Report: Leinster U16 A glory for Meath

Leinster U16 A Championship Final

Meath v Dublin

Ballymore Eustace GAA Club

Saturday April 27^th

Half time: Meath 2 – 05 – Dublin 1 – 01

Full time: Meath 3 – 09 – Dublin 2 – 05

Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)

Report via Shane Farrelly

This evening I am scripting the realisation of a dream. It is the culmination of a football odyssey that began last autumn in the selection of thirty players and culminated in the raising of a Leinster Championship in a windswept, beautiful Ballymore Eustace grounds. This longed for trophy, which had eluded the Royals for a decade and had resided in the Liffeyside for 8 of those years, was destined for a group of girls, who in Liam Hayes’ immortal words had played out of their skins.

After a wide margin victory in the group stages for Meath, both teams had to refresh the ideas and go again in the showpiece.

 

Both teams traded early wides while adapting to the swirling wind before Meath took a stranglehold in the game. 1^st half points from Amy O’ Leary and Nicole Smith set the tone for Meath but it was the goals from Amy O’ Dowd and Anna Wogan which gave the Royal County the cushion of a 7 point lead at half time. (Meath 2-05 – Dublin 1-01).

 

The second half followed the same pattern with the Meath defence shackling the majority of the Dublin attacks, and the impressive Aoibheann Corcoran in goals displaying some great composure for the last line of defence. Midfield dominance throughout from Ellen Brodigan and Tori Foster-Carroll really helped the Royals cause on the day while the forwards kept the scoreboard ticking over to always keep out of reach. ‘Player of the Match’ Ciara Smyth’s second half solo goal along with a brace of Niamh McEntee points and a free from Katie Lenehan ensured the Royals cruised to their victory in the end.

Once again the significant Meath crowd pushed the girls all the way to a prized winner’s trophy.

It’s now on to further dreams of an All Ireland semi final for the young Royals.

 

Meath scorers: Amy O’Dowd 1-01, Anna Wogan 1-01, Ciara Smyth 1-01, Amy O’Leary 0-02 (1f), Niamh McEntee 0-02, Nicole Smith 0-01, Katie Lenehan 0-01

 

Meath: 1. Aoibheann Corcoran, 2. Kirsten Massey, 3. Emma Jane McKeown (C), 4. Emma Regan,

5. Zoe Matthews, 6. Laura McEnery, 7. Megan Clarke, 8. Ellen Brodigan, 9. Tori Foster-Carroll,
6. Nicole Smith, 11. Amy O’Dowd, 12. Ciara Smyth, 13. Anna Wogan, 14. Amy O’ Leary,
7. Lara O’ Neil

 

Subs: Niamh McEntee for Anna Wogan (42 mins) Katie Lenehan for Amy O’ Dowd  (42 mins)  Robyn O’ Byrne for Amy O’ Leary  (47 mins)  Sarah Muldoon for Ellen Brodigan (52 mins)  Aoife Hughes for Emma Regan (55 mins)

 

Unused Subs: Ciara Blake, Ciara Lawlor, Avia Savage, Hannah Nolan, Rachel Casserly, Aoibhinn Rock, Alanna McNulty, Ella O’Rourke, Zoe Kirwan, Aisling Martyn.

 

Dublin Scorers:

 

Katie O’Sullivan 1-01

Ella Darcy 1-00

Aisling O’Neill 0-02 (1f)

Leah Keogh 0-01 (1f)

Emma Howe 0-01 (1f)

1. Molly Cassidy
2. Teagan Comber
3. Katie Quinlivan
4. Sophia Nylan
5. Roisin Quigley
6. Sarah Willis
7. Lucy Quinn
8. Ali Griffen
9. Rebecca Duffy
10. Leah Keogh
11. Katie O’Sullivan
12. Eva Ahern
13. Aisling O’Neill
14. Emma Howe
15. Ella Darcy

 

Dublin Substitutions:

 

25. Emma Kanefor 10. Leah Keogh (HT)
26. Erin Christiefor 17. Sophia Nylan (HT)
27. Ciara O’Connorfor 12. Eva Ahern (41)
28. Aoife Coppingerfor 5. Roisin Quigley (50)
29. Aoibhin McCarthyfor 9. Rebecca Duffy (59)