Match report Dublin v Kerry
- Apr 07,2018
Lidl National League Division 1
Dublin 1-16 Kerry 1-11
By Cóilín Duffy on behalf of LGFA
Dublin will finish top of Division 1 of the Lidl National League, after a tough test from already relegated Kerry at DCU Sportsgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
A 25th minute goal from substitute Sinead Goldrick helped provide some daylight between the sides, in a game which was tight throughout.
Chasing only their second win of the campaign, but having lost the league points after fielding an inelligble player in their victory over Mayo, Kerry were only playing for pride in this encounter, having already confirmed a Division 2 place for 2019.
The visitors certainly did just that, with a spirited display, which saw them level on five occasions inside the opening 24 minutes, until Goldrick’s goal gave Dublin a platform to drive on.
Kerry never held the lead, after the Foxrock-Cabinteely player found the net, just three minutes after her introduction, but no more than five points separated the teams over the remainder of the hour.
Kerry led three times inside the opening 16 minutes, before Dublin came back to draw level, with Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Amanda Brosnan and Sarah Houlihan on target.
Emily Flanagan, Hannah O’Neill and Nicole Owens were on target, before Niamh McEvoy levelled the tie at 0-5 a-piece after 25 minutes, just after Flanagan had her goal shot blocked by Kerry keeper Laura Fitzgerald.
This kickstarted a dominant spell for Dublin, which saw them score 1-2 unanswered, with McEvoy adding a further point.
A brace of Houlihan scores helped cut the gap, but Dublin led 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.
Dublin got the second half to a great start with Siobhan Woods and McEvoy contributing to a trio of unanswered scores on the restart.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Houlihan kept Kerry in touch, and while the former netted a 45th minute goal to cut the gap to two points, Dublin kept on top.
The hosts used the bench well, with Clontarf’s Siobhan Killeen, who took time out to play soccer with the Republic of Ireland in the last few years, sprung from the bench to score two fine points on the way to a five-point win.
Scorers for Dublin: Niamh McEvoy 0-5 (4f); Sinead Goldrick 1-0; Nicole Owens, Siobhan Woods, Siobhan Killeen 0-2 each; Hannah O’Neill, Noelle Healy, Emily Flanagan, Julia Buckley, Aoife Kane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: Sarah Houlihan 0-7 (6f); Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh 1-3 (1f); Amanda Brosnan 0-1.
DUBLIN: Ciara Trant; Kate Fitzgibbon, Deirdre Murphy, Laura McGinley; Aoife Kane, Muireann Ní Scanaill, Lucy Collins; Siobhan McGrath, Tarah O’Sullivan; Hannah O’Neill, Nicole Owens, Emily Flanagan; Julia Buckley, Niamh McEvoy, Rebecca McDonnell. Subs: Sinead Goldrick for Lucy Collins (22); Siobhan Woods for McDonnell (HT); Siobhan Killeen for Buckley (HT); Leah Caffrey for McGinley (HT); Katie Murray for Ni Scanaill (HT); Lyndsay Davey for Flanagan (46); Shannon Murtagh for Fitzgibbon (47); Heather Smith for Trant (47).
KERRY: Laura Fitzgerald; Laoise Coughlan, Aislinn Desmond, Aisling O’Connell; Amy Foley, Sarah Murphy, Eilish O’Callaghan; Lorraine Scanlon, Eilish O’Leary; Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Sarah Houlihan, Andrea Murphy; Siobhan Burns, Amanda Brosnan, Caoimhe O’Sullivan. Subs: Meabh Barry for O’Callaghan (HT); Meabh Barry for O’Sullivan (HT).
Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois)