After two years hiatus, the Kate Russell All-Ireland Championship returns with the five regional champions battling it out in the 41st edition of the marquee competition at NUIG’s Dangan on Thursday and Friday.
It features three previous winners of the title with 2019 champs and holder Crescent Comprehensive; 2018 victors Kilkenny College and 2016’s Methodist College Belfast all tasting success in recent times.
At the other end of the spectrum, Leinster’s Holy Child Killiney are a newcomer to this stage having won their provincial final for the first time after 75 years of hockey in the school while host school Salerno are looking to have the trophy in Connacht for the first time since 2009.
The action gets underway on Thursday morning at 9am with five matches running through the day and five more on Friday with the winner decided on a round-robin group basis.
Find out more about the sides here:
Crescent Comprehensive (Munster champions)
The reigning champions by virtue of their 2019 success, Crescent have enjoyed a super season to daye. They had a 100% record in the North Munster league and eagerly await the league semi-final in Limerick where they face Mount Mercy.
This league form provided momentum to overcome Munster contenders Scoil Mhuire in the quarter final of the cup 5-2. In the semi-final, Crescent overcame a dogged Ursuline Thurles side 3-1 before needing a near faultless performance in the final to overcome Mount Mercy 2-0.
Munster champions Crescent
Goals have been shared throughout the forward line between Amy Connolly, Seodhna Dervan and captain Holly Doupe with Sarah Fitzgerald, Aoibheann Collins and Jodie Keane leading the charge from both midfield and defence.
Squad: 1. Trixie Pearce GK 2. Ingrid Cussen 3. Jodie Keane 4. Maria Campbell 5. Amy Connolly 6. Aoibheann Collins 7. Bronagh Byrne 8. Holly Doupe C 9. Jane Moore 10. Eimear Cowhey 11. Sarah Fitzgerald 13. Charlotte Horan 14. Seodhna Dervan 15. Ciara Brennan 16. Ali Clein 17. Hannah O’Byrne 20. Anna Campbell 22. Faye Luby GK (12. Róisín O’Brien – travelling reserve)
Coach: Cathal Duggan, Assistant Coach: Gary Kirby, Manager: Miriam O’Callaghan. Other: Sean O’Callaghan
Holy Child Killiney (Leinster champions)
The school won their first ever Leinster Senior Cup title earlier this year, edging out Newbridge College in the final to make them the one newcomer this week to the top table in the Kate Russell Championship. The group has been incredibly committed and has a unique team spirit that been a significant factor in the team’s successes so far.
This was backed up by winning the Claudia Tierney following a second-place finish in league group having lost out to eventual winners Wesley 1-0. Captain Alex Purcell has provided a constant threat in midfield while twins Sophie and Katie Meir play pivotal roles. The team has kept seven clean sheets in all competitions with Emma McCann, Millie Jerman and goalkeeper Cathy Green providing great stability at the back.
Squad: 1 Cathy Green (Gk) 2 Katie Meir 3 Rachel Jackson 4 Jessica O’donovan 5 Emma Mccann 6 Alex Purcell (C) 7 Sophie Meir (Vc) 8 Jenny Baily 9 Sarah Mcfarland 10 Isabelle Napier 11 Lucy Schwer 12 Millie Jerman 13 Heather Miles 14 Aliya Davis 15 Olivia Napier 16 Sive Mcloughlin 17 Hannah Murphy 25 Hannah Gerlitz (Gk)
Head coach: Simon Lowry; assistant coach: Jess McGrane; goalkeeping coach: David Fitzgerald
Holy Child Killiney. Pic: Adrian Boehm
Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salerno (Connacht champions)
Salerno has a proud history of competing in the Kate Russell tournament as Connacht champions, representing Connacht this year having done so in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and would have done so in 2020.
The Leaving Certs in our current senior squad were part of the Under-15 squad who competed in the inaugural June Smith All Irelands in Kilkenny in 2018, finishing third in that tournament.
They swept to the Palmer Cup this year with a 5-0 final win over Colaiste Iognaid in the final in early March. Among their line-up are captain Leah Ruane, Ailis McDonnell, Grace Walsh, Anna Costello and Isabelle Howard who all represented Connacht in the Under-18 interprovincial tournament this season while Ailbhe Folan has scored in EYHL2 this term.
