NETBALL/All-Ireland Schools' finals: Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock, Belfast, made it a clean sweep for the Northern Irish schools at the All-Ireland Schools netball finals at UCD yesterday, with a comprehensive 39-15 victory over Rathdown School in the senior decider.

It rounded off a disappointing day for the Glenageary outfit who were also beaten in the minor and junior finals.

Rathdown started brightly and set the early tempo with Charlotte Hannam causing problems for Knock goalkeeper Lauren Smyth. Hannam opened the scoring but her opposite number Sarah Loughrey levelled matters almost immediately.

Hannam led the charge for Rathdown in the opening quarter but Loughrey and captain Niamh Toner equalised six times between them before Toner gave Knock the lead for the first time, 7-6, at the end of the first quarter.

Loughrey and Toner's movement off the ball and ability to pick each other out for scores was a joy to watch as Knock ran up a 18-8 half-time lead.

Despite the efforts of Rathdown captain Hayley Killen, Knock continued their scoring spree into the third quarter. Loughrey and Toner continued to link up well, with Rebecca Woods running the show from the centre as Knock led 29-10 at three-quarter-time.

Toner and Loughrey helped themselves to six and four more goals respectively as Knock ran out comfortable 39-15 winners.

In the day's other games Ballyclare High School from Antrim beat Rathdown 13-6 in the minor decider while Wallace High School beat Rathdown 40-8 in the junior final. Our Lady and St Patrick's, Knock, beat Holy Child, Killiney, 47-14 in the intermediate final.

OUR LADY AND ST PATRICK'S, KNOCK: N Toner (capt, 23 goals), S Loughrey (16 goals), L Amos, R Woods, M Sinnott, L McDonald, L Smyth. Subs: E Wallace, F Toner, S Byrne.

RATHDOWN SCHOOL: W Walker (five goals), A O'Connell, L Durning, R Gordon, H Killen (capt), C Hannam (10 goals), M Mangin.