Match report - Dublin v Dub Stars

  • Jan 04,2016

Match Report –

January 3rd, DCU

Dublin 3-14 Dub Stars 1-11

 

Dublin boss Gregory McGonigle will be satisfied with his side’s performance in the annual Dub Stars challenge match. The game which was played yesterday before a sizeable crowd of spectators in DCU was a competitive affair with a number of players on both sides laying down markers for starting positions on the Dublin team ahead of their 2016 NFL campaign.

 

Leinster champions Dublin had trailed the Dub Stars at half time by 1-08 to 1-05 only to bounce back in the second half by outscoring their opponents 2-09 to 0-03.

 

The opening goal of this well contested game came in the 9th minute and was nabbed by Olivia Leonard. Indeed the Dub Stars dominated the opening period of the game with Lyndsey Davey, Amy Ring, Amy McGuinness and Emma Colgan all on target for the Dub Stars.

 

Dublin Captain for the Day Noelle Healy got the first of her two goals in the 17th minute of the game cutting short the deficit between the sides to just 3 points. As the game eased towards the interval both sides exchanged points with Niamh Ryan, Sinead Goldrick and Sinead Aherne on target for Dublin. Former All Star Amy McGuinness popped over two fine points for the Dub Stars with Lyndsey Davey adding on another score to leave just 3 points between the teams at the break.

 

The second half was dominated by Dublin as they took the game to their opponents.  McGonigle chargers went on a scoring spree clocking up an impressive 2-05 in just 16 minutes. Dublin commenced the second period of the game with points from Aherne, Siobhan Woods and Niamh Rickard.

 

In the 37th minute, Aherne having been fouled in the small square calmly despatched the penalty kick herself passed Emer Ni Eafa to give Dublin a four point advantage. A minute later Healy killed the game as a contest when she raised the green flag for the second time when scoring her team’s third goal.

 

To their credit the Dub Stars kept plugging away finishing the game strongly with points from Fiona Claffey, Ring and McGuinness but the damage had been done in the opening period of the second half. At the final whistle Dublin had nine points to spare over their opponents.

 

Spectators at the event where full of praise for both sets of teams for serving up a great game of football which was played in good spirts and at an exceptionally fast pace.

 

The record books now show that Dublin has won the Dub Stars KCC Architectural Cup three times (2010, 2014 and 2015) with the Dub Stars registering two victories in 2009 and 2011.

 

Dublin will now turn their attention to the NFL with their 2016 campaign getting underway on Sunday January 31st with a home tie versus Munster champions Kerry.

 

Dublin:

Emer Ni Eafa (Fingallians), Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), Deirdre Murphy (St Brigid’s), Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely), Sinead Finnegan (Fingallians), Martha Byrne (Cuala), Noelle Healy (St Brigid’s) Captain, Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Rebecca McDonnell (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Siobhan Woods (Raheny), Niamh Ryan (Foxrock Cabinteely), Niamh Rickard (Fingallians), Niamh McEvoy (St Sylvester’s), Sinead Aherne (St Sylvester’s) Subs: Fiona Hudson (Fingallians), Ciara Crotty (Foxrock Cabinteely), Aoife Curran (O'Dwyers), Amy Conroy (Round Towers C).

 

Dublin scorers:

Sinead Aherne (St Sylvester’s) 1-4 (penalty) (1f), Noelle Healy (St Brigid's) 2-1, Siobhan Woods (Raheny) 0-4, Amy Conroy 0-1 (Round Towers C), Leah Caffrey 0-1 (Na Fianna), Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely) 0-1,Niamh Rickard 0-1 (Fingallians), Niamh Ryan 0-1 (Foxrock Cabinteely)

 

Dub Stars 2015:

Ciara Trant (St Brigid’s), Rachael Byrne (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Muireann Ní Scanaill (St Margaret’s), Hannah Hegarty (St Jude’s), Niamh Collins (Foxrock Cabinteely) Captain,  Sorcha Furlong (St Brigid’s, Fiona Claffey (Foxrock Cabinteely), Katie Black (Parnells), Molly Lamb (Kilmacud Crokes), Olivia Leonard (St Maurs), Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps), Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire), Emma Colgan (St Margaret’s), Hannah Noonan (Foxrock Cabinteely), Amy Ring (Foxrock Cabinteely) Subs: Ciara McGuigan (Thomas Davis), Eve Keogh (Skerries Harps), Ciara Regan (Kilmacud Crokes), Amy McGuinness (Fingallians), Aoife O’Reilly (Fingallians), Kim White (St Sylvester’s), unavailable for selection due to illness Roisin Troy (Clontarf)

 

Dub Stars scorers:

Olivia Leonard 1-0 (St Maurs), Lyndsey Davey 0-3 (Skerries Harps), Amy McGuinness 0-3 (Fingallians), Amy Ring 0-2 (Foxrock Cabinteely), Emma Colgan 0-2 (St Margaret’s), Fiona Claffey 0-1 (Foxrock Cabinteely)

 

Referee: Billy O’Connell (Croi Ro Naofa).

 

End.