Squad: 1. Grace Kavanagh (GK) 2. Ava McGauran 3. Ailbhe Folan (Vice Captain) 4. Joanne O’Flaherty 5. Anna Costello 6. Emma Dillon 7. Ailis McDonnell 8. Leah Ruane (Captain) 9. Sinead Burke 10.Ciara Dunne 11.Amy Keenan 12.Isabelle Howard 13.Sophie Beatty 14.Laoise Medley 15.Roisin Heaney 16.Grace Walsh 17.Lauren O’Flaherty 18.Ella Harte (GK)
Reserves: • Aoife Summerville • Maeve Moran • Aoibhin Deasy • Anna Harty (injured)
Coach: Gerry Heaney Assistant Coach/Team Manager: Katie Osborne
Kilkenny College (South East champions)
Kilkenny College are looking to win their third Kate Russell Championship having landed the trophy in 1994 and 2018. They qualified for the finals stage with a 2-1 victory over city rivals Loreto Kilkenny in the South East final.
Vicky Ronaldsson is the side’s top goalscorer, working well in tandem with Julie Greene up front. Handcock sisters Amy and Zoe are crucial in midfield along with other South Leinster players including Ava Chamney (captain), Emma Simmons, Sarah Wiilson and Holly Hutchinson in the backs.
Many of the side play with either the rapidly rising Kilkenny Hockey Club or Naas Hockey Club.
Squad: 1 Sarah Valentine (Gk) 3 Zoe Handcock 4 Megan Sherwood 5 Sarah Wilson 6 Vicky Ronaldson 7 Holly Hutchinson Vc 8 Ava Chamney C 9 Jill Stephens 11 Lily Grace 12 Amy Handcock 13 Emily Brain 14 Julie Greene Vc 15 Lilly Cooke 16 Emma Simmons 17 Tara Obyrne 18 Molly Mcloughlin Gk 19 Erika Lowe 20 Lucy Pringle
Coach: Ross Harding; assistant coach: Richard Willis; manager: Lesley Threlfall
Kilkenny College
Methodist College Belfast (Ulster champions)
Methodist College Belfast, affectionately known as Methody, is enjoying a big sporting year as they won their second girls Ulster Senior Cup title along with the boys senior rugby cup.
A number of players have achieved representative honours at Ulster and Irish Level; Ella Armstrong, Anna Pim and Enya Darby (Ulster U18) and Erin Pim (Ulster U16) while the multi-talented Amy Hunter hit the world record books in 2021 at just 16 years old as cricket’s youngest international centurion. She scored the winning goal in the Ulster final from a corner variation in their 1-0 victory over Royal School Armagh.
Their squad has also shown their incredible heart for hockey throughout the season as well as their heart for giving, contributing to various charity projects (such as Charlene’s Project) and supporting an initiative created by co-Captain Anna Pim (At the Heart of the Game).
Squad: 1. Enya Darby (GK) 2. Amy Hunter 3. Sophie Moffett 4. Adriana Cutrona 5. Ella Armstrong (Co-Captain) 6. Sarah Johnston 7. Anna Pim (Co-Captain) 8. Katy Doherty 9. Jiwon Hong 10. Sasha Tindall 11.Ruby Tindall 12.Zara Bolan 13.Erin Pim 14.Jen Lamont 15.Holly Moffett 16.Emma Campton 17.Rebecca Glass (GK)
Coach: Fiona McIlwaine; Assistant Coach: Lynne McCluggage; Team Manager: Sarah McGrath
Methodist College Belfast
Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships 2022 (all at NUIG Sports Grounds Dangan)
Thursday 24th March
9.30am Salerno V Kilkenny College
11am Methodist College Belfast V Holy Child Killiney
12.30pm Crescent Comprehensive V Salerno
2pm Holy Child Killiney V Kilkenny College
3.30pm Crescent Comprehensive College V Methodist College Belfast
Friday 25th March
9.30am Crescent Comprehensive College V Kilkenny College
11am Salerno V Holy Child Killiney
12.30pm Kilkenny College V Methodist College Belfast
2pm Holy Child Killiney V Crescent Comprehensive College
3.30pm Methodist College Belfast V Salerno
** Each match is 50 minutes in total (4 quarters of 12.5 mins with 2 mins break at quarters and 5 mins at half time)