Dublin and Meath Prepare for Aisling McGing Cup Final

 

The Aisling McGing U21 cup final takes place this weekend and will feature the all-Leinster pairing of Dublin and Meath. Both sides have reached the final of the competition without losing any game but whilst Dublin had to defeat Cork in their semi final Meath arrived at final via a bye after topping their group. Clane will be the venue for this highly anticipated meeting with the action set to get underway at 2pm.

 

There is little doubt that Dublin will enter the final as favourites after a five star, seven goal demolition of Cork in the semi final, a Cork team that were the defending champions and had claimed the minor title at the equivalent age. Dublin are sprinked with senior players too with the likes of Olwen Carey at the back, Sarah McCaffrey in midfield plus Carla Rowe and team captain Siobhan Woods in the forwards three of whom started the TESCO Homegrown Division 1 final last month. However, some of the best performers for Gregory McGonigle’s team last time out were some of their lesser known performers, Molly Lamb is a steady hand in the middle of the field with Niamh Rickard very much to the fore with her direct running style. However, the biggest threat to Meath’s rearguard may come in the shape of corner forward, Nicole Owens who was in superb form in the semi final, a game in which she scored a hattrick of goals.

 

Meath are a side with plenty of talent at their disposal too. Emma Troy was recently selected on the TESCO Homegrown Division 2 Team of the League and was one of the stand out performers for St. Pat’s as they claimed the Lynch Cup title earlier this year. Moira O’Shaughnessy and Kate Byrne will be a strong midfield duo with Shauna Ennis, Bridgetta Lynch and Laura Dempsey leading the line for the Royals. Team manager, Lar Wall, can call on 8 of his senior squad that reached the TESCO Homegrown NFL Division 2 semi final ‘We are confident based on our performances during the league stages of the competition where we defeated some strong teams including Galway, we know that Dublin will be favourites based on their performance against Cork but there has been very little between these two teams at minor grade in the past.

 

The Aisling McGing cup has only been won by two teams since it was established in 2007 with Cork winning it on 5 occasions and Dublin winning it twice. However, Dublin have not claimed the cup since it was redesignated as an Under 21 competition last year so it will be very much uncharted territory for both finalists.

 

Aisling McGing Under 21 Final 2014

Dublin v Meath

Clane, 2:00pm (E. O’Hare)