Mount Anville's day

Mount Anville won their first Leinster Schools Senior League final since 1988 when they overcame a valiant Muckross Park in yesterday's game at Grange Road, winning 3-1 on penalty strokes after normal and extra time failed to produce a goal.

Kate Quigley, Carol McGowan and Kate O'Donnell held their nerve to convert their strokes before Gillian Young saved Muckross Park's fourth effort to seal victory for Mount Anville.

On balance, the victors had the better of the game, winning 11 short-corners to Muckross Park's six, but both defences were superb, with Mount Anville sweeper Amy McCabe the game's outstanding player.

Neither goalkeeper had a busy afternoon, although Connacht under-21 Orla McGuinness was twice tested by Mount Anville's Caolfhionn Rowan and she was also very quick off her line to thwart Clare Sexton after she had been put through by Gillian Davy.

Davy had been the star of Mount Anville's semi-final strokes' win over Loreto Abbey Dalkey, but, while always a threat, was expertly marked by Sarah Cooney this time around.

Sweeper Rachel Keegan and full backs Lyndsey Phelan and Clare Picard were also in sparkling form for Muckross, denying Mount Anville's lively attack, Davy, Sexton, Christine Quinlan and Rebecca Cotter, whenever they threatened.

At the other end, Sandra Blennerhassett, Lisa Banahan and Quigley were able assistants to McCabe who, just had she had been in the semi-final, was flawless.

Muckross Park, though, will take comfort from the fact that so many of their team will be still be around next year.

MOUNT ANVILLE: G Young, A McCabe, S Blennerhassett, K Quigley, L Banahan, C Rowan (capt), C McGowan, K Fitzgerald, C Quinlan, G Davy, C Sexton. Subs: R Cotter, R McGrath, L Coady, K O'Donnell, R Copeland.

MUCKROSS PARK: O McGuinness, R Keegan, L Phelan (capt), S Cooney, C Picard, J McDonnell, A MacCormack, C Devane, J Motherway, N Keegan, B Murphy. Subs: F Wade, F Lambert, J Fitzpatrick, C Collins, N Maguire, D O'Sullivan.

UMPIRES: P Errity and G Redmond.