Dublin capture U-14 Title

Dublin
wins first All-Ireland U-14 title.

Tarmonbarry,
Co. Longford. Sat. 31^st July 2004.

This
weekend, Dublin U-14 Ladies Football Team is celebrating
the Capital’s first ever All-Ireland U-14 Ladies Football
victory.

There
were scenes of jubilation in Longford on Saturday as Dublin
took the title from last year’s runners-up, Mayo in the
All-Ireland Final Replay.

The
All-Ireland Final which ended in a draw; Dublin (0-13);
Mayo: (1-10) in Birr on Saturday 17^th July, meant
that both sides, who have met on no fewer than 4 occasions
this year, would battle it out for All-Ireland honours in
glorious July sunshine in Tarmonbarry, Co. Longford.

Referee:
Mary Foy (Monaghan) got proceedings underway at 2.00 pm,
with Dublin’s midfield, Amy Connolly (Cabinteely), securing
possession of the breaking ball. Her advance was repelled
by the Mayo defence in front of goal. Dublin settled into
the game early on, with the opening point scored by corner-forward,
Deborah Geraghty (Castleknock). On this occasion, Amy Connolly
was in no doubt as she sent the subsequent ball over the
bar followed by Dublin’s Captain, Fiona Hudson (Fingallians)
getting her first point to give the Dub’s a 3 point head
start. Connolly was on form, registering another superb
point. It was seventeen minutes into the game before Mayo
came to life, but that they did with a bang. Mayo forwards
scored their opening point, followed by a goal and 2 subsequent
quick points, all within the space of 8 minutes. Dublin
was consistent in scoring and points were taken at every
opportunity. Dublin’s full-forward Sinead Cullen (Skerries
Harps) registered her point on the scoreboard, midway through
the first half. Sinead comes from a true Dublin GAA family
with both her brothers, Graham and Bryan winning All-Ireland
U-21 medals for their county. Dublin’s centre half-forward,
Ailish McKenna (Castleknock) sent a sweetly taken point
over the cross-bar to put the sides level. Up stepped Dublin’s
Captain, Fiona Hudson (Fingallians) to edge a point ahead
which was to see Dublin register no fewer than 4 points
in the space of 3 minutes of play. When wing-forward, Noelle
Healy (St. Brigid’s) set up a score followed by 3 points
from Natalia Hyland (Ballyboden St. Enda’s), Dublin were
cruising.

Half-time score: Dublin: 0-11; Mayo: 1-3.

Mayo’s
wing-forward, Deirdre Doherty (Charlestown) opened the second
half by scoring a point within the first minute of play.
Dublin’s wing-forward, Arlene Cushen (Na Fianna) got the
scoreboard in action again with a point followed by midfielder,
Niamh McEvoy, (St. Sylvesters) who seized her opportunity
to drive the ball emphatically into the back of the Mayo
net. Dublin’s celebration was brief as Mayo’s corner-forward,
Lisa Cafferkey (Kilmovee) scored an excellent goal, in a
most decisive manner for Mayo followed by a well executed
point to instil confidence. With the exception of her partner
on the opposite corner, Hannah Callaghan (Hollymount) who
scored a goal, 10 minutes into play, all Mayo’s scores in
the second half were from the boot of Lisa Cafferkey (Kilmovee),
scoring a total of (2-2). It was only when Dublin’s Captain,
once again intercepted the ball from a formidable Mayo defence
and, with fearless determination, evaded her opponents to
edge the Dub’s ahead by yet another point. Her confidence
was high and her leadership strong, having been named “Player
of the Match” in the drawn All-Ireland Final a fortnight
earlier. Maintaining her impressive point scoring tally,
Dublin’s midfield, Amy Connolly (Cabinteely) was to notch
up another 2 consecutive points, within a minute of each
other. It was yet again Dublin’s full-forward Sinead Cullen
(Skerries Harps) who took full advantage of her position
and, with a pass from corner-forward, Deborah Geraghty (Castleknock);
she clocked up another Dublin point. Her Captain rounded
off her personal tally of 5 points before Natalia Hyland
(Ballyboden St. Enda’s) sent the ball hurtling over the
bar. It was well into stoppage time when the diminutive
(in stature only!) Sinead Goldrick (Cabinteely), set forth
with determination to make her mark from her wing-back position
to round off Dublin’s hour of glory with a point and bring
the All-Ireland U-14 Cup to the banks of the Liffey for
the very first time.

Full-time score: Dublin: 2-19; Mayo: 4-6.

Geraldine
Giles, Uachtaran, Cumann Peil Gael Na mBan, presented the
2004 All-Ireland U-14 Cup to Dublin’s Captain, Fiona Hudson
(Fingallian’s) amid scenes of jubilation. Dublin Chairman,
John Hillery, praised the superb Dublin performance which
brought pride and joy to the County who were now reaping
the rewards for diligent and methodical preparation at juvenile
level over a number of years. It was significant to note
that all players from the wing back to the corner forward
contributed to Dublin’s scoring tally. It was a particular
joy for his Club, Castleknock, who despite being only 6
years in existence, had 3 players in the starting 15, corner-back,
Leann Quinn, centre half-forward, Ailish McKenna and corner
forward, Deborah Geraghty all of whom brought pride and
distinction to Dublin as they reached the Div. 1, Semi-Finals
of Feile Peil Na nOg in Tyrone recently. Dublin U-14’s have
achieved 4 consecutive Leinster Championship titles; seniors
have won 3 Leinster titles in a row and the Dublin U-16’s
have 2 provincial titles, back to back. Things are looking
up for Ladies Football in the Capital.

