Five-goal Dublin power into semi-final with emphatic win over Monaghan

 

Goals were the difference as Dublin slotted five home to come away with a round 7 Lidl Ladies National Football League win over Monaghan in Clones. 

 

Two Dublin goals from Lyndsey Davey and Niamh McEvoy kickstarted a dominant second quarter as they rallied into an 11 point lead going in at the break. 

 

While Dublin lined out as listed in the programme, Monaghan had four changes to the starting lineup – Linda Martin for Edel Corrigan, Fiona Courtney for Hazel Kingham, Ellen McCarron for Hannah McSkeane and Therese Scott for Katie Duffy. 

 

Playing with a strong breeze, Monaghan managed to keep a lid on Dublin’s early attacks with both teams trading points in quick succession in the opening minutes of the first half. McEvoy rattled the Monaghan net in the 9th minute which settled Dublin into a period of dominance. Monaghan were off spurning some goal chances of their own, in particular at the 20-minute mark where over-passing led to the Dublin defence blocking a shot on goal from Ellen McCarron. 

 

As Monaghan struggled to get the ball out of their own half, Linda Martin’s kick-out was broken down on the 45 and a sharp Dublin forward line swiftly capitalised on this error with Nicole Owens pulling off a cracking shot on goal. 

 

Monaghan started strongly in the the second half with points coming from the Courtney sisters, Rosemary and Cora, and two points from Ciara McAnespie. Unfortunately it was too little too late and Dublin were quick to answer with two goals in quick succession after a mix up in the Monaghan defence, Nicole Owens and Captain Sinead Aherne finding the back of the home side’s net. 

 

A fifth goal for the visitors came from substitute Rebecca McDonnell rounded off what was an emphatic victory for the current All-Ireland Champions in Clones. The victory was highlighted by very potent attacking forward line for the visitors with captain Sinead Aherne leading by example and registering 1-4. 

 

Monaghan: L Martin, R McKenna, F Courtney, J Fitzpatrick, A McAnespie, S Courtney, S Coyle (0-1), E McCarron(0-2,1f),M Atkinson, E McAnespie, T Scott, R Courtney , E Woods, C Courtney (0-2,1f), C McAnespie(0-3)

 

Monaghan Subs: H Kingham for J Fitzpatrick (30), K Duffy for T Scott (30), L Kerley for E McCarron, B Ward(0-1) for E Woods & C McDermott for F Courtney (45) , C Nally for R McKenna (55)

 

Dublin: C Trant, M Byrne, N Collins, L McGinley, L Caffery, K Murray, S Goldrick, L Magee, O Carey, N Owens (1-2), N McEvoy(1-2), H O’Neill(0-1), S Aherne (c) (1-4), L Davey (1-1), N Healy(0-4). 

 

Dublin Subs: S Mc Grath for L Caffery, R McDonnell (1-0) for N McEvoy (45), L Collins for S Goldrick (48), L Davey for L Magee, K Fitzgibbon for M Byrne, E Flanagan for H O’Neill (52), T Sullivan did S Aherne(55). 

 

Ref: G Corrigan (Down)