AIG Dublin Feile Div 3 Final match report
- Apr 03,2017
AIG DUBLIN FEILE DIVISION THREE FINAL
ERIN’S ISLE……………………………………………….. 3-1
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S………………………………. 1-2
By Daire Walsh
Shannon Russell produced a star performance at St Peregrine’s GAA in Blakestown on Sunday morning, when Erin’s Isle where crowned Dublin Feile Division Three champions with a five-point victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s.
‘Boden (who were also competing in the Division One decider at the same venue) were in pole position at the midway point in the contest, but following a dominant second-half display, it was Isles who ultimately claimed the silverware on offer.
Isles had booked their place in this showpiece encounter with a determined 3-3 to 2-2 win at the expense of Ballyboughal on Saturday, whereas their south side counterparts advanced from the penultimate rounds with a 4-3 to 2-4 success against Beann Eadair.
Isles also defeated Beann Eadair in their Group A campaign, but after securing the ball in front of her marker, ‘Boden full-forward Lucy Horan edged her side in front with just under three minutes gone on the clock.
McDonagh subsequently added to her advantage with a fine point on the run, and even though Isles were creating a number of opportunities, they were struggling to break down a rigid opposition defence.
The introduction of Ruby Wood in the 10th minute (substitutions are obligatory at this point in each game) added steel to the Isles rear-guard, but courtesy of a superb goal by Elena McDonagh from close-range, ‘Boden brought a 1-2 to 0-0 cushion into the interval.
A crucial 15 minutes of action lay ahead for Isles, but inside the opening 60 seconds of the restart, they had significantly reduced their deficit. The elusive Russell gathered the ball inside the ‘Boden ’45’, and she subsequently found the left-hand corner of the ‘Boden net with a sweet left-footed strike.
This helped to bring the game to life, and with Russell’s influence on the game growing as the half wore on, Isles started to grow in confidence. She cut the gap to a minimum with a 19th-minute free, and although she was off-target from another placed-ball effort moments later, the Finglas outfit continued to persist with their challenge.
The ‘Boden attack where finding clear-cut opportunities hard to come by in the second period, and they breathed a sigh of relief when a 25th-minute Russell free was flicked onto the crossbar. Yet, Isles maintained their offensive threat, and after a Jade Callery delivery dropped into towards the ‘Boden goal, Shauna Delaney was in the right place to register her team’s second goal of the tie.
This put Gavin Hoey’s charges into the ascendancy for the very first time, and when she was picked out in space in stoppage-time, Russell made certain of Erin’s Isle’s triumph by firing beyond the reach of ‘Boden netminder Emer Worthington from a tight-angle.
Scorers - Erin’s Isle: Shannon Russell 2-1 (0-1f), Shaunagh Delaney 1-0. Ballyboden St Enda’s: Elena McDonagh 1-0, Lucy Horan 0-2.
ERIN’S ISLE: Rugile Auskalynte; Eabha Ball, Caitlin Byrne, Aimee Walsh; Lizzy Stafford Hoey, Aoife Hughes, Taylor O’Connell; Jade Callery, Sarah O’Connor; Katie Tuohy, Shaunagh Delaney, Deirdre Ni Bhrian; Amy Comerford, Shannon Russell, Ciara Jackson.
Subs: Jemma Draper, Leah Daly, Nicole Walsh, Jodie Parsons, Ruby Fitzpatrick, Ruby Wood, Kate McManus, Georgia Slevin.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: Emer Worthington; Sophie Weldon, Yvonne Gargan, Alex Boylan; Marina Fitzsimmons, Sorcha Kennedy, Alanna Grady; Ella Browne, Aoige Quigey; Lauren Callan, Emily Moynihan, Dearbhla McCarthy; Ellie McAree, Lucy Horan, Elena McDonagh.
Subs: Ciara Duffy, Alannah Norris, Megan O’Brien, Ciara Sweeney, Sarah Gleeson, Emma Jane Weir, Megan Dignam.