Another Goalfest for the Jackies

  • Feb 15,2009

Dublin 4-11 Kildare 0-10
 
Dublin overwhelmed and outplayed Kildare in the first half of the Bord Gais Energy National League game played in ideal conditions at Naomh Mearnóg yesterday. They dominated the midfield exchanges and the follow-on combination play was a joy to behold with the forwards willing to shoot when the chance arose. Dublin were straight into action from the throw-in and registered a goal after 30 seconds with Ann-Marie Murphy finishing a flowing move to the net. Over the course of the next ten minutes the Dublin forwards registered six excellently-taken points, five of them from play. When Lyndsey Davey goaled in the eleventh minute a rout looked eminent. The Kildare defence were under immense pressure and battled bravely to stem the tide. By the sixteenth minute all six Dublin forwards were on the score sheet. They made full use of a significant wind advantage in the first half.

Aishling Jennings was the one Kildare forward who looked threatening when in possession. She registered all of the Lillies scores in the first half, namely three points, two of which came from frees. This left Dublin leading at half-time by 2-10 to 0-3. Five minutes before half-time Dublin lost Niamh Hurley with a knee injury. She had major involvement in most of the Jackies first-half scores.

Urged on by Brianne Leahy Kildare made a bright start to the second putting the Jackies defence under pressure. Firstly Jennings forced a finger-tip save out of Cliodhna O Connor in the Dublin goal with the ball hitting the post and going behind for a forty-five. Leahy with two well-taken points and another Jennings free reduced the deficit to 2-4. Dublin gradually began to exert control once again, with useful contributions from subs Fiona Corcoran and Niamh McEvoy Junior.

Another Lyndsey Davey goal on eleven minutes killed off the game as a contest. It should be noted, however, that this was the Jackies first score for twenty minutes. Carrie OConnors goal with her first touch since coming on as a sub in the twenty-fifth minute was the icing on the cake for the Jackies. Kildare never stopped trying and registered some nice points towards the end but it was all too little, too late.
Denise Masterson and Niamh McEvoy at midfield gave the Jackies a good platform from which many scores emanated. All six forwards made useful contributions with Lyndsey Davey and Sinead Ahearne, in particular, impressing. Noelle Comyn, Siobhan McGrath and Avril Cluxton tidied up in defence.

Aishling Jennings was Kildares best player in the first half, especially and was ably supported throughout by Brianne Leahy and Noelle Earley. Noelle took the fight to Dublin right to the end but Cliodhna OConnor made sure that no goals would be conceded.

Player of the Match - Lyndsey Davey.

Teams -

Dublin - C OConnor, A. Cluxton, N.Comyn, M. Kavanagh, A. McKenna, S. Furlong, S.McGrath, D.Masterson, N.McEvoy, (0-1), M.Nevin, (0-1), L.Davey, (2-1), C. Barrett, (0-1), N.Hurley, (0-1), S.Ahearne, (0-4), A-M. Murphy, (1-2).
Subs - D. Geraghty for N. Hurley, S. OMahoney for A.McKenna, N. McEvoy Junior for M.Nevin, F. Corcoran for C.Barrett, C.Murphy for A-M. Murphy, K. Flood for N.McEvoy and C. OConnor, (1-0), for L. Davey.
Kildare -T. Martin, Celia Hogan, A. Holton, A. Duffy, D. Berry, B. Leahy,(0-2), A. Savage, L. Keatley, D. Duffy, N. Earley,(0-1, free), A. Gately,(0-1), A. Jennings, (0-6, 5 frees), D. Gately, M. Moolick, capt., T. Noone.
Subs - S. Brosnan for D. Gately, K. Lowry for C. Hogan, E. Dillon for A. Duffy, A. Herbert for T. Noone, D. Tierney for D. Duffy, C. Dolan for T. Martin, D. Duffy for L. Keatley, Ciara Hogan for A. Savage.

Referee - J. Flood, Wexford.

Photos of the game can be viewed in our gallery or by clicking http://www.flickr.com/photos/26050454@N06/sets/72157613847024822/

Match programme can be downloaded by clicking here