CL SENIOR GIRLS: WESLEY COLLEGE VS ST COLUMBA’S (WED 21.5)

The CL Schools Senior Girls Final is the pinnacle event for Girls cricket at Secondary Schools level.

This competition dates back 45 years when the trophy was first won by The King's Hospital who defeated Alexandra College in the Final by 31 runs.

Grainne Clancy (who was later capped for Ireland Women in the 1980s) was the star performer in the inaugural competition taking 19 wickets at just 1.4 per wicket. In recent times, the dominant school has been St Andrew's College who have been Champions on 6 occasions in the last decade.

This year's finalists are Wesley College (Ballinteer) who last won this trophy in 2023 and St Columba’s College (Rathfarnham).

The Wesley team is underpinned by some high quality cricketers including their captain, Isobel Jennings, who is an Irish U17 International and who made an unbeaten half century in their last match versus The King’s Hospital. Lucy Fox will keep wicket and has also batted solidly for the school in earlier rounds of the competition. Anna Delany and Ciara Culbert have led the way with the ball and will play an important role in containing the St Columba's batting line up.

The St Columba’s team is also composed of some very impressive cricketers, three of whom play their club cricket at Merrion CC including their main strike bowler (Sophie Pollock), her sister (Rachel) and Safia Walker who has made key contributions with the bat (39 versus The High School and 46 versus Sandford). 

In addition to leading the side, Ayodeji Ediale (AJ) has performed well in earlier rounds including a vital 3-22 off 4 overs in the semi-final against Sandford Park. There is plenty of strength in-depth on this side - Molly Man scored 52 versus The High School whilst Sophie Dobbs is a pacy left-arm seamer.

Two strong sides capable of delivering an exciting and highly competitive Final.

The two squads who will compete in the Final are as follows:

CL Senior Girls Secondary Schools Final
Wednesday 21st May, 1.30pm (Park Ave)

WESLEY COLLEGE
Isobel Jennings (captain), Alison Plunkett, Ciara Culbert, Anna Delany, Jessica Dignam, Lucy Fox (wkt), Rebecca Fitzell, Amy Gill, Alice Gardiner, Aoibhín Sexton, Tillyrose Burgess, Julia Dick.

Coach/Manager: Colm Blennerhassett

ST COLUMBA'S COLLEGE
Ayodeji Ediale (AJ, Captain), Safia Walker, Sophie Pollock, Rachel Pollock, Molly Man, Holly Murray (wkt), Claudia Penwill, Sophie Dobbs, Polly Pringle,  Aeladh Bradley-Brady, Naoise Bradley-Brady, Clodagh Walsh.

Coach/Manager: Grant Glutz

Our thanks to all participating schools, to Railway Union as the host club for the Final and to Caoilfhionn Rowan who has done a brilliant job in co-ordinating the CL Secondary Schools Girls Programme for 2025.