Dublin Prevail in Under 16 Thriller

 

GALWAY  4-13   DUBIN  6-13

 

The Galway U 16 girls had one leg in the All Ireland final only to run out of steam in extra time after an epic battle with Dublin in Moate on Sunday. The girls from the west were always chasing the game despite playing some good football especially in the 1st half but the 4 Dublin goals had them under pressure all the time.

 

Dublin were a goal to 2 points up when Hannah O’ Neill found the back of the net in the 11th minute to increase their lead. Claire Dunleavy fisted a point for Galway and this was followed by a point from Niamh Carty 3 minutes later. Laura Hession pulled off a fantastic save in the 26th minute but Dublin’s Kate Huggard attempt at a point in the 28th minute just dropped short and ended up in the back of the net.Galway needed a goal quickly and Leanne Coen had the ball in the back of the net after a fantastic run. Another O’Neill goal in the last minute of the half left the H-T score at Dublin 4-02   Galway 1-05.

 

Galway started the 2nd half like greyhounds and were a goal and a point up through Leanne Coen and Niamh Daly before Dublin got moving. They responded with a goal by Rachel Douglas and 2 frees by captain Erica Byrne. Siobhan Divilly scored a goal in the 9th minute and a point from Eimear O Kane narrowed the gap to 2 points. Points from Hannah O’ Neill and Clara O’ Sullivan for Dublin and Eimear O’ Kane and Amy Mee kept the gap at 2. Katie Ronan in the Dublin goal pulled off a great save in the 24th minute from Claire Dunleavy as Galway increased their efforts in the closing minutes of the half and in the 28th a Niamh Daly goal put them up a point. A second O’Sullivan point in injury time had the sides  again and the game went into extra time.

 

Amy Mee got Galway off to the perfect start with a point in the 1st minute but the efforts of the 2nd half started to show as Dublin scored 1-03 for the remainder of the half. Leaanne Coen and Eimear O’Kane scored 2 points for Galway at the start of the 2nd period of extra time as they looked to close the gap but Dublin matched them and the final score was Galway 4-13   Dublin 6-12.

 

GALWAY: Laura Hession, Orla Canney, Elle Glynn, Sarah Donnellan, Alanagh McBrien, Niamh Daly, Caoimhe Keavney, Siobhan Divilly, Grace Cahill, Claire Dunleavy, Chelsea Blade, Riona Ni Fhlatarta, Amy Mee, Leanne Coen, Eimear O’ Keane.

 

SUBS: Sinead Heeffernan, Emma Jane Bane, Caoimhe Ni Ceallagh, Rachel Connolly, Ailbhe Davernan, Bronagh Quinn, Anna Ni Odhran Ni Mhurchu, Andrea Glynn, Rebecca Kelly, Grace Sheridan, Sheena Heffernan, Niamh Daly, Karen Walsh, Shauna Naughton.

 

For more Pictures from this epic encounter follow this link:  http://bit.ly/1riyJt1