Ring goal seals Dublin win over Meath
- Feb 03,2013
Dublin ladies under Interim manager Paul Gilheaney overcame a resilient Meath outfit today to earn the metropolitans three valuable NFL points. The match which was played in front of a sizeable crowd in Russell Park was a typical early spring encounter with both teams trying hard to impress.
However the lack of competitive football was evident with both Counties guilty of over hitting passes and squandering scoring opportunities, the game was on a good ten minutes or more before the opening score was registered, courtesy of Meath forward Geraldine O'Doherty.
That score seemed to settle Meath who soon began to ask serious questions of the Dublin defensive, half forward Katie O'Brien was dictating play delivering good ball into her Meath full forward colleagues. Meath soon went five points clear before Dublin registered their opening score which came from Skerries Harps ace forward Lyndsay Davey.
Despite Meath's supremacy in front of the posts they found it challenging to raise a green flag, this was mainly down to the dominance of Dublin keeper, Cliodhna O'Connor was in superb form moving quickly on two occasions to deny Meath's sharp shooters, Doherty and O'Rourke.
With less than ten minutes remaining in the first half, Dublin lost corner forward Orla Egan to injury her replacement Lauren Ebbs ceased on her team mates misfortune to show case her scoring prowess. Ebbs reacted quickly when a shot from Davey rebound off the goal post, the Barrog native calmly popping the ball past the on rushing Irene Munnelly.
Game on, Dublin were now back in contention Meath did counter act with a point from Bridgetta Lynch, resulting in Meath taking a two point lead into the dressing room. Meath 0-07 Dublin 1-02...
Dublin made two half time substitutions introducing two of last year All Ireland winning senior B team Hannah Tyrell and Ciara Ruddy, into the action. Dublin started the second half with a new surge of confidence, within minutes of the restart, McGuinness and Ebbs tagged on two unanswered points bringing the match all square.
Dublin was dealt another injury blow when centre half back Niamh McEvoy picked up a serious knee injury she was replaced by Ballyboden St Endas dual star Natalia Hyland.
The game was now up for grabs both sides tapping over free courtesy of O'Brien for Meath and McGuinness for Dublin. Meath midfielder Vivienne McCormack following a powerful run through the Dublin defence added another point for the Royal County to give Meath a narrow lead.
The turning point in the game came from a long kick out by O'Connor which was gathered close to the side line by Tyrell, the Dublin sub floated the ball perfectly into the hands of the on rushing Amy Ring who calmly slotted home her low shot past Munnelly.
Rings goal had given Dublin the lead for the first time in the game.
Tyrell who had made an impressive impact on the match since her introduction at half time added to Meath's anguishes when she slotted the ball over the Meath posts to push Dublin three points clear.
To their credit, Dublin defended frantically in the dying minutes of the match, funnelling players back, having lost Ciara Ruddy to the sin bin following a foul on the impressive Katie O'Brien. O'Brien who had caused Dublin problems through out the game converted the Ruddy conceded free herself to bring the Royals within two points of Dublin.
Dublin saw out the final remaining minutes defending well while holding onto possession to claim the valuable three league points, final score Dublin 2-06 Meath 0-10.
Next Sunday Dublin welcome Donegal to the capital the northerners lost their opening tie to Laois today on the score line of 1-16 to 1-09.
Dublin: Cliodhna O'Connor, Rachel Byrne, Sinead Goldrick, Leah Caffrey, Laura McGahan, Niamh McEvoy, Fiona Hudson, Amy McGuinness, Noelle Healy, Siobhan Woods, Elaine Kelly, Amy Ring, Orlagh Egan, Sinead Deegan, Lyndsay Davey:
Dublin Scorers: Lauren Ebbs 1-01, Amy Ring 1-00, Amy McGuinness 0-02 (1F), Siobhan Woods 0-01, Lyndsay Davey 0-01, Hannah Tyrell 0-01
Dublin Subs: Lauren Ebbs for Egan (injury), Ciara Ruddy for McGahan (HT), Hannah Tyrell for Deegan (HT), Natalia Hyland for McEvoy (injury).
Meath: Irene Munnelly, Tracy King, Aedin Murray, Orla Sheridan, Laura Bagnall, Marie O'Shaughnessy, Emma Troy, Sinead McCormack, Vivienne McCormack, Shauna Ennis, Aoife O'Rourke, Katie O'Brien, Geraldine O'Doherty, Niamh Lister.
Meath Scorers: Katie O'Brien 0-04 (4f), Geraldine O'Doherty 0-03, Bridgetta Lynch 0-01, Aoife O'Rourke 0-01, Vivienne McCormack 0-01
Photos from the game can be viewed here from GAApics