courtesy of McGrath, who's powerful strike left Singampalli with no chance in the Confey goal.
Ciara Bonner; Aoife Clavin, Willie Mulhall, Molly Ward; Ava Haberlin Claire McGrath, Kate Geraghty, Laurel White; Olivia Feighery, Lucia Kavanagh; Kayley Farrell.
Elsa Cronin, Ella Mahon, Sadie Kelly, Melis Gunha, Hannah Sammon.
Aarushi Singampalli; Aoibhinn O'Boyle, Cara Rose O’Keeffe, Aimee O'Brien; Sadhbh Stynes, Oliwia Kiernan, Meadow Dunne, Mia Downey; Aimee Mooney, Millie Keenan, Alanna Queenan.
Katherine Keyes, Aoife Besseling Keogh, Ava Power, Aoife Nicol, Ella Mei Liu, Ava Cleary.
