Dublin U14 Leinster Champions for 2011

  • May 09,2011

 

Dublin Blow Kildare Away inLeinster ‘A Final.

Dublin 8-13 Kildare 2-3.

 

Finals of Provincial championships should be competitive affairs butthis u14 contest never showed the least sign of being so. Dublin playing with avery strong wind at their backs in the first half made sure of that. Aside fromtwo attacks, one of which generated a goal on the stroke of half time from apenalty, Kildare failed to get inside their opponents 20m line.

They evenstruggled to get the ball past their 40m line for much of the half. Thepressure from Dublin was relentless from the throw-in and the scores came thickand fast. The first came after two minutes when Holly Greers shot was parriedinto the net by Kildare goalkeeper, Emer Ni Cheallaigh.

One minute later AmyConroy scored a neat point and this was followed a Jennifer ODell goal. Halfway through the half Dublin led by 4-4 to no score. Fiona Terry and Niamh ONeillalong with Megan Morrissey were constantly winning possession and supplyingball to the full forward line. T

he half-forward line of Amy Conroy, MeganMorrissey and Emma Byrne were getting in on the act also. By half-time five ofthe six forwards plus midfielder, Fiona Terry, had hit the target. Emer NiCheallaigh in goals for Kildare struggled big time to either find a fellowplayer with her kick-outs or get any length into them.

By half-time Dublin ledby 5-7 to 1-0 and there didnt seem to be a way back for home side. When youconsider that the forwards were also quite wasteful with thirteen wides then thingscould have been much worse for Kildare.

Dublin made two substitutions at half time with Katie Nyhan replacingZara Perry and Hannah Hegarty taking Ann-Marie Troys place. Lauren Magee wasmoved from fullback to the centre with Sarah Deegan taking her place.

Theanticipated fight-back by Kildare never materialised. Lauren Magee, SarahDeegan and sub Hannah Hegarty saw to that. Magee covered acres of ground andcleaned up all round her. Captain, Emma Colgan, continued to dive her teamforward and the scores kept coming.

The game needed some early Kildare scoresbut it was Dublin who obliged instead. Emma Byrne, the only forward who hadntscored in the first half obliged with the first two scores of the second, agoal and a point within three minutes. With the score standing at 6-8 to noscore it was game over.

Molly Price converted a free after four minutes butDublin responded with another 1-1 from Conroy and ODell respectively. Kildarenever gave up and added another 1-2 to their scoreline while Dublin added afurther 1-5. The gulf in class was obvious to all which doesnt bode well forfootball at this level within the Province.

Dublin had players who could carrythe ball into the teeth of a very strong wind in the second half which madesure that there was no let up for their opponents. Brooke Dunne battled gamelyto stem the tide as did Niamh Mulhall, Lydia Fury, Rachel Reidy and Molly Pricebut to no avail. So Dublin are deserving champions for 2011 and will nowprepare for the formidable challenge of Galway in the semi-finals.

Well done girls. You did Dublin proud. Congratulations to Ken Nyhan and his management team on the success.

Leinster Player of the Match - Lauren Magee

Dublin - Shauna OHara, Katie Mahon, Lauren Magee, Sarah Deegan, EmmaColgan, Ann-Marie Troy, Ciara Crotty, Fiona Terry, (0-1), Niamh ONeill, AmyConroy, (1-2), Megan Morrissey, (1-3, 1-1 frees), Emma Byrne, (1-1), Jennifer ODell,(3-2), Zara Perry, (0-1), Holly Greer, (2-3, 0-1 free).

Subs - Katie Nyhan for Zara Perry, Hannah Hegarty for Ann-Marie Troy,Zenaouska Murphy for Katie Mahon, Sorcha Whooley for Sarah Deegan and AoibheannLynch for Jennifer ODell.

 

Kildare - Emer Ni Cheallaigh, Gemma Hartnett, Emma Lyons, capt., CaoimheJam, Chloe Byrne, Brooke Dunne, Audrey Murphy, Niamh Mulhall, Lydia Fury,(0-1), Rachel Reidy, Shauna Kendrick, (0-1), Caoimhe OFearghail, (1-0, pen.),Molly Price, (0-2, frees), Abbie Monagahon, Niamh Dunne.

Finbarr ODriscoll (PRO)