Jackies through to All Ireland Final 2009
The Farney Army descended upon Ardee this afternoon to witness what was conceded in the Dublin camp to be a tough challenge. And so it turned out to be. Niamh McEvoy had caught the throw-in but it was lost in a tussle in the middle of the park. Playing with a stiff breeze behind them, Monaghan were off down the park and slotted the first point of the game over the bar. It didnt take them long to find their range and put a second point on the board. Dublins reply came in the third minute but went wide of the mark but some deft playing left Sinead Ahearne free to open the Jackies account in minute number four. Some confusion in the Monaghan back line left the door open for Dublin to have a shot on target but it wasnt taken and Monaghan quickly slammed it shut with Referee Declan Corcoran of Mayo awarding a free out. Dublins equalizer came in the 8th minute. The tables were quickly turned when the Farney Girls contrived a reply which Cliodhna OConnor did her best to keep out, but the green flag was given an airing. To nail it down, the kick out didnt take too long in becoming another point on the Monaghan account either. There is no doubt that the Dubs were rattled by this turn of events as they watch a few more points sail high over their keepers head. Dublin forced two frees converted by the redoubtable Sinead Ahearne when that Monaghan door was left open once again. The Jackies failed to capitalise and the chance was lost. Monaghan had 1-9 on the board at this stage when Sinead was awarded another free which she converted and this was followed by another from play shortly after. The minutes were counting down quickly when a gap opened and Sinead put a Dublin goal past the helpless Linda Martin in the Monaghan sticks. The first half finished with a three point lead to Monaghan.
Could Dublin exploit the breeze in the second half? The opening point went Monaghans way much as in the first half. Lyndsey Peat opened her own account with a reply. She began to run through from deep in the field and sent in a rocket which Linda Martin did well to contain. The Dubs were a sharper operation than in the earlier half and it began to pay dividends. Monaghan conceded a 45 and this was converted to a point. The Farney Ladies tried a rocket of their own by Cliodhna O Connor got to it and it went over the bar. At the thirteen minute mark the ball found the back of the net from a fine shot off the boot of Lyndsey Davey. It was game on as the margin began to close. By the 23rd minute and after Monaghan had conceded two more frees on the 20m line it was all square once more. The Jackies went into top gear and the match had the appearance of a gladiatorial contest as both sides sought to gain the winning margin. Both sets of supporters began to chant and cheer. Dublin went a point up, moving into the lead for the first time in the contest. The cheering went up a few tones. Monaghan gave the Jackies another free on the 20m line - the sixth in the game - which Sinead converted. Dublin were 2 points ahead, could they keep the lead? There was still a few minutes on the board. The Dublin backs had the ball and they were keeping it. Back to Cliodhna, hand passed out to Avril, over to Noelle, 58 seconds remaining, Niamh Kindlon runs in, Cliodhna kicks it out, it gets fumbled, Dublin hearts miss a beat, but it gets cleared and on that collective sigh of relief the clock reads zero.
Final Score: Dublin 2-14 Monaghan 1-15
Player of the Match Siobhan McGrath [Dublin]
1 C OConnor 2 A Cluxton 3 N Comyn 4 M Kavanagh 5 C Barrett 6 S Furlong 7 S McGrath 8 D Masterson(c) 9 N McEvoy [subbed E Kelly] 10 M Nevin 0-1 [subbed N Hurley] 11 A McGuinness 0-1
12 K Flood [subbed N Healy] 13 L Davey 1-2 14 S Ahearne 1-9 15 L Peat 0-1
