Dub's back to winning ways

Dublin 0-8 Laois 0-6 

Dublin followed up on their draw with beaten Division 2 Suzuki
League finalists Kildare last Sunday with this 2 point TG4 Leinster
Ladies Football Championship win over Laois who were crowned Champions
on that Saturday night in Parnell Park.

This game like countless others that would have survived the
terrible weather of the last number of days was played on a rain
sodden pitch at Westmanstown. Credit to both sides for the quality
of game they served up in such difficult circumstances.

Last week in Newbridge new Dublin skipper Mary Nevin notched
a stoppage time equaliser for Dublin against Kildare. In this
game the Na Fianna ace scored no fewer than 5 of her sides tally
of which 2 were from frees. Laois opened the scoring on 4 mins
through Eimear Fitzpatrick with a fine score from play. That was
to prove the O Moore counties only point from open play for the
hour. Two fiercely commited sides were level on 3 occasions before
the half time break, the last time at 0-3 apiece as the referee
Ciaran Groome called a halt. Mary Nevin for Dublin with a brace
swopped points with Laois star Mary Kirwin to complete the scoring
in that opening half.

The second half was no less frantic than the first. One downside
was an injury reveived by 2003 All Star defender Maria Kavanagh
who had to leave the field with a knee injury after a clash with
a Laois player. The referee consulted with his umpire behind the
goal the Round Towers Clondalkin lady was defending but took no
action. The intensity of the second half was no less than the
first. Mary Nevin with 2 more points for Dublin and one apiece
from Mary Kirwin and Tracey Lawlor for the visitors left it tied
for the 5th time at 0-5 apiece 12 mins after the restart. Laois
were to add one more point courtesy of Tracey Lawlors second free
of the afternoon with 4 mins remaining.

At that stage Dublin were a point clear with the game still very
much in the melting pot. Sinead Aherne having kicked a super point
on 55 mins was to bring her tally to 3 for the afternoon 3 mins
from time. It proved to be the insurance score for Johnny Burkes
charges.

Dublin scorers: Mary Nevin 0-5(2f), Sinead Aherne 0-3 Laois scorers
Mary Kirwin 0-3(3f) Tracey Lawlor 0-2(2f) Eimear Fitzpatrick 0-1