All Ireland Minor Camogie Championship Semi-Final
Dublin v Offaly
Saturday April 8th
Venue: St Brendan’s Park, Birr, Co. Offaly
Throw-In: 2pm
Dublin Minor Camogie manager Robbie Lewis has announced his starting team for tomorrow afternoons All Ireland semi-final against Clare in St Brendan’s Park in Birr, Co. Offaly at 2pm.
Dublin will be aiming to make it to their first All Ireland Minor A final since the age limit of the grade was changed from under-16 to under-18 in 2006 to bring camogie in line with all the other Gaelic Games codes.
Before 2006 and the age limit change Dublin did appear in two All Ireland Finals in what was then classed as the ‘minor’ grade, beating Galway by 5-02 to 2-03 in the 1982 decider and then the following year they were defeated by Cork by 3-03 to 2-03.
Dublin’s opponents Clare have appeared in three All Ireland Minor A finals in a row in 2008, 2009 and 2010 losing all three to Kilkenny twice and Galway and will hope after a seven year absence to return to the showpiece final.
Both sides head into tomorrow’s game with identical records from the their respective group games with three wins and one loss each. With two attack minded teams on show tomorrow afternoon the winning of the game may well come down to which defence can get on top.
Dublin blitzed Offaly in the opening ten minutes of their clash last week and a similar opening in the semi-final from the girls in blue and Clare will be in serious trouble. So all in all it promises to be an exciting game tomorrow and hopefully a big support travels down from the Capital to get behind the Dublin team.
Dublin Starting Team:
1. Megan Thomas
Erins Isle
2. Jennifer O’Sullivan
Faughs Celtic
3. Niamh Gleeson
Na Fianna
4. Sarah Meagher
Ballinteer St Johns
5. Orla Gray
Na Fianna
6. Isabelle Costello
Faughs Celtic
7. Niamh Rock
Na Fianna
8. Chloe Mullen
Faughs Celtic
9. Evelyn Twomey (Capt.)
St Vincents
10. Eimear O’Leary
Ballyboden St Endas
11. Kerri Finnegan
Faughs Celtic
12. Sinead Wylde
Cuala
13. Ciara Holland
Naomh Mearnog
14. Rachel Brennan
St Peregrines
15. Alix Buckley
Skerries Harps
Dublin Panel:
16. Clara O’Sullivan
Naomh Olaf
17. Aisling Andrews
Castleknock
18. Aoibhe Dillon
Naomh Mearnog
19. Caragh Downey
Raheny
20. Emma O’Byrne
Good Counsel
21. Enya Kernan
St Vincents
22. Fiona Keegan
Skerries Harps
23. Karla Whelan
Castleknock
24. Niamh Hetherton
Naomh Uinsionn
25. Niamh Owens
Good Counsel
26. Aoife McKearney
Lucan Sarsfields
27. Saoirse Malin
Faughs Celtic
28. Cora Ryan
Ballyboden St Endas
29. Derbhla Nolan
Ballinteer St Johns
30. Nicole Burnett
St Vincents
Mentors:
Robbie Lewis
Faughs Celtic
Joe Leonard
Lucan Sarsfields
John Meagher
Ballinteer St Johns
Georgina McClelland
Lucan Sarsfields
Niall Mullen
Faughs Celtic