Dubs retain Minor Crown
- May 04,2015
Leinster Minor Final
Monday May 4th 2015
FT Dublin 7-11 Kildare 0-09
Dublin are Leinster Minor champions for a remarkable fifth year in a row following an emphatic twenty three point victory over their Leinster neighbours Kildare. The final which was played before a large crowd in St Peregrines GAA club was Dublin’s 11th Provincial title having won their very first back in 1990.
Remarkably the Dubs have won the Minor provincial crown every year since 2005 the only blip on their record sheet in the last ten years came in 2010 when Laois broke the sequence to claim the title. Dublin returned to winning ways in 2011 and haven’t lost a minor championship game in Leinster since.
Dublin showed why they are a power house in Leinster as Kildare simply had no response to the metropolitans pace, fitness and power but to their credit Kildare never gave up the chase with corner forward Ciara Wheeler and full back Lydia Furey leading by example for the Lilywhites.
Dublin got the perfect start as in under two minutes the blues had raced into a four point lead, Emma Colgan opened Dublin’s scoring with a well taken point which was quickly followed up by an Amy Conroy goal.
Kildare fought back with points from Breen, Munnelly and a Wheeler free but in the 27th minute corner forward Emma Colgan bagged her side’s second goal. Kildare where just starting to settle into the game when Colgan blasted her shot past Kildare keeper Natasha Murphy, Colgan’s goal was a killer punch for Kildare coming as it did just before the break.
Dublin’s second goal gave McDonnell’s side a nine point lead at the interval, the half time score read Dublin 2-5 Kildare 0-03. Dublin’s additional first half points were taken by Colgan, O’Hara and Conroy.
On the restart Kildare introduced Niamh Mulhall and Caoimhe O’Fearghaill into the game in a move to regenerate their forward line. To their credit both players made an impact popping over two points apiece in the second period of the game but unfortunately for Kildare the result was never going to go in their favour.
Kildare as a unit simply could not handle Dublin’s movement, pace and fitness levels when Colgan and Conroy struck again for their side’s third and fourth goals in the 7th and 8th minute of the second half the game was well and truly over as a contest.
Dublin would go on to raise the green flag three more times before the final whistle, O’Hara (9th minute), O’Dell (20th minute) and Colgan again for her hat trick in the 27th minute.
Dublin boss Martin McDonnell will be happy with his chargers performances his back six where exceptional with Hegarty, McGinley and Crotty in superb form, midfielders Magee and O’Neill worked hard throughout the game while upfront Conroy and Colgan where simply outstanding.
Corner forward Emma Colgan with a personnel tally of 3-06 (1f) was named as player of the match a fitting ending to the day for the St Margaret’s sharp shooter who was a class apart from beginning to end.
Dublin will now regroup and turn their attention to the All- Ireland semi-final and a meeting with Munster Champions Cork on July 18th.
Dublin: Alex Ryan (St Patricks D), Muireann O’Gorman (Kilmacud Crokes), Tarah O’Sullivan (Foxrock Cabinteely), Ciara Crotty (Foxrock Cabinteely), Hannah Hegarty (St Jude’s), Laura McGinley (Naomh Barrog), Erica Byrne (O’Dwyers), Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Niamh O’Neill (St Brigid’s), Emily Brown (Templeogue Synge Street), Rebecca McDonnell (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Amy Conroy (Round Towers, C), Emma Colgan (St Margaret’s), Shauna O’Hara (O’Dwyers), Jennifer O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street).
Subs: Grace O’Shea (Ballinteer St Johns) for Brown, Naomi Clare (St Maurs) for McDonnell, Emily Flanagan (Ballyboden St Endas) for Hegarty, Mia Jennings (Kilmacud Crokes) for O’Dell, Hannah O’Neill (Foxrock Cabinteely) for Conroy
Scorers: Emma Colgan 3-06 (1f), Amy Conroy 2-02, Shauna O’Hara 1-01 (1f), Jennifer O’Dell 1-00, Niamh O’Neill, Lauren Magee 0-01 each
Kildare : Natasha Murphy, Rose Mernagh, Lydia Furey, Aine Dunne, Sabrina Kennedy, Tara Breen, Shauna Kendrick, Rachel Reidy, Avril Fitzpatrick, Ciara Morris, Louise Scully, Emma Lyons, Sarah Munnelly, Molly Price, Ciara Wheeler.
Subs: Niamh Mulhall for Scully, Aisling O’Connor for Morris, Orlaith Kirwan for Price, Gemma Hartnett for Dunne, Caoimhe O’Fearghail
Scorers: Ciara Wheeler 0-02 (1f), Niamh Mulhall 0-02, Caoimhe O’Fearghail 0-02, Tara Breen, Sabrina Kennedy, Sarah Munnelly 0-01 each
Player of the Match: Emma Colgan (St Margaret’s)