Pres Thurles Soccer 2024-2025
The Pres Senior soccer girls maintained their vice like grip on the blue riband trophy in Munster soccer by claiming a 9th success in 13 years. It has been a remarkable run that has seen players like Grace Flanagan, Clara & Caitlyn Shelly & Emer Dwan win 5 Senior medals in their 6 years in the school.
2025 was another whirlwind with tight and tense battles and a Lily-Anne O Meara hat trick saw off Laurel Hill 3-2 on a wet and windy afternoon in Limerick. A blistering performance and six goal haul from Ciara Breslin accounted for St Anne's before a really stern test from Colaiste Ennis required two point blank saves from Doireann Brennan and imperious performances from Grace Flanagan in midfield and Leanna Coppinger and Grace Hogan in defence to see us squeeze through to the Munster final.
The Munster final was a new challenge with surprise package St Mary's Midleton emerging as a genuine threat to the Thurles dominance in this grade. As expected the game was on a knife edge throughout with chances at both ends. Leanna Coppinger struck first from a brilliant Grace Hogan delivery to give Pres the lead but Midleton stormed back into the contest and with extra time looming large the champions did what they have done so many times and dug deep to conjure up a moment of magic as Molly Kirwan and Breslin exchanged passes before finding Lily-Anne O Meara who squeezed her shot under the Midleton keeper. The Thurles defence stood firm with Lucy Callanan, Emer Dwan and Leanna Coppinger making countless blocks to secure another title. Aoife Shelly and Grace Hogan were hugely influential throughout the contest winning countless duels. Grace Flanagan accepted the cup on behalf of her team mates and once again Pres Thurles stood tall at the top of Munster soccer.
The National Semi Final would end in extra time heartache at the hands of a strong Col na Coiribe who had won back to back Connacht titles. A brilliant Molly Kirwan goal and a midfield masterclass from Ciara Shelly just wasn't enough on a day where lady luck deserted the Pres girls. The success of this group of players has been remarkable and the 6th year's leave with a legacy that will last as long as there is a football in Presentation Thurles. We never gave up, we never gave in and we always died trying. Family.