Early Goal Set Tone For Dublin’s Win Over Offaly
Dublin 1-11
Offaly 0-05
An early goal inside the opening minute from Cara Feeney set Dublin’s U16A Camogie team on their way to victory over Offaly in yesterday’s Leinster championship game played in St David’s in Artane.
By the fifth minute the girls in blue had stretched that lead out to five points with two fine scores from Maedbh Hicks and Caitlin Coffey.
Offaly needed to get themselves on the scoresheet and their first point of the game duly arrived in the 13th minute from Ellen Regan.
But Dublin looked the more dangerous side going forward and Niamh Comerford restored the sky blues lead two minutes later.
Offaly’s second point again from Ellen Regan was quickly cancelled by Maedbh Hicks second point of the half.
The game then became a real battle for the remaining ten minutes with both teams defences getting on top and chances suddenly were at a premium.
But before the break Offaly reduced the deficit between the sides to just a single goal with two converted dead ball strikes from Ellen Regan to leave the half time score 1-04 to 0-04 in Dublin’s favour.
Dublin came out with renewed vigour for the second half and just as they had at the start of the game blitzed Offaly and ten minutes after the restart had extended their lead to seven points.
Niamh Comerford converted a 45’ within a minute and points from Ellen Dunphy, Phoebe Shannon and another converted free from Niamh Comerford followed.
Offaly were struggling and needed at this stage to create some goal chances but they couldn’t get any change out of a tigerish Dublin defence that hooked, blocked and harried players in green, white and gold and closed down all the avenues of attack.
Three pointed frees two from Anna Sullivan and the other from Katie McDonald put ten points between the sides with time running out.
As the game headed into stoppage time Offaly finally got their first point of the second half from their only scorer on the day Ellen Regan. Seconds later the full time whistle sounded to confirm Dublin’s deserved win and place in the Leinster Final.
That championship decider will take place on the May bank holiday weekend against Kilkenny with the venue and throw-in time to be confirmed shortly.
Dublin Scorers:
Cara Feeney 1-00
Niamh Comerford 0-03 (3f)
Meadbh Hicks 0-02
Anna Sullivan 0-02
Katie McDonald 0-01
Caitlin Coffey 0-01
Ellen Dunphy 0-01
Phoebe Shannon 0-01
Offaly Scorers:
Ellen Regan 0-05 (2f)
Dublin Team:
1. Ciara Jones
2. Rachel Seery
3. Kerri Milne
4. Ava Maher
5. Lucy O Shea
6. Eirin Kennedy
7. Rachel Dolan
8. Ellen Dunphy
9. Isobel Davis
10. Katie McDonald
11. Caitlin Coffey
12. Ciara Stack
13. Maedbh Hicks
14. Cara Feeney
15. Niamh Comerford
Dublin Substitutions:
23. Phoebe Shannon For 12. Ciara Stack (Half Time)
20. Amber Finnegan For 8. Ellen Dunphy (43rd Min)
19. Aoife Deegan For 7. Rachel Dolan (47th Min)
17. Anna Sullivan For 15. Niamh Comerford (50th Min)
16. Sorcha Murphy For 1. Ciara Jones (52nd Min)
Offaly Team:
1. Caoimhe Kinsella
2. Laura Clancy
3. Aine Currams
4. Jenny Bracken
5. Lauren Temple
6. Eibhlis Gleeson
7. Niamh Ryan
8. Jane Cleary
9. Grace Leonard
10. Ellen Regan
11. Sarah Pearl
12. Ciara Murtagh
13. Maria Cantwell
14. Sharon Shanahan
15. Clodagh Leahy
Offaly Substitutions:
Half Time 20. Rebecca McGarry For 13. Maria Cantwell (Half Time)
14mins 2nd Half 23. Kathy Dermody For 15. Clodagh Leahy (44th Min)
21mins 2nd Half 24. Claire Murphy For 11. Sarah Pearl (51st Min)
25mins 2nd Half 22. Kerrie Leonard For 12. Ciara Murtagh (55th Min)