Dublin U16 Girls retain Leinster Championship

Whether the Almighty played a role in putting a spark under the Dublin team last Saturday is open for debate. But it is certain that until the mother and father of a thunderstorm broke out about 20 minutes into the first half over St Laurence’s GAA Club the game was scrappy to say the least of it.

The game incidentally was scheduled for Clane but was switched at the last minute. So we headed off to the outer reaches of Narraghmore. A desperate battle was fought here in the third century between the men of South Leinster and the King of Munster, in which the latter was defeated with great slaughter. When the thunderstorm started last Saturday there was another great battle between the Dublin U16s, who were seeking to retain the Cup and Meath who were the challengers.

Before the storm, Dublin opened the scoreboard with a point in the second minute from Ciara McGuigan and Molly Lambe added another shortly after. Meath were having none of it and the defence closed down the Dubs attacks. Meanwhile the Meath forwards put the dubs under severe pressure and levelled the score at two points apiece with two frees. Then the Dubs conceded a penalty and replied with a point of their own. By the time the weather changed, Meath were ahead with 1-3, frees and penalty from the boot of Laura Dempsey, and the Dubs had 5 points on the board. There was a flash of lightning and the heavens opened. Dublin got a goal and followed it with two points. At this juncture, the Ref, Stephen McNulty [Wicklow] called a halt to the proceedings til the storm passed. On resumption, it was a different Dublin side which took control of the game and finished out the half with 3-7 to Meath’s 1-3.

Cuid a Dó started with both teams firing on all cylinders. The relentless Meath attack resulted in a Sin Bin for Muireann Ní Scannaill in the Dublin half back shirt but the Girls in Blue hung on tenaciously with their 14 against 15 although conceding another penalty and a lovely goal slotted into the Dublin netting. Danielle Aylmer, the Dublin ‘keeper made some fine saves too including a brilliant double save out at the edge of the large rectangle which kept Dublin ahead of the Meath chasers. It didn’t help the Dublin supporters’ nerves either when a certain Dublin Goal went wide from point blank range. There were only two points in it at this stage. The last 10 minutes with both sides up to full strength was played with gusto and Dublin did find that elusive goal to stretch the slim lead.

At the final whistle the tally went Dublin’s way with 4-9 on the board to Meath’s 3-5.

The Leinster U16 Championship trophy has joined the growing trophy cabinet in Dublin and it was another good day in the office.

Player of the game was awarded to Maria Mc Grath of Ballyboden St Endas

Dublin Squad –

1. Danielle Aylmer (Ballyboden St Endas), 2. Aoife Curran (O’Dwyers), 3. Aedin Ni Dhonaill (Foxrock/Cabinteely), 4. Stacy Flood (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), 5. Zoe Murphy (Clontarf), 6. Aoife OBrien (Ballyboden St Endas), 7. Kate Fitzgibbon (OTooles), 8. Molly Lambe (Kilmacud Crokes), 6. Muireann Ni Scannail (St Margaret’s), 14. Carla Roe, Captain (Clann Mhuire), 12. Stefanie Adams (Clontarf), 11. Maria Mc Grath (Ballyboden St Endas), 13. Ciara Mc Guigan (Thomas Davis), 10. Leah Mullins (Castleknock), 15. Niamh Richard (Fingallians).

Subs: 16. Emily Rheinisch (Scoil Ui Chonaill), 17. Kim White (St Sylvester’s), 18. Danielle Pugh (St Peregrines), 19. Sorcha Kerins (Robert Emmett’s), 20. Fiona Tuite (Na Fianna), 21. Laura Hennessey (Ballinteer St Johns), 22. Sandra Maloney (O’Tooles), 23. Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), 24. Eabha Rutledge (Kilmacud Crokes), 25. Francesca Blasio (ODwyers), 26. Eimear Linehan (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), 27.

Suzanne Campbell (St Margaret’s), 28. Katie Murphy (Ballyboden St Endas), 29. Michelle Daveron (Kilmacud Crokes), 30. Emer Tracey (St Sylvester’s).