Dublin withstand Late Donegal Rally

Dublin Withstand Late Donegal Rally

Dublin 5-08 Donegal 4-07

Reigning champions Dublin had to hold off a brave Donegal side to
take a second successive all Ireland U14 title at Pairc Sean MacDiarmada,
Carrick On Shannon. This was a thrilling decoder between two very
well organized teams.

The dubs looked to be coasting to victory leading by eleven with
just eight minutes remaining. In the end they were thankful for
a Sinead Cullen goal in injury time. The underdogs Donegal got off
to a blistering start as they hit a goal inside the opening minute.
Eilish Ward having the honour of getting the opening score as her
high delivery was fielded by Marie Moynihan in the Dublin goal but
the keeper was adjudged to have stepped behind the line. Ciara Shovlin
added a point for the Ulster girls before Dublin began to take control.

The eventual winners turned the game around and went onto hit 2-05
with out reply. Kirsty troy got them off the mark with a fine point.
Further points from Sinead Cullen and player of the match Aisling
Johnston followed before Johnston fired to the Donegal net on seventeen
minutes. The lively Olivia Leonard and Johnston added a point a
piece prior to Leonard herself hitting goal number two for the Dublin
girls. Eilish Ward had the final say of the half with a point but
Dublin led by 2-05 to 1-02 at the midway point.

Johnston fired over two early points after the resumption to stretch
the Dublin lead to eight points. Tanya Barret and Fiona McLaughlin
hit two fine points to give Donegal a glimmer of hope midway through
the half. Yet with goals from Cullen and Johnston it looked all
over as Dublin raced twelve points clear and only eight minutes
remaining. Donegal had other ideas and were not going down without
a fight. Ward again was the girl to set them on the comeback trail
with a point. A fortunate goal from Roisin Friel strengthened their
cause and with another goal coming from Geraldine McLaughlin it
was suddenly game on. Ward added a point before team captain Shovlin
rattled the net with an unstoppable shot and the game was now a
one point match. The large Donegal following were getting behind
their side but as hard as they tried they could find no equaliser
and Dublin finished with a Sinead Cullen goal to seal in the end
a fully deserved victory.

Both sides deserve great credit for a wonderful game of football.
Dublin in the end holding on and retaining the crown while Donegal
can be very proud of their achievements this year also.

Donegal: R McGafferty, D Barr, L Melarky, T Barrett (0-01),
D Foley, C Hegarty, T Kennedy, R Friel (1-00), Z Doherty, F McGuire,
C Shovlin (1-01), R Crawford, F McLaughlin (0-01), L Muldoon, E
Ward (1-04)
Subs: G McLaughlin (1-00), N McLaughlin, G Harkin, M Mulligan
Dublin: M Moynihan, J Kinevane, K Morgan, K McArdle, D Duke,
C O’Riordan, L Murphy, A Connolly, P Greene, S Loughran, S Cullen
(2-01), K Troy (0-01), A Johnston (2-04), O Egan, O Leonard (1-02)

Subs: S Stokes, E Farrell

Alan Gunn (PR Committee)