An Aisling O’Neill goal ten minutes in set the tone for Dublin to March onto the Leinster Senior final
Dublin 1-15
Westmeath 0-04
Dublin’s Senior camogie team booked their place in next weekends Leinster Senior final with a dominant display against Westmeath this afternoon in Abbotstown.
The pace, power, slick passing, movement and shooting accuracy from Dublin proved too much for a galant Westmeath side who fought to the end but were no match for Adrian O’Sullivan’s side today.
A cracking goal from Dublin’s young star Aisling O’Neill ten minutes into the first half set the tone for the remainder of the game as Dublin outfought and out-passed and out classed Westmeath.
The Dublin defence closed off the majority of the Westmeath attacks and used the ball cleverly out of defence.
In an all round excellent team display picking out standout players is always difficult, but special mention has to go to Christine Shannahan at corner back, half-back Emma O’Byrne and forwards Aisling Gannon, Niamh Gannon and Aisling O’Neill.
Westmeath started the game well and opened up a two point lead inside the opening five minutes thanks to two converted frees from Megan Dowdall.
The sides were level on the ten minute mark, Aisling O’Neill grabbed Dublin’s first point of the semi final from a free and the impressive Niamh Gannon swung over a fine point.
Dublin won the resultant puck-out and the ball was played in towards Aisling Gannon inside the large parallelogram, the ball just went over the head of Gannon but Aisling O’Neil coming in around the back collected the ball and buried to the net.
That score knocked the sails out of Westmeath and Dublin smelling blood went for the jugular. Three points in a row, one from Aisling Gannon and two from her sister Niamh put Dublin in complete control.
A point from Westmeath’s Emma Broughan three minutes from the break momentarily stopped the one way traffic, but the lively Aisling O’Neill added two more points, one from free and the other a brilliant effort from play and Dublin headed into the half time break seven points to the good with the score 1-07 to 0-03.
Dublin continued were they left off after the break and scored six unanswered points, two apiece from Ali Twomey and Aisling Maher and one each from Aisling O’Neill and Aisling Gannon.
With just thirteen minutes left on the clock and O’Sullivan emptying his bench, the only thing left to be decided was the margin of the Dublin victory.
Westmeath scored their fourth and final point of the game from a converted Megan Dowdall free and Dublin cruised to the final whistle adding further points from Aisling Maher and Aisling Gannon.
Dublin will now set their sights on next weekends Leinster Senior Final where they will face old rivals Kilkenny who defeated Offaly in the other semi final by 4-14 to 1-12.
Dublin Scorers
14. Aisling O’Neill 1-04 (2f)
15. Aisling Gannon 0-03
11. Niamh Gannon 0-03
17. Aisling Maher 0-03
13. Ali Twomey 0-02
Westmeath Scorers
6. Megan Dowdall 0-03 (3f)
13. Emma Broughan 0-01
Dublin
1. Eabha Mooney
2. Christine Shanahan
3. Eve O’Brien
4. Muireann Kelleher
5. Roisin Baker
6. Hannah Hegarty
7. Emma O’Byrne
8. Emma Flanagan
9. Gaby Couch
10. Elyse Jameison Murphy
11. Niamh Gannon
12. Jody Couch
13. Ali Twomey
14. Aisling O’Neill
15. Aisling Gannon
Dublin Substitutions
17. Aisling Maher for 10. Elyse Jameison Murphy (38)
22. Claire Gannon for 8. Emma Flanagan (41)
27. Leah Butler for 4. Muireann Kelleher (45)
23. Cliodhna Nicoletti for 12. Jody Couch (47)
28. Orla Gray for 6. Hannah Hegarty (49)
Westmeath
1. Fiona Keating
2. Dearbhail McLoughlin
3. Emily McCabe
21. Meadbh Scally
17. Sandra McGrath
6. Megan Dowdall
7. Laura Doherty
8. Aine Newman
9. Muireann Scally
19. Aoife O’Malley
11. Sheila McGrath
12. Maria Kelly
13. Emma Broughan
14. Denise McGrath
15. Hannah Core
Westmeath Substitutions
10. Louise O’Connor for 15. Hannah Core (28)
18. Roisin Scally for 3. Emily McCabe (46)
20. Anya Boyle for 13. Emma Broughan (49)
15. Hannah Core for 17.Sandra McGrath (55)
16. Anna Weir for 1. Fiona Keating (60)