AIG Dublin Feile final Div 3 Match Report
- May 21,2018
Erin’s Isle take high-scoring Division 3 final as Shannon Russell hits 3-3
Erin’s Isle 6-5
Thomas Davis 2-4
A frantic Division 3 final ended with a victory for a skillful Erin’s Isle side at Blanchardstown IT on Sunday morning, with Shannon Russell starring for the victors.
Erin’s Isle hit the net almost straight from the off, with Kate Watson scrambling home a team move that created the space for her to push in from close range. Shannon Russell added a point, though Thomas Davis were edging forward themselves, and found space to break clear though at the other end. They couldn’t find a finish, slotting just wide.
With Thomas Davis struggling for possession, Erin’s Isle added to their score as Faye O’Neill tipped over a spectacular effort from an angle from Russell, who was increasingly proving a serious thorn in the Tallaght side’s side.
A goalmouth scramble at the other end still saw Davis unable to convert, and instead Russell found herself free at the other end to hammer home and give Erin’s Isle a nine point lead, garnered largely off the back of their pacey forward play, with Davis yet to find the mark.
It was Russell again who added a third goal, her second, as she charged in from the byline and beat O’Neill at her near post.
Davis were able to hit back before halftime, though, with Shauna Tighe scrambling the ball home from close range, and threatened to come right back into a game that looked dead, as Jade Riordan beat several players to net, and then added a point for good measure. Oddly, with the half time scores at 3-4 to 2-1, the two sides had scored in two entirely separate blocks of attacking dominance.
Riordan hit the first point of the second half for Davis, but immediately saw an unfortunate failed clearance find its way into the Davis net via their own hand, before Shaunagh Delany added a point to extend the lead.
Davis were unable to cope with Shannon Russell, though, and it was her break and finish - for a hat-trick - that seemingly put the game beyond doubt. Russell’s pace was finding her ample space wide on the left, and once she got momentum, she was difficult to turn away.
Riordan was having a similar impact at the other end, though on a lesser scale, and forced a save out of Lauren Quane from distance as Davis were forced to go for goal.
The goal came at the other end though, as Russell and Watson combined again, with Watson grabbing her second from a through ball. That was to be enough, with Erin’s Isle winning out by 6-5 to 2-4 after an emphatic attacking display.
Thomas Davis - Faye O’Neill, Jessica Kelly, Maya Macari, Rebecca Leigh, Grace Byrne, Amy McMahon, Emma Kennedy, Tori Fitzgerald, Jade Riordan (1-2), Katelyn Murray (0-2), Dayna Brennan, Jessica Adamson, Shauna Tighe (1-0), Leah Blair, Danielle Walsh, Aimee Collins.
Erin’s Isle - Lauren Quane, Aoibhe Glynn, Codie Lowe, Katie White McCann, Saoirse Delaney, Ruby Wood, Jodie Murphy, Shaunagh Delany (0-1), Kate Watson (2-1) Shannon Russell (3-3), Erin O’Toole, Elle Wilson, Abbie Boshell, Kadie Martin, Niamh Dunne, Katie Wilde, (own goal (1-0)).