St Lawrence's emerge victorious in dramatic derby
The St Lawrence's Crookstown girls with their trophy after a hard-fought win over Scoil Dearmada Castledermot. Photo: Martin Rowe
St Lawrence's NS Crookstown are the 2026 Kildare Primary Schools Soccer Girls Division 4 champions after beating Scoil Diarmada Castledermot in Kerdiffstown Park in Naas. The game served as the curtain-raiser for eight finals held across the day.
Goals from Sadie Molloy and Kylie O'Hare were pivotal in St Lawrence's lifting the trophy, as was the defensive masterclass given by Jane Byrne.
With players on both sides proudly representing Moone Celtic, the game came with the added spice of pitting club teammates against one another.
St Lawrence's started the game the brighter and took the lead inside the opening five minutes when Sadie Molloy picked up the ball on the edge of the box and weaved her way past two defenders before curling her shot beyond Mia Beirne and into the bottom corner.
Scoil Diarmada took control after the restart, with some quality play in midfield from Isla Keatley and some great runs in behind from the front pair of Fia Simmonson and Sophie White. St Lawrence's were equal to the task, however, thanks to some solid defending from Molloy, Byrne and Lucy Martin.
Aoife Fox grew into the game as the first half went on, beginning to dominant proceedings from the Scoil Diarmada midfield. Fox was looking increasingly dangerous, but she was well marshalled by Byrne at the heart of the St Lawrence's back-line.
But the goal had been coming and the inevitable did happen when Eadaoin Horan found the equaliser shortly before half time, breaking through on goal and firing her shot low and hard beyond the grasp of Sorcha Seery in the St Lawrence's net to leave it 1-1 at the interval.
Having lost their way after initially taking the lead, St Lawrence's began the second half looking to restore their advantage.
The Crookstown school could not find the breakthrough, however, and were almost caught on the counter-attack ten minutes in when Scoil Diarmada's Olivia Coogan, now playing in a more advanced role, went on a wonderful run and very nearly picked out the bottom corner of the net.
The Castledermot school had another chance moments later as the momentum began to swing their way midway through the half.
But it was they who were caught on the counter in the 42nd minute, with Molloy playing a delightful ball into the path of O'Hare, who surged into the box and rippled the net with a sumptuous finish.
Time was beginning to tick away for Scoil Diarmada, with their final chance of the game falling to White, who saw a brilliant effort drift just wide of the upright.
Sorcha Seery; Summer Robinson, Lucy Martin, Jane Byrne, Kym Cardiff; Anna Mahon Sadie Molloy, Megan Hanley; Kylie O'Hare, Freya Cagney, Rebecca Brown.
Mia Beirne; Laura Kirwan, Olivia Coogan, Mairead Dooner, Isla Keatley; Nessa Killalee, Eadaoin Horan, Aoife Fox, Hannah Fox; Fia Simmonson, Sophie White.
Julyenne da Silva Farreira, Amelia Crooke, Sophie Mangan, Layla Kirwan, Sophie Mooney.
