Match Report - Dublin v Meath U14 LFC final
- May 31,2015
Leinster U14 Championship Final
Dublin 2-06 Meath 2-09
Dublin surrendered their provincial crown to their old Leinster rivals Meath following a stunning second half performance by the Royal County.
Having accounted for Meath in the opening round of the championship Dublin came into the final as many pundits’ favourites however, it was Meath who would open the scoring with a well taken point by Susie O’Rourke.
Dublin responded in style with a superbly taken goal scored by late replacement Jodi Egan, indeed Dublin had four changes to their starting line out from that which had been named by team management on Friday. As well as the aforementioned Egan, Emma McCormack, Molly Brown and Grace Kos all started for the Dubs ahead of Aisling Byrne, Kate O’Connor, Amy O’Connell and Emma O’Malley.
The first half was a pulsating encounter, the game was end to end football with both sides exchanging scores. Meath responded to Egan’s goal with two well taken points by Leah Reilly and Emma Duggan.
Dublin’s second goal came in the 13th minute when full forward Roisin McGovern poked the ball over the line following a scramble for position in the Meath small square.
At the interval Dublin were ahead by four points as the score board read Dublin 2-03 Meath 0-05.
Straight from the restart Meath threw down the gauntlet to their near neighbours when Orla McLoughlin smashed the ball into the back of the Dublin net - suddenly it was game on!
Mcloughlin’s goal lifted not only the huge number of Meath supporters who had journeyed to Clane but also her Royal team mates. The Dublin back line was now under severe pressure with the carrying of the ball at the Dublin defence by Meath’s Emma Duggan, Susie O’Rourke and Lauren Geraghty causing the blues untold trouble.
The nail in the coffin came for the Dubs when Meath were awarded a penalty in the 46th minute. Up stepped wing half back Sorcha Gough who placed the ball past Dubs keeper Karen O’Connell with aplomb.
To their credit Dublin never threw in the towel midfielder and team Captain Grainne O’Driscoll lead by example running at the Meath defence but time and time again the Meath backs held firm denying Dublin the opportunity of a comeback. Indeed the Dubs were held to just three points in the second half while in turn conceded 2-04 to their opponents.
Dublin second half substitute Jessica Connolly injected some fire into her team with two well taken points but on the day the girls from the Royal County were unstoppable and despite a last gasp effort for goal by corner forward Katie McNally deep in injury time it was to be Meath’s day.
Dublin management can be proud of their side’s performance on the day they were simply beaten by hungrier Meath team. Emma Dawson, Molly Brown were excellent in the back line for the Dubs, at midfield Grainne O’Driscoll and Grace Kos ran themselves into the ground while up front Eimear Griffin was a constant thorn in the side of the Meath defence.
Dublin’s involvement in the championship is now ended while Meath go on to play Cork in the All Ireland semi-final in two weeks’ time.
Dublin XV:
Karen O’Connell (Na Fianna), Molly Brown (Erin’s
Isle), Aoife Taaffe (Kilmacud Crokes), Hannah Murphy (Ballyboden St Endas),
Rachel Hartnet (Cuala), Emma Dawson (Foxrock Cabinteely), Grace Kos (Kilmacud
Crokes), Grace Nash (Cuala), Grainne O’Driscoll, Captain (Cuala), Emma
McCormack (Fingallians), Jodi Egan (Foxrock Cabinteely), Eimear Griffin
(Castleknock), Orlagh McGuigan (Thomas Davis), Roisin McGovern (Foxrock
Cabinteely), Katie McNally (St Anne’s)
Subs: Amy O’Connell (Na Fianna) for Hartnet, Aisling Byrne (Ballyboden St Endas) for McCormack, Jessica Connelly (Foxrock Cabinteely) for McGovern, Chloe Monahan (Trinity Gaels) for Egan, Kate O’Connor (Kilmacud Crokes) for McGuigan.
Scorers: Jodi Egan 1-02, Roisin McGovern 1-00, Jessica Connelly 0-02, Eimear Griffin, Emma McCormack 0-01 each.
Meath XV:
Megan Peters, Mary McDonagh, Orlagh Lally, Meabh Hanrahan, Sorcha Gough, Sarah Wall, Aoife Farrell, Petra Reilly, Katie McCarthy, Emma Duggan, Leah Reilly, Susie O’Rourke, Orla McLoughlin, Lauren Geraghty, Leah Dennehy.
Meath Scorers: Emma Duggan 0-05, Orla McLoughlin 1-01, Sorcha Gough 1-00, Leah Reilly 0-02, Susie O’Reilly 0-01
Player of the match: Emma Duggan (Meath)
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)