Clontarf are the New Dublin Feile Champions

AIG Dublin Ladies Football Feile Division 1 Final

Clontarf 3-4 Erins Isle 1-5

By Cóilín Duffy

 

Emma Connolly bagged a hat-trick for Clontarf, as they claimed Division 1 AIG Dublin Ladies Football Féile honours, and a place in next month’s All-Ireland competition, after a strong second half showing in this final win over Erins Isle at St. Peregrine’s GAA Club in Blakestown on Sunday.

Three points in arrears, six minutes into the second half; the coastal side held their Finglas counterparts to just one further score, as they dug in to claim silverware by a five-point margin.

When the sides met in the group stages on Saturday, Erins Isle prevailed by a two-point margin on a 1-7 to 2-2 score-line, and it was they who made the brighter start to the final.

Erins Isle looked eager from the off, and after a number of early misses grabbed the opening score after three minutes – their only goal of the contest.

It came after a scramble in the goal-mouth, with Ella Wilson finishing the ball to the net. Referee Finbarr Shanahan consulted with his umpires, before awarding the goal.

Erins Isle continued to dominate, especially at midfield from kickouts, and added a point to their tally a minute later, when Wilson followed up with a pointed free to add to her early goal.

Clontarf opened their account on six minutes when Emma Connolly registered a point – her only occasion during the game to send the ball over the bar – but she was to have a telling impact on this contest.

As was the case during the earlier games of the day, the uprights were well tested, and this included an effort from the aforementioned Connolly coming off the posts in the 10th minute, as Clontarf tried to add to their tally.

Clontarf were now beginning to dominate possession, with Caoimhe Creighton blazing the ball wide with a soccer style effort.

Ella Wilson ended an almost 11-minute barren spell for Erin’s Isle with a pointed free 30 seconds into injury time.

Connolly cut in for the first of her goals two minutes later, while at the opposite end Danielle Dinan pulled off a fine save from a Kate Watson goal shot.

Erins Isle pushed hard for scores, but only led by the minimum at the break on a 1-2 to 1-1 score-line.

They moved three points clear on the restart following scores from Mya Breen and Watson (free), before Clontarf took control.

Their opening score of the second half came nine minutes in, when Ellen Leddy Doyle pointed a free, before Connolly grabbed her second goal.

Erins Isle responded with a point from Watson to level the tie at 1-5 to 2-2 after 11 and a half minutes, but this was her sides final score.

Clontarf finished strongly, adding 1-2 without reply, with Connolly’s third goal bookended by points from Amelie Ní Riain on the way to a five-point win.

 

Afterwards Pat O’Donoghue Dublin LGFA presented the Cup to Clontarf captain Aoife Quigley.

 

Scorers for Clontarf: Emma Connolly 3-1; Amelie Ní Riain 0-2; Ellen Leddy Doyle (1f) 0-1.

 

Scorers for Erin’s Isle: Ella Wilson (2f) 1-2; Kate Watson (1f) 0-2; Mya Breen 0-1.

 

CLONTARF: Danielle Dinan; Abby Watters McNelis, Alison Garvey, Lily Boles; Aisling Aherne, Aoife Quigley, Lucy Owens; Aisling Courtney, Ellen Leddy Doyle; Fiona O’Sullivan, Sara Hanley, Amelie Ní Riain; Anna Sophie Keane, Caoimhe Creighton, Emma Connolly. Subs: Roisin O’Neill, Caoimhe McDaid, Jenny Mei Wilson, Rebecca Kavanagh, Nora Collins, Andie McHugh, Georgie L’Estrange, Alicia King.

 

ERINS ISLE: Kadie Martin; Emma Ball, Cody Lowe, Mya Hoey; Aoife Brown, Aine Cantwell, Lana Murphy; Ella Wilson, Saoirsa Delaney; Aaliyah Kirby, Kate Watson, Niamh Dunne; Abbie Spain, Ella Byrne, Aoife Brazil. Subs: Katie Wilde, Mya Breen, Georgia O’Brien, Mikayla Flood, Molly O’Rourke.

 

REFEREE: Finbarr Shanahan

 

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