Dublin conquer the Kingdom
- Feb 09,2014
Dublin conquer the Kingdom
Dublin Ladies got their 2014 TESCO Home Grown NFL campaign off to a winning start today with an impressive eleven point win over Kerry. The game which was played at a fast pace by both sides was an entertaining encounter despite the plummeting temperatures and swirling wind that was churning around the impressive Coolock venue.
Dublin played with the aid of the strong wind for the first half with the Dub’s using the ball intelligently and speedily when moving it out of their defensive line. Dublin defenders Sinead Goldrick, Siobhan McGrath and Rachel Ruddy where in outstanding form for the metropolitans giving the Kerry attackers no time on the ball thus causing the ball to be turned over on numerous occasions.
Up front the Dublin forward line was also moving well, Dublin had notched up three points on the score board courtesy of McEvoy, Davey, and Aherne before Noelle Healy popped up to claim her sides first goal.
Within minutes Healy was to be on the score sheet again the St Brigids forward had her initial shot stopped well on the line by Kerry keeper Amanda Brosnan however the blocked ball rebounded at the feet of Healy who duly despatched the ball into the Kerry net.
Former Dublin minor, Carla Rowe added further to Kerry’s woes when she too raised the green flag for Dublin to give the home side a 3-03 to nil lead with 19 minutes gone on the clock.
Dublin’s confidence was mounting as the game progressed with further points coming from Furlong, Healy, Woods and Aherne. At the interval Dublin lead by 3-07 to 0-02, Kerry’s two points where scored by centre forward Sarah Houlihan (free) and by veteran corner forward Patrice Dennehy.
On the restart Kerry battled hard and challenged Dublin in the physical stakes with some crunching challenges but despite the efforts of Dennehy, Louise Galvin and Sarah Jane Joy the damage had been done in the first 30 minutes with Kerry chasing a lost cause.
Houlihan, Joy and Dennehy tagged on five points second half for the visitors while Rowe and Aherne popped over a point a piece for the Dub’s.
The final score saw Dublin run out comfortable winners by 3-09 to 0-7 and a first win for new boss Gregory McGonigle, up next for the sky blues is a away game to Cora Staunton’s Mayo.
Dublin boss McGonigle, will be happy with his chargers performances having amassed all their scores from play although he will be hoping that both Siobhan McGrath and Lyndsey Davey will be available for selection against Mayo as both players picked up knocks today against Kerry.
Dublin: Hannah Tyrell, Siobhan McGrath, Rachel Ruddy, Leah Caffrey, Sinead Goldrick, Sorcha Furlong, Colleen Barrett, Sarah McCaffrey, Sinead Finnegan, Noelle Healy, Niamh McEvoy, Carla Rowe, Lyndsey Davey, Sinead Aherne, Siobhan Woods.
Subs: Martha Byrne for McGrath (HT), Natalia Hyland for Davey, Olivia Leonard for Healy, Murphy for Barrett.
Scorers: Noelle Healy 2-01, Carla Rowe 1-1, Sinead Aherne 0-3, Sorcha Furlong, Niamh McEvoy, Lyndsey Davey and Siobhan Woods 0-01 each.
Kerry:
Amanda Brosnan, Cait Lynch, Aislinn Desmond, Gina Crowley, Julie Brosnan, Denise Hallissey, Maria Quirke, Lorraine Scanlon, Sarah Jane Joy, Emma Sherwood, Sarah Houlihan, Deirdre Corridan, Patrice Dennehy, Louise Galvin, Louise Ni Mhuirtceartaigh.
Subs: Claire O’Sullivan for Ni Mhuirtceartaigh, Debra Murphy for Houlihan
Scorers: Patrice Dennehy 0-03, Sarah Houlihan 0-2 (1F), Sarah Jane Joy 0-2
Referee: James Flood (Wexford)