Dubs too sharp for gallant Meath side in Leinster Senior Camogie Championship semi-final
Dublin 1-23
Meath 1-07
Dublin secured their place in next weekends Leinster Senior Camogie Championship Final with a dominant display against Meath this afternoon in Trim GAA club.
The Dubs came flying out of the blocks from the off and proved too sharp throughout for a gallant Meath side who battled till the end.
The Sky Blues were scrooge like in defence offering up few opportunities to Meath and Dublin moved the ball quickly and decisively going forward and built up a six point lead by the break.
They extended that lead out to fourteen points early in the second half. Meath through themselves a lifeline in the 43rd minute when Aoife Minogue blasted a free to the net.
But Dublin struck back in tue 53rd minute with a excellent finish to the net from the impressive Grace O’Shea and the side from the Capital ran out comfortable sixteen point winners.
Dublin opened the scoring in the first minute of the game with a point from Grace O’Shea. Meath struck back with a converted free from Grace Colmon.
A brace of points from Aishling O’Neill and Grace O’Shea put Dublin two in front. A long range converted free from midfielder Aoife Minogue reduced the deficit but the Dubs hit seven unanswered points to take control of this Leinster Senior Camogie Championship semi-final.
Two points from Aisling Gannon where quickly followed by the games opening goal chance, Aisling played the ball down the right wing to Aishling O’Neill who switched the ball inside to Gannon who’s shot was saved and out for a 45’ which Maher converted.
Maher added three more points, two from play and one from a free and Aishling O’Neill popped over another and Dublin were starting to disappear over the horizon.
Meath momentarily stopped the one way scoring with a pointed free from Grace Colmon but Dublin swept down the field and Aishling O’Neill popped over a fine point from the right wing to give her side an eight point advantage.
The royals finished the half with two points, a converted free from Aoife Minogue and a fine point from play scored by Abbye Donnelly to leave the score at the break 0-11 to 0-05 to Dublin.
Dublin were relentless after the break and extend their lead to fourteen with eight unanswered points in the opening eleven minutes of the second half, four from Maher, two from play, one from a free and the other from a 45’ after her effort at goal was saved, and one apiece from Claire Gannon, Aoife Heffernan, Aisling Gannon and Louise O’Shea.
It could have been even worse for Meath when Aishling O’Neill broke inside and let fly at goal only to see her effort comeback off the inside of the post.
Meath were awarded a free in the 43rd minute about thirty yards from goal and despite numerous Dublin players on the line Aoife Minogue low pile driver found its way to the net.
Dublin though hit back with an Aisling Maher free and a well worked move was finished to the net by Grace O’Shea to put the result beyond any doubt.
The royals added points before the end from Emma Hanafin and Cliodhna O’Riordan, but Dublin sealed their place in next weeks Leinster Senior Camogie Championship final against Kilkenny with further points from Aisling Gannon, Orla Grey and Grace O’Shea.
Scorers – Dublin: Aisling Maher 0-09 (3F, 2 45’), Grace O’Shea 1-03, Aisling Gannon 0-04, Aishling O’Neill 0-03, Claire Gannon 0-01, Aoife Heffernan 0-01, Louise O’Shea 0-01, Orla Grey 0-01.
Meath: Aoife Minogue 1-02 (3F), Grace Coleman 0-02 (2F), Abbye Donnelly 0-01, Emma Hanafin 0-01, Cliodhna O’Riordan 0-01.
Dublin: 16. Eabha Mooney (Castleknock), 2. Zoe Couch (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh), 3. Abbey Ryan (Crumlin), 4. Christine Shanahan (Naomh Olaf), 5. Claire Gannon (St Judes), 6. Eve O’Brien (Na Fianna), 7. Hannah O’Dea (Cuala), 17. Aoife Heffernan (St Peregrines), 9. Gaby Couch (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh), 10. Muireann Kelleher (St Vincents), 11. Aisling Maher (St Vincents), 21. Louise O’Shea (Ballinteer St Johns), 13. Grace O’Shea (Ballinteer St Johns), 14. Aisling Gannon (St. Judes), 15. Aishling O’Neill (Castleknock).
Dublin Subs: Elyse Jamieson-Murphy for Aoife Heffernan (39), Sinead Murphy for Muireann Kelleher (40), Orla Grey for Louise O’Shea (45th), Leah Butler for Gaby Couch (50), Issy Davis for Claire Gannon (54).
Meath: 1. Tara Murphy (Kilmessan), 2. Sophia Payne (Na Fianna), 3. Claire Coffey (Na Fianna), 4. Rachel O’Neill (Kilmessan), 5. Tracy King (Kilmessan), 6. Ellen Burke (Dunboyne), 7. Leah Devine (Na Fianna), 8. Grace Coleman (Killyon), 9. Aoife Minogue (Dunderry), 10. Cliodhna O’Riordan (Drumree), 17. Emma Hanafin (Trim), 12. Emma O’Connell (Ratoath), 13. Amy Gaffney (Ratoath), 14. Abbye Donnelly (Kilmessan), 15. Olivia O’Halloran (Kiltale).
Meath Subs: Susan Kealy for Grace Coleman (28th), Niamh Daly for Emma O’Connell (HT), Rachel Moran for Leah Devine (47), Robyn Dunne for Olivia O’Halloran (57), Laura O’Neill for Ellen Burke (59).
