AIG Dublin Feile final Div 8 Match Report

  • May 21,2018

AIG Dublin Feile Division 8 final

 

Parnells 5-04


Naomh Mearnog 5-02


Naomh Mearnóg and Parnells treated those in attendance at the Division 8 Feile Final at Tallaght Stadium to a ten goal thriller on Sunday morning, with the last final of the day at the venue proving to be the best

We should’ve known we were in for something special when the young Naomh Mearnóg side hit Ciara Corr’s crossbar within moments of the referee commencing the game. What followed was an onslaught of goalmouth action in both halves as the Portmarnock side in yellow and Coolock’s Parnells in green played out an extraordinary head-to-head.


Within seconds of brushing the post, Mearnog were back on the attack, this time chipping Corr with a superb effort she had no chance of stopping. Parnells refused to be derailed by Mearnog’s lightning start, and slowly but surely turned the screw with a stunning display of tight midfield passing, especially between Alex Meehan, Ava Rose Henry and Ella McCarthy.


Alex Meehan jolted Parnells into life by forcing Anna Brady into a good save Meehan’s rasping shot encouraging the rest of the team to get at the yellows defence, and get at them they did. Parnells worked Mearnog’s defence with a series of good passing moves, with the half forwards pushing forwards on to great effect at every opportunity. Before long they were rewarded with a goal and  a point for their troubles.


Parnells were starting to dominate, but their lack of clinical finishing came back to haunt them when Naomh Mearnóg took the lead with a quick fire goal and point combo before half time, leaving Parnells trailing by a point despite their dominance.


The second half saw both sides find their shooting boots in spectacular style with 7 goals in total. Parnells scored an early goal as their strength in midfield started to assert itself on the game once again. But Naomh Mearnóg struck their first goal of the second half against the run of play, and it looked like the game was going to turn in their favour once again. Instead, Parnells dug deep responding with a goal and a point of their own.


At this point both sides went for it. Naomh Mearnóg scored a superb goal from the right wing but Orlaith McGarry’s hat trick wasn’t enough to see the yellows over the line, as Parnells struck twice in the closing moments to clinch the tie 5-04 to 5-02 with their own hat-trick hero coming in the form of Dominique Darby.


It was sad to see either side have to fall in such a madcap game: neither side deserved to lose.


Naomh Mearnóg: Anna Brady, Alison Maddock, Katie Dorgan, Ella Cosgrave, Naomi McCullagh, Lea Power, Grace Power, Robyn Callery, Grainne Downes, Chloe Crilly, Amy Gleeson, Ella Kenny, Eve O’Riordan, Eimear Crean-Lynch, Jade Reid, Caragh Kelly, Sophie Cotter, Ella Burke, Sarah Cosgrave,  Grace Hanafin, Orlaith McGarry, Millie Wilson, Emma Kavanagh.


Parnells: Ciara Corr, Ellen Grant, Alex Meehan, Dominique Darby, Niamh Whelan, Aine Dolan, Lara Hynes, Lauren Mooney, Ellie McCarthy, Sofie Crooke, Ava Rose Henry, Keva Deegan, Emer McHugh, Sarah Corr, Isobel Dowling, Alannah O’Reilly, Abbi Griffin