Jackies get back on the winning trail

Dublins National League campaign got right back on track at a chilly and windswept Naomh Mearnóg pitch on Sunday as they blew the Royals away with a compact and commanding display of all thats good about Ladies Football. A significant factor in Dublins win was captain Cliodhna OConnors decision to play with the stiff breeze in the first half having won the toss. Meath were quickly into their stride with two good points in the opening two minutes from Vivienne McCormack and Katie O Brien. That was as good as it got for them as Dublin settled to their task with a pointed free from Sinead Aherne in the third minute. This was followed by a lovely strike from Amy McGuinness four minutes later. Dublin were now beginning to dominate at midfield where Denise Masterson and Niamh McEvoy were linking well with the forward line and the runners coming on to the ball from deep. Gaps were beginning to appear in the Meath defence and in the thirteenth minute Sinead Aherne set up Lyndsey Davey to send a cracking shot over the top of goalkeeper Orlagh McLaughlin and into the roof of the net. Noelle Healy scored a wonderful point one minute later from distance and this was followed by another Davey special as she placed the ball wide of McLaughlin and into the far corner of the net. Theses two goals knocked the stuffing out of Meath and the Royals Management team responded with three substitutions in defence as Louise McKeever, Kellie Allen and Mary Sheridan replaced Eve Wardick, Jenny Rispin and Ashley Leavy respectively. It had little effect as Dublin continued to dominate and the points flowed freely. At half-time Dublin led by 2-10 to 0-2. Game over.

Dublin continued on where they had left off at half-time with two quick-fire points from Elaine Kelly. Six minutes had elapsed before Meath scored their first point of the second half with a free from Elaine Duffy. Katie OBrien was Meaths stand out player on the day as she took the game to Dublin. She was ably supported by Fiona Mahon who had to forage for possession around the middle of the field throughout the game. Fiona who scored 1-10 in last weeks League game against Sligo was failed to get on the score sheet. Grainne McNulty was busily engaged shadowing Amy McGuinness throughout and was not in a position to drive her team forward. Shauna Bennetts yellow card in the twenty-seventh minute didnt help the Meath cause as referee James Flood finally lost patience with the persistent fouling that plagued the game. A number of players from both sides can count themselves lucky not to have received a similar fate. Aedin Murray was Meaths best defender on the day. Mary Sheridan too had an impact having come on as a sub in the first half and scored an excellent point eight minutes from time. Meath outscored Dublin by 1-5 to 0-3 in the last quarter but the game was well over by then. The Royals goal came from a well-taken penalty by Elaine Duffy given for holding in the square. They will take heart from the battling qualities shown in the second half but Dublin were in a different league on the day.
Noelle Healy had an outstanding game for Dublin especially in the first half and was involved in most of Dublins scoring movements. Her link-up play and kick passing were a joy to behold. She deserves to be the Player of the Match on the day. Cliodhna OConnors kick-outs into the wind in the second half into the wind found a colleague on most occasions thus enabling the Jackies to attack from deep. Sorcha Furlong had a solid game at centre-back and was ably assisted by Ailish McKenna, Gemma Fay and Siobhan McGrath. Sinead Ahernes link-up play was crucial in the second half as she sought to bring the other forwards into play. There was a sharpness about Dublins play today that was lacking against Cavan. A local derby can do that for you.

Referee – James Flood, Wexford.

Dublin – C. OConnor, S. McGrath, J. OSullivan, S. Goldrick, G. Fay, S. Furlong, A. McKenna, D. Masterson, N. McEvoy, (0-1), A. Ring, (0-1), A. McGuinness, (0-4, 1 free), N. Healy, (0-3), L. Davey, (2-0), S. Aherne, (0-4, 3 frees), E. Kelly, (0-2).
Subs – S. OMahony for G. Fay, A. Connolly for L. Davey, C. Barrett for N.McEvoy, O. Leonard for E. Kelly.

Meath – O. McLaughlin, E. Wardick, A. Leavy, A.Murray, B. Lynch, P. Sheridan, J. Rispin, K. OBrien, (0-3, 1free), S. Bennett, (0-1), G. Nulty, capt., E. Duffy, (1-2, 1-0, pen., 1 free), F. Mahon, C. OShaughnessy, O. Sheridan, V. McCormack, (0-1).
Subs – L.McKeever for E. Wardick, M. Sheridan (0-1) for A. Leavy and K. Allen for J. Rispin.