Dubs secure semi-final spot

  • Apr 01,2012

Dublin have booked their place in the Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL division one semi-final following a three point win over Leinster rivals, Laois.  

Dublin's semi final opponents will be Ulster side Monaghan while the other semi-final pairing will see Meath take on reigning league champions, Cork both fixtures are pencilled in for the 29th of April.

 

Laois travelled to the capital today with it all to play for, Joe Higgins side needed a win over the Dubs to secure a semi-final spot but from the start Dublin appeared to have a slight edge on their Leinster rivals.

 

Traditionally Dublin and Laois clashes have been close tight encounters, the latest episode in this keen Leinster rivalry would prove to be no different.

 

Dublin Left half forward, Olivia Leonard was first to register a point for the sky blues her well taken point came in the 4th minute of the game, two additional Dublin points came in quick succession from half forward Amy McGuinness and three times All Star, Sinead Aherne. 

Seven minutes into the first half Aherne added a fourth Dublin point from a twenty metre free, two minutes later Orlaith Egan pointed from play giving the Dubs a five point lead. Laois were struggling to get with the pace of the game but to their credit they dug deep and began to take the game to Dublin. 

 

Twelve minutes in, Dublin lost the services of St Sylvester's midfielder Niamh McEvoy, who had to leave the pitch with a shoulder injury following a collision with Laois's Maggie Murphy.

 

The delay in play gave Laois the opportunity to regroup, on the resumption Laois put together a quick movement of passes from their defence up the field, resulting in Dublin keeper Cliodhna O'Connor pulling off a superb save from Laois corner forward Grace Weston. Weston's muffled shot was mopped up quickly by the Dublin defence but Laois now had a spring in their step finishing the half with three unanswered points, half time score  Dublin 0-6 Laois 0-3.

 

Joe Higgins welcomed the interval, the break giving the Laois manager the opportunity to inspire his chargers on, Higgins urging the Laois women to step up their second half performance. Despite the extra pep in the Laois step it was Dublin who where on the score board first, Amy McGuinness slotting over two fine points to push her side five points ahead.

 

Laois where starting to come more and more into the game

with their midfield aceTracey Lawlorstarting to influence

proceedings by making penetrating runs time andtime again

at the Dublindefence, indeed Dublin can be thankful for the

Portmarnockwood work when a rasping shot from Mary

Kirwan rebounded back off the cross bar in toa safe pair of

Dublin hands.

 

Meanwhile down at the other end of the pitch Na Fianna star Orlaith Egan was using her body strength to good affect combining well with the experienced Sinead Aherne. This duo got the Dubs next three points, Egan with two from play, Aherne nailing a twenty metre free.

 

Laois raised the last white flag of the game when Mary Kirwan slotted over her third free of the match late into injury time but time had ran out for Laois with the O'Moore County playing no further part in this year's  Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL.

 

Final score, Dublin 0-11 Laois 0-8

 

Match official Michael Henry of Monaghan, issued three yellow cards in the final minutes of this contest, Natalia Hyland saw yellow in the 54th minute, Jane Moore left the field on a yellow in the 60th minute and two minutes later Siobhan McGrath also left the game on a yellow.

 

Dublin v Laois: Cliodhna O'Connor, Grainne O'Malley, Siobhan McGrath, Sinead O'Mahony, Gemma Fay, Denise Masterson, Fiona Hudson, Niamh McEvoy, Sinead Finnegan, Amy McGuinness, Natalia Hyland, Olivia Leonard, Amy Ring, Sinead Aherne, Orlaith Egan.

Subs: Sinead Treacy for McEvoy (Injury), Anne Clarke for Ring, Ailish McKenna for O'Mahony, Siobhan Woods for Leonard.

Scorers: Orlaith Egan 0-3pts, Amy McGuinness 0-03pts, Sinead Aherne 0-3pts (2f), Olivia Leonard 1pt, Natalia Hyland 1pt (1F).

 

Laois v Dublin: Caoimhe Dollard, Jane Moore, Grainne Dunne, Ellen Healy, Mags McEvoy, Trish Fogarty, Sarah McEvoy, Tracey Lawlor, Sarah Quigley, Martha Kirwan, Noirin Kirwan, Maggie Murphy, Grace Weston, Anna Moore, Mary Kirwan.

Scorers: Mary Kirwan 3pts (3F), Tracey Lawlor 2pts (2F), Martha Kirwan, Noirin Kirwan and Maggie Murphy 1pt each.

Images from the game are available to view on GAApics.com