Date:
2018-04-08

Code:
Ladies Football

Age Category:
Senior League

Venue:
Dunboyne

Throw in time:
5pm

Dunboyne V:
Ashbourne

Starting 15:
Half Time Score:
2.8 to 0.2

Full Time Score:
3.13 to 0.9

Scorers:
Julie Kavanagh 1-0, Dee Blaney: Amy Bermingham 1-0,Shelly MeLia, Alison Jones 0-1; Fiona O Neill 1-5, Vicky Wall 0-3, Aoife Thompson 0-3

Subs Used:
Niamh Farrell, Maebh O Doherty Katie Birmingham, Aoife Boylan

Talking Points:
Meath Ladies Senior League Division 1 Dunboyne v Ashbourne Referee: John Gahan Ratoath. Final Score: Dunboyne 3-13 Ashbourne 0-9 Firstly compliments to the groundsmen and St Peters GAA club for having the Castle pitch in good condition for this match. With winter steadfastly refusing to release its watery grip on Spring and matches called off like flights in an air strike, credit is due to the club. So two rivals were able to lock horns in front of an attentive crowd. What was on offer? Well a first competitive game of the season for both sides. Two senior county goalkeepers with both teams providing at least a dozen players who played inter county senior for Meath. Quality and competitiveness was guaranteed. Dunboyne fielded twelve of their All Ireland starting fifteen and Ashbourne fielded at least six county panelists. Initially the speedy Aoibhin Cleary linked with Màire O Shaughnessy and worked the Dunboyne half back line. Missing easy scoring chances combined with good defensive Dunboyne cover, frustrated the Ashbourne girls. However Dunboyne’s calling card is it’s forward line. Simply focusing on Vicky Wall means you are giving the other experienced front runners the requisite space. A funny thing about space is how you use it. Some players flounder within its confines, be they wide or narrow. Others make the inches count. With Wall as the pivot, Fiona O Neill, Aoife Thompson and Dee Blaney cut loose. Shelly Melia with that inbuilt radar pinged passes forwards crave and the ladies made hay as Shelly shone. Alison Jones operating as a fetcher and carrier between midfield and half forward had a fine game. Amy Birmingham nicked a fine goal as Julie Kavanagh anchored midfield. Ashbourne though being out scored didn’t throw in the towel and sterling work by the tenacious Rachel McDermott and Claire Barker in the corners made misery for the Ashbourne full forward line. Halftime came and Dunboyne led 2-8 to 0-2. How can you keep up that concentration. How can you cut Dunboyne’s lead? Dunboyne expected a response and Ashbourne didn’t disappoint. Passes started to come together but the final ball was often awry. Carol Keenan had her defenders well organized and clever kick outs from Allison O Sullivan lifted the siege. With the half back line of Bebhin Hickey, Elaine Doyle and captain Annie Moffat pushing up, Dunboyne ran the subs and closed out the match. Ashbourne accuracy improved but with Julie Kavanagh re introduction as a sub, here first act was to poach a goal, it was game set and match to the All Ireland champions. And so it finished. New young blood introduced by manager Brendan Quinn and his back room team saw the arrival of exciting players. Aoife Boylan, betraying experience beyond her years wasn’t fazed by the rapidly closing space. Time and time again she linked with the indefatigable Thompson and Wall. Fiona O Neill, back from injury blew not just the net away whatever remaining cobwebs from the layoff. Shelly Melia pulled the orchestral strings, Aoife Thompson bossed her space and used her vision, Vicky Wall drew the back three to her and the forward line played with a fresh fluency. Meabh O Doherty , Niamh Farrell and Katie Bermingham didn’t detract from the side on introduction. Ashbourne had a good second half and never gave up. The class of Aoibhin Cleary, Siofra and M?ire O Shaughnessy stood out. Undoubtedly both teams will now move forward as each will benefit from this match. Sometimes we forget the sacrifice the people involved make. Managers and back room teams, players and officials all give of their time to better our lives. Claire Barker came off at half time today. Why? To go back to her primary source of employment. Claire is a paramedic. Let’s never underestimate what those ladies and mentors do. Dunboyne: Alison O Sullivan; Rachel McDermott, Carol Keenan, Claire Barker; Bebhin Hickey, Elaine Doyle, Annie Moffat; Julie Kavanagh 1-0, Dee Blaney: Amy Bermingham 1-0,Shelly MeLia, Alison Jones 0-1; Fiona O Neill 1-5, Vicky Wall 0-3, Aoife Thompson 0-3. Subs Niamh Farrell, Maebh O Doherty Katie Birmingham, Aoife Boylan. Ashbourne.Laurie McClean, Ciara Menton, Aoife O,Rourke, Emily O Connor; Claire Mullen, Siofra Cleary, Aoisle Lawlor; E MCNeilis, Michelle Peel, Máire O Shaughnessy Aoibheann Cleary 0-7; Aoife Toner, Grace O Sullivan Ashling Doherty. Number 18. 0-1 Number 20. 0-1