Gallant
Mayo, saddened by defeat, showed their respect by making
a guard of honour for Dublin, a team they had come to know
and respect as both sides met for the fourth time this season.

At
the subsequent dinner in the Longford Arms Hotel in honour
of both finalists, Geraldine Giles, Uachtaran, Cumann Peil
Gael Na mBan, presented the “Player of the Match” to Dublin’s
Captain Fiona Hudson (Fingallian’s). Uniquely, bet truly
deserved on both occasions, Fiona now proudly possesses
the “Player of the Match” award for the All-Ireland Final
and the All-Ireland Final Replay – a truly remarkable achievement.

Dublin Scorers:

Fiona
Hudson (Fingallians) Captain                        (0-5)

Amy
Connolly (Cabinteely)            M-F                  (0-4)

Natalia
Hyland (Ballyboden St. Enda’s) C-F          (0-4)

Sinead
Cullen (Skerries Harps) F-F.                 (1-1)

Niamh
McEvoy (St. Sylvester’s) M-F                      (1-0)

Deborah
Geraghty (Castleknock) C-F      (0-1)

Ailish
McKenna (Castleknock) C-H-F              (0-1)

Noelle
Healy (St. Brigid’s) H-F                  (0-1)

Arlene
Cushen (Na Fianna) H-F                      (0-1)

Sinead
Goldrick (Cabinteely) H-B                  (0-1)

Dublin Team:

1.
Hannah Tyrell (Round Tower); 2. Shona Barrett (St. Brigid’s);
3. Sinead O’Mahony (Clann Mhuire); 4. Leann Quinn (Castleknock);
5. Sinead Goldrick (Cabinteely); 6. Captain – Fiona Hudson
(Fingallians); 7. Karen McGlynn (Skerries Harps); 8. Amy
Connolly (Cabinteely); 9. Niamh McEvoy (St. Sylvester’s);
10. Noelle Healy (St. Brigid’s); 11. Ailish McKenna (Castleknock);
12. Arlene Cushen (Na Fianna); 13. Julie Ann Forbes (Ballinteer
St. John’s); 14. Sinead Cullen (Skerries Harps); 15. Deborah
Geraghty (Castleknock).

Dublin Substitutes:

16.
Nadine O’Reilly (St. Joseph’s); 17. Amy Ring (Cabinteely);
18. Natalia Hyland (Ballyboden St. Enda’s); 19. Orlagh Egan
(Na Fianna); 20. Roisin McGuinness (St Maur’s); 21. Danielle
Duff (Thomas Davis); 22. Niamh Murphy (Round Tower); 23.
Evelyn Kimmage (Clann Mhuire); 24. Leann Green (St. Oliver
Plunkett’s); 25. Aideen McGuinness (St. Jude’s); 26. Sharon
Fleming (Ballyboden St. Enda’s); 27. Kate Williams (Kilmacud
Crokes); 28. Kelly Matthews (Kilmacud Crokes); 29. Sinead
Loughran (Foxrock); 30. Aoife Kearney (Foxrock).

Dublin Manager: Jimmy Graham
(Round Tower)

Selectors:

Eamonn
O’Donnell (Na Fianna)

Dermot
Connolly (Cabinteely)

Deirdre
Kearney (Foxrock)

Mayo Team:

1.
Fiona McLoughlin (Castlebar); 2. Lisa Mannion (St. Anne’s);
3. Captain- Rebecca Clarke (Knockmore); 4. Catherine Barrett
(Louisburgh); 5. Catherine Burke (Tourmakeady); 16. Sarah
Tierney (Hollymount); 7. Edel Sweeney (Kiltane); 8. Yvonne
Gilroy (St. Brigid’s); 9. Clodagh Cumiskey (Knockmore);

10.
Deirdre Doherty (Charlestown); 11. Marie Jordan (Louisburgh);
12. Laura Hutton (Claremorris); 13. Hannah Callaghan (Hollymount);
14. Una Griffin (Claremorris); 15. Lisa Cafferkey (Kilmovee)

Mayo Substitutes:

17.
Lorna Burke (St. Mary’s); 18. Orla Conlon (Castlebar); 19.
Joanne McCann (Charlestown); 20. Michelle Gavin (Swinford);
21. Laura Gallagher (Kiltane); 22. Sinead Murphy (Breaffy);
23. Emma Gilroy (Termon); 24. Orla McHale (Carnacon); 25.
Deirdre Holland (Achill); 26. Sinead Hughes (Tourmakeady);
27. Jessica Dooley (Hollymount); 28. Colleen Meehan (Claremorris);
30. Edel Connaughton (Breaffy); 31. Sinead Murphy (Breaffy).

Match Official:

Mary
Foy (Monaghan)