Foxrock/Cabinteely Claim Dublin Minor Championship

Foxrock/Cab 2-9 Ballyboden SE 3-4

Foxrock/Cabinteely overcame Ballyboden in the Dublin Minor Championship
final with 2 points to spare in a thrilling and entertaining encounter
in Clondalkin last Saturday. With over 20 players from both teams
having represented Dublin at various levels in action, the large
crowd expected a highly skilled and competitive game. They were
not disappointed as both teams set out to claim the Blue Riband
for Ladies Football at U18 level in the Capital. The game, while
intense and close, was played in the correct spirit throughout with
both teams giving their all. The result was in the balance right
up to the final whistle.

Ballyboden had a number of Senior panellists from their Leinster
winning team while Foxrock/Cabinteely had a strong representation
from their team that will contest the All Ireland Junior Final in
Toomevarra this Saturday. Boden, having won the toss elected to
play with the strong goal to goal wind. The choice seemed well advised
as Boden ran into an early lead with sisters Elaine and Paula Mc
Grath finding the net early. Further points from the same players
opened a formidable lead before a pointed free from Amy Ring opened
Foxrock/Cabinteely’s account. Foxrock/Cabinteely endured an anxious
moment when their goalkeeper Sinead Murphy was assisted from the
field after suffering a knee injury.

Emma Kerins was on the field only moments when she brought off a
point blank save from a piledriver from Sharon Fleming. In the 19th
minute Amy Connolly showed exactly why she was voted the Leinster
Young Player of the Year, when she gathered a through ball from
Ciara O’Riordan, beat 3 players and rifled to the corner of the
net from 30 metres giving Alice Gillen no chance. From the kickout,
Alex Whyte won possession and fed Amy Connolly who had lost her
marker and took a point to cut the margin further. However, Ballyboden
were not prepared to relinquish their Minor crown without a fight.
Dublin Senior Panellist, Natalia Hyland added a point before Elaine
Mc Grath added her second goal of the day.

Going in at the break Boden held a 6 point lead but faced a strong
wind for the final 30 minutes. Foxrock/Cabinteely opened brightly
carrying the game to their opponents. A number of scorable chances
were squandered before Ciara O’Riordan opened their account with
a long range point. Sinead Goldrick added a point, and 10 minutes
into the 2nd half, Amy Ring broke the deadlock for the challengers
when she latched onto a breaking ball to finish low and hard to
the net. Paula Mc Grath rounded off a fine individual performance
with 2 points in the 11th and 14th minute to stretch the Boden lead
to 3 points. The half back line of Sarah Brophy, Blanaid Callan
and Niamh Collins soaked up wave after wave of pressure from Boden,
and, were the launch pad for attacks from Foxrock/Cabinteely that
eventually drew the sides level in the 50th minute after Sinead
Goldrick and Amy Ring each pointed. With 10 minutes remaining Foxrock/Cabinteely
with clever interplay began to sense that victory was within their
reach.

They had prevented the threats from Natalia Hyland, Elaine Mc Grath
and Paula Mc Grath making a serious impact on the scoreboard. Kirstie
Mc Ardle began to get to grips with her marker, with Fionnuala Hogan
and Elaine Bolger finding their team mates with accurate passes.
Olivia Crosson entered the fray to support Petra Kealy in the full
forward line but Gill Kinevan was giving little away to her younger
opponents. Roisin Ryan had her hands full with Amy Connolly and
then Amy Ring in a frenetic 2nd half but overall she will be happy
with her performance.

Sinead Loughran repeatedly opened the Boden rearguard with her runs
and her unselfish play created many opportunities for her team mates.
Ciara Murphy and Sinead Goldrick had a battle Royale with Rachel
Nugent and Natalia Hyland at midfield with the Foxrock/Cabinteely
pair shading it at least on the scoreboard. Ciara O’Riordan capitalised
on sustained pressure by pointing from a sideline kick to give Foxrock/Cabinteely
the lead for the 1st time in the game. In the 57th minute Ciara
Murphy won possession from a Ballyboden “45” to set up an attack
she finished with a long range point.

Dave Mc Cabe had an excellent game as Referee, and representing
the Dublin Ladies Board presented the Cup to the Foxrock/Cabinteely
Captain Ciara Murphy. Her Team Manager Pat Ring paid tribute to
the Ballyboden team who had played their part in a memorable final.
Ballyboden Manager Pat Mc Grath, in turn congratulated Foxrock/Cabinteely
on thier win and wished them well in the all Ireland final next
Saturday in Toomevarra.

For more info on Foxrock/Cabinteely contact 087 2599394 or info@foxcabgaa.ie