Monaghan secure place in final ...
- Apr 30,2012
Monaghan power their way into final ....
Dublin's involvement in the 2012 Bord Gáis Energy NFL came to an abrupt halt yesterday. The Farney Counties eight point victory over the Dubs secured their place in the division one league final and gave Gregory McGonagle's chargers another shot at reigning league and All Ireland champions, Cork.
Monaghan's full forward line of McConnell, Kindlon and Mohan were superb, scoring 2-08 of Monaghan's final tally of 2-09. Playing with the aid of a strong wind, Monaghan from the onset appeared to be in full control in most sectors of the field with Dublin on the back pedal from the throw in. Dublin struggled to counter act or get to grips with the overall team performance and work rate of the Monaghan team.
Caoimhe Mohan, who was a constant thorn in Dublin side, was unlucky not to have raised the green flag in the 13th minute of the first half. Having shaken off the attentions of her marker, Mohan let rip a thundering shot on O'Connor's goal only to see the ball rebound back off the butt of the post and into the safe hands of Dublin's, Fiona Hudson.
Against the swirling wind Dublin's forwards were finding it hard to infiltrate the Monaghan defensive unit with Sharon Courtney and Grainne McNally in unrelenting form. Indeed, Dublin's only score of the first half coming from Sinead Aherne in the 15th minute. At the interval Monaghan took a six point lead into the dressing room, half time score line Monaghan 0-07 Dublin 0-01.
Dublin boss, Peter Clarke, reacted to his side's first half performance by introducing three substitutes, Rachel Ruddy, Sinead Goldrick and Natalia Hyland who were introduced into the team for the start of the second half.
Despite the changes in Dublin personnel it was Monaghan who got the decisive break and score of the second half when Caoimhe Mohan in the 34th minute blasted her shot past the advancing O'Connor. Monaghan had got the restart that Dublin desperately required and now lead by 1-07 to 0-01.
With their backs to the wall, Dublin rallied and started to show character with Denise Masterson, Sinead Goldrick along with Sinead Finnegan battling hard for their County.
Dublin's perseverance was rewarded when the Sky Blues were given a penalty in the 36th minute when Grainne McNally pulled down the advancing, Sinead Aherne in the small square. While McNally was making her way to the sin bin, Dublin's Amy Ring stepped up to take the spot kick, her shot boomed off the wood work. Ring attempted to kick the rebounded shot past the oncoming Linda Martin but her hurried kick went high and wide.
Soon after, Dublin lost their captain Gemma Fay to the sin bin for a high challenge on Monaghan midfielder, Isabel Kierans, both teams where now down to fourteen players.
Monaghan's dominance in the game continued throughout the second half, their victory was sealed with Grainne O'Malley fouled Mohan in the small square, Cathriona McConnell stepped up and took the resulting penalty kick. Dublin keeper O'Connor guessed the right way diving to her right but she could not prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net such was the power of the shot.
The large Monaghan crowd of supporters in the stand where now in full voice, abundantly aware that their team had reached another final, their last appearance in a league final was back in 2001.
Dublin finished the game out with a couple of fine long range points from Foxrock Cabinteely duo, Ring and Ciara Murphy but the result was well decided with the day belonging to the women of Monaghan.
Despite the disappointment of the manner of the defeat to Monaghan, Dublin can look positively on the fact that both injury concerns, Sinead Goldrick and Niamh McEvoy came through the game unscathed plus it was welcoming to see the return of 2010 All Star corner back, Rachel Ruddy to the Dublin fold.
While Monaghan have a league final against Cork to look forward to Dublin with their league campaign finished for another season now switch their attention to the Leinster championship, with their opening round fixture versus Kildare down for the 24th of June.
Dublin v Monaghan:
Cliodhna O'Connor, Sinead O'Mahony, Siobhan McGrath, Grainne O'Malley, Ailish McKenna, Denise Masterson, Fiona Hudson, Sinead Finnegan, Sinead Tracey, Amy Ring, Gemma Fay, Amy McGuinness, Sinead Aherne, Niamh McEvoy, Orlagh Egan.
Subs: Rachel Ruddy for McKenna, Sinead Goldrick for Tracey, Natalia Hyland for Egan, Olivia Leonard for McGuinness, Ciara Murphy for McEvoy.
Scorers: Amy Ring 0-02, Sinead Goldrick 0-02, Gemma Fay, Sinead Aherne and Ciara Murphy 0-01 each
Monaghan v Dublin:
Linda Martin, Grainne McNally, Sharon Courtney, Christina Reilly, Laura McEnaney, Nicole Fahy, Aoife McAnespie, Amanda Casey, Isabel Kierans, Therese McNally, Cora Courtney, Ciara McAnespie, Cathriona McConnell, Niamh Kindlon, Caoimhe Mohan.
Subs: Eileen McElroy for Kierans
Scorers: Cathriona McConnell 1-03, Caoimhe Mohan 1-03, Niamh Kindlon 0-02, Ciara McAnespie 0-01
Referee: Eugene O'Hare (Down)
Images from the game available to view on GAApics.com