It was a case of whether to feel sorry for Community School Moyne or relief for Presentation Oranmore at the National Arena in Tallaght yesterday. Either way, the two contestants in the All Ireland Schoolgirls' A final contributed to a riveting affair which ended in quite dramatic fashion.

Oranmore, cleverly using the width of the court, led Moyne by 14 points at one stage but Moyne countered with a series of long baskets from Colette Vance and Charlene Foley to reduce Oranmore's lead to the bare minimum.

Led by schools international Emma Reilly, Moyne were still within a point of their opponents with half a minute remaining.

To add to Oranmore's agony the referee added five seconds to the clock as Moyne desperately tried to pull out a last crucial score.

But Oranmore's Michelle Fahy, who worked tirelessly around the basket to net 22 points, made a crucial retrieve to deny Moyne.

Presentation Bandon and Tralee Community College were the day's other winners.