Dublin Get New Era Off to Positive Start

LIDL NFL Div 1 Rd 1

FT Dublin 1-07 Monaghan 0-5

 

Dublin got their 2017 Lidl NFL campaign off to a good start with a five point win over Ulster champions, Monaghan. The game, which was played before a sizeable crowd, was an entertaining contest played in wet, cold and blustery conditions.

Both side’s defensive units were on top form from the outset with scores very hard to come by for either set of forwards.

 

Monaghan’s All Star forward Ciara McAnespie registered the game’s opening score in the 10th minute, followed soon after with two further scores by Cora Courtney and Caoimhe Mohan, moving Monaghan into a 0-03 to nil lead.

 

The home side responded well tagging on four unanswered points to take a slim one point lead into the dressing room at half time. Dublin’s points coming from Sarah McCaffrey (12th, 30th min) Nicole Owens (28th min) and new Dublin Captain Sinead Aherne (31st min).

 

Dub’s midfielder Lauren Magee was sent to the sin bin just before the break (29th min) for a clumsy challenge on Monaghan’s Cora Courtney. Half time score Dublin 0-04 Monaghan 0-03.

 

The half time talk seemed to do Dublin good as they started the second half with more purpose, stringing some good moves together and moving the ball well out of defence.

 

In the opening minute of the second half, Dublin got the break they needed to shrug off the Monaghan challenge. A well worked goal from Olivia Leonard giving the home side a 1-04 to 0-3 cushion. Leonards shot across the face of Catriona McKenna’s goal hitting the far post and into the Monaghan net.

 

Monaghan received another blow five minutes later when they lost full back Josephine McKenna to the sin bin for a high challenge on Dublin full forward, Lyndsey Davey.

 

Dublin added to their second half tally with points coming courtesy of Davey (31st min, 58th min), McCaffrey (36th min) with Courtney sisters Rosemary (40th min) and Sharon (51st min) responding for the Farney County.

 

Dublin boss, Mick Bohan handed out senior league debuts today to Kate McKenna, Tarah O’Sullivan, Kelli Taite, Aoife Kane and Hannah O’Neill, an indication of the battle within the current panel to nail down first team places.

 

Next Sunday Dublin are on the road to the Kingdom for a second round game versus Kerry. The game will be played in Castleisland Desmonds club ground, throw in time to be confirmed.

 

Noelle Healy was named as the Gourmet Food Parlour Dublin player of the match.

 

Dublin: Emer Ni Eafa, Fiona Hudson, Olwen Carey, Aoife Curran, Martha Byrne, Noelle Healy, Tarah O’Sullivan, Sarah McCaffrey, Lauren Magee, Siobhan Woods, Olivia Leonard, Nicole Owens, Rebecca McDonnell, Lyndsey Davey, Niamh McEvoy.

 

Dublin Scorers:

Olivia Leonard 1-00, Sarah McCaffrey 0-03, Lyndsey Davey 0-02, Nicole Owens, Sinead Aherne 0-01.

 

Dublin Subs:

Kate McKenna for McDonnell, Sinead Aherne for McEvoy, Molly Lamb for Woods, Niamh Collins for O’Sullivan, Kelli Taite for Leonard, Aoife Kane for Curran, Hannah O’Neill for McCaffrey.

 

Monaghan: Catriona McKenna, Rachel McKenna, Josephine Fitzpatrick, Lianne Ward, Aoife McAnespie, Sharon Courtney, Grainne McNally, Cora Courtney, Eimear McAnespie, Shauna Coyle, Ellen McCarron, Muireann Atkinson, Ciara McAnespie, Caoimhe Mohan, Rebecca McKenna

 

Monaghan scorers:

Ciara McAnespie, Cora Courtney, Caoimhe Mohan, Rosemary Courtney, Sharon Courtney 0-01 each.