MATCH REPORT
By acting Dublin Camogie Assistant PRO Joseph Shannon
Camogie U16 All Ireland Championship - Dublin versus Clare
Parnells GAA Club, Coolock, Sunday July 7th 2019
Referee : Eamon Cassidy – Derry.
A Summer sun witnessed a host of Camogie spectators decked out in sunglasses and sunblock while a warm stillness lay over the pitch in Parnell’s GAA Club. The Clare and Dublin Camogie U16 Teams set about their pre-match preparations, jerseys shimmering in the distance as players, coaches and spectators took, to quote that line ‘ the deep breath before the plunge’.
Nervously, the two teams faced each other for their first match in the Camogie U16 All Ireland Competition. The first minutes of the match saw a nervous start by both teams. Millie Reid showing some skill without the hurl in a kick pass to Lucy Quinn. A point from Ellie Kane and a near miss from Clare the results of the teams early arm wrestle.
As the game was finding its rhythm, Ellie Young settled for a nice point after a good pass set her free.
Aisling Gannon then received a finely weighted pass to send a rocket at the Clare keeper who parried it over the bar. The game rocked back and forth with a series of tough tackling, blocks, minor injury stoppages and a shot at goal saved by an assured keeper. All players were in a struggle with their Clare opponents with forwards and backs contributing equally to the fray.
Clare scored their first point from a free coming up to 20 minutes with Dublin responding with an excellent pass from Emma Diamond to Aisling O’Neill who put the sliotar over the bar. Clare then sent the ball wide from a free and Dublin’s Lucy Quinn took the opportunity to score another point. A slight change in the tide towards Dublin could be sensed coming into the last 10 minutes of the first half. Dublin were edging the player contacts but not yet reflecting this with scores. Lucy Quinn again stepped up with a fine point. Clare however seized on an opportunity with a strong individual run through the Dublin defence to hand pass a goal into the net.
Dublin were on high alert and after a series of precise passing on the left wing from Aisling Gannon to Lucy Quinn, Emma Diamond placed a thunderous shot into the top right hand corner of the net. Clare ended the first half with two fine points from frees but not before Dublin added another point from Ellie Kane.
Half Time Score Dublin 1-7 to Clare 1-3.
The second half saw Dublin show their dominance. Although Clare scored an early point and followed with a wide from some very good play, Dublin were finding their pace. They dug in and some strong play saw Ellie Young score a point from a free. Dublin then placed the sliotar in the net from an Aisling O’Neill strike with Lucy Quinn and Ellie Young adding a point apiece to drive Dublin on. Clare produced two points from frees and went wide with another free. Dublin again responded with some great passing to produce another very fine point from Aisