Senior Match Report by Megan O'Reilly.
The Dublin Senior Camogie Squad commenced their Littlewoods Division 1 League Campaign this afternoon against the ever emerging Limerick at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale. The Girls made the long journey down to Limerick and were eager to start the league off on a positive note.
There were 4 debut appearances for Dublin, Roisin Baker and Grace O’Shea both Started Corner Forward, and Catherine Costello & Emma O’Byrne stood their ground in the Back line.
The Ball was thrown in by referee Ray Kelly who was in charge of today’s proceedings. The First 5 minutes were dominated by Limerick picking up the loose ball as dublin focused on settling into the game. The first point of the game came from the energetic Mary O’Callaghan which was sure to set the standards high for the entire Game.
Dublin’s defenders marked tight and gave very little room for any of the Limericks Forward to attack. The well known Niamh Mulcahy and Mary O’ Callaghan slotted two points between them both over the bar.
It was at this stage that Dublin began to turn on their engines. Hannah Hegarty, Aisling Carolan and Leah butler battled hard and sprayed the ball out to the wings, where the the forwards were first to every ball and the workhorses of midfield Eimear McCarthy & Miriam Twomey where darting through the centre to support the heads up hurling. Dublin's Flood of scores began.
Siobhan Kehoe Got Dublin’s First score on the board with a point from a free, while minutes later Alex Griffin Pinged over a beautiful well struck point from just inside the 45 yard line. Roisin Baker, Grace O’Shea, and Miriam Twomey were as always dangerous and Limerick was well aware of this and could only commit to the foul allowing Siobhan Kehoe Again to slot over 2 more points from free’s. From the Goal line to the Full Forward line , Dublin kept their foot on the pedal and out skilled, out ran and out worked Limerick in every aspect of the game.
They not only won their own puck outs but Challenged the Limerick Keepers, Laura O’Neill’s puckouts and successfully turned them over. The Girls were determined, Hungry and lurking for scores left right & centre. Eimear McCarthy got herself on the score sheet with two well worked runs through the 45 yard line and slotted both attempts between the posts. Within minutes, experienced kehoe delivered a high ball into the ever threatening Zoe O’Donoghue who only had eyes for goal and placed it into the back of Limericks net. Dublin were nearing the end of the first half and were determined to finish it strong and this came with a fine finish from Lucan Sarsfields Emma Flanagan with side step to make room for her powerful shot that would rattle both the back of the net and the Limerick Players.
The Half time score in Limerick being Dublin 2:9 Limerick 7 points.
The 2nd half got under way and immediately there was an urgency about Limerick as Mulcahy struck the sliotar over the black spot showing her leadership and composure to drive her teammates forward.
The 2nd half also saw the introduction of Dublin’s Ali Twomey who had an impact under the high ball making her mark on the game with a excellent score from play. Limerick eventually saw the green flag raised when a long ranged lobbed ball dropped into the back of Dublin’s goal. This Gave Limerick the fighting chance to turnover the points deficit.
The tides had turned in Limericks favour as they gradually gained control of the game by implementing a sweeper system and scores from Limericks Caoimhe Lyons and Rebecca Noonan and an additional tap in goal that made a game that was defined by inches. At this point, it was Limericks game to win yet Dublins defender such as Arlene Cushen forced limerick to hit wides under pressure. In the dying minutes Limerick had 3 opportunities to put the game to bed but Dublin again were resilient and pulled off some courageous Blocks & Hooks, especially Ali Twomey & Doireann Mullany to deny Limerick of a point lead.
The Game ended with Dublin been giving one last opportunity to come away with a hard fought win. A long range free was caught by a Limerick defender and the game ended Level with a score of 2:12 a piece.
Although Dublin only came away with one point on the league Table, it is most definitely a positive start for the Girls in Blue who not only showed their skill and talent , but their heart and never give up attitude.
Dublin now enter their next Game at Home facing the kilkenny.
Dublin Scorers: S. Kehoe ( 0-5 ‘f’ , 0-1 ‘45’) , Z. O’Donoghue (1-1) E. Flanagan (1-1) E. McCarthy (0-2) A. Griffin. ( 0-1 ) A. Twomey( 0-1)
Limerick Scorers: N. Mulcahy (1-1 (4 ‘f’) ) M. O’Callaghan (0-3) C. Lyons (1-1) S. O’Callaghan (0-1) , R. Noonan ( 0-1 )