Jackies too strong for the Tribeswomen
- Feb 22,2009
Bord Gais Energy National League, Division 1B.
Galway 0-7 Dublin 2-16.
Jackies too strong for the Tribeswomen.
Dublin secured qualification for the quarterfinals of the Bord Gais Energy National League with a comprehensive win over the Tribeswomen thus making it three wins out of three to date. The game was played in ideal conditions on a superb sod at Monivea. The outcome was never in doubt and was well over as a contest by half-time. The Jackies were straight into the action from the throw-in with Denise Masterson sending Lyndsey Davey through to rattle the back of the Galway net after two minutes. Fiona Corcoran who started in place of Niamh McEvoy, along with Masterson, dominated the midfield exchanges. Corcoran gave a superb display of high quality fielding during the game. When Galway did break through the Dublin defence stood solid. Gillian Joyce kicked three early wides and this couldn’t have helped Galway’s confidence.
Many of Dublin’s best attacks started deep in defence and goalkeeper, Cliodhna O’Connor, was used by fellow defenders as an outlet in the process. The half-back line of Eilish McKenna, Siobhan Furlong and in particular, Siobhan McGrath, regularly journeyed forward in support of the attack. Full forward, Sinead Ahearne, created space for players coming through by moving to the wings to collect ball. Points from Ahearne and Mary Nevin had Dublin leading by 1-3 to no score after ten minutes. In the eleventh minute Galway goalkeeper, Joanne Connolly deflected an Anne-Marie Murphy goal bound shot away for a 45. She had barely drawn breath when she was forced to make an outstanding stop from Lyndsey Davey but the centre forward was on hand to finish the rebound to the net.
Five minutes before half-time Connolly was back in action turning away a piledriver from Mary Nevin. Galway who had registered a point from a free by Una Carroll in the tenth minute tagged on another point from Gillian Joyce just before the break. The fact that two of Galway’s better-known players were substituted half way through the first half didn’t help their cause. Aoibheann Daly who injured an ankle was replaced by Niamh Lohan and Patricia Gleeson by Niamh Lynskey.
Even though Galway started the second half with a spring in their step it was Dublin who outscored them by four points to one in the first ten minutes. Lisa Cohill was becoming far more influential at midfield and the switching of Anne Marie McDonough to the half forward line brought a new impetus to their attack. Even though McDonough was still doing a marking job on Lyndsey Davey, (third Galway player to be assigned that task,) she scored two excellent points from surging runs forward. Another point from Cohill and the scoreline stood at 2-10 to 0-6 for the Jackies. But that was as good as it got for Galway. Connolly pulled off another fine save from Niamh Hurley who had covered acres of ground during the game. Dublin used five of their subs and two of them, Kim Flood and Ciara Murphy, hit the target. Murphy’s two points sealed a very comprehensive victory for Dublin.
Dublin’s interpassing at pace was awesome and lay offs to the on-running support players was out of the top drawer. Galway had no answer to them. Joanne Connolly in goals was outstanding for Galway and there were solid displays from Rebecca McPhilbin, Anne Marie McDonough and Lisa Cohill. That was nowhere near enough to stem the Dublin tide. There were great displays for Dublin from Denise Masterson and Fiona Corcoran at midfield, Lyndsey Davey, Mary Nevin and Niamh Hurley in the forwards while Siobhan McGrath and Maria Kavanagh were the pick of the backs.
Player of the Match - Lyndsey Davey.
The match was well refereed by Mel Kenny, Mayo.
Galway - J.Connolly, E. Flaherty, R. Walsh, E. Leonard, A.M. McDonough, (0-2), A. Daly, R. McPhilbin, P. Gleeson, L. Cohill, (0-2), S. Burke, E. Concannon, G. Conneely, S. Murphy, G. Joyce, (0-2), U. Carroll, (0-1,free).
Subs - N. Lohan for A. Daly, N. Lynskey for P. Gleeson, G. Seoighe for E. Flaherty, N. Duggan for G. Joyce and H. Carroll for S. Murphy.
Dublin - C. O’Connor, A. Cluxton, N. Comyn, M. Kavanagh, E. McKenna, S. Furlong, S. McGrath, D. Masterson, F. Corcoran, M. Nevin, (0-2, 1 free), L. Davey, (2-3), C. Barrett,(0-1), N. Hurley, S. Ahearne, (0-6, 3 frees), A-M. Murphy, (0-1).
Subs - K. Flood, (0-1) for C. Barrett, Niamh McEvoy for F. Corcoran, A. Ring for N. Hurley, E. Travers for A. McKenna and C. Murphy, (0-2) for L.Davey.