FAIS Schoolgirls' Semi-final - Loreto, Letterkenny 3 Ursuline, Sligo 2:GERALDINE McLAUGHLIN scored a hat-trick as Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, advanced to their first Umbro FAIS Senior Girls final since 1991 as they overcame Ursuline College, Sligo, at Finn Park, Ballybofey, yesterday.
McLaughlin opened the scoring from close range after 13 minutes and although the insipriational Emma Hansberry equalised for the Sligo school on 25 minutes, McLaughlin seized on a defensive error to pounce again seven minutes later.
Hansberry fired in a wonderful 20-yard shot to leave the sides level at the break but McLaughlin got what proved to be the winner with a long-range strike mid-way through the second half.
Ursuline were unlucky not to force the game into extra-time when Hansberry hit the crossbar with a well-weighted free late on.
Loreto will now face the winners of tomorrow’s second semi-final between St Angela’s, Waterford, and Eureka, Kells, in the decider on March 22nd.
LORETO, LETTERKENNY: O’Donnell, Gallagher, Crawford, Carr, McKinney, Harper, Thompson, Grant, Doherty, McLaughlin, Sweeney (Diver 60 mins).
URSULINE COLLEGE, SLIGO: Feeney, Clancy, Ewing, Fowley, Monaghan, Boles, Hansberry, O’Boyle, White (Ferrigan 60 mins), Finnesan (McCole 40 mins), Sheerin.
Referee: B O’Kane (Donegal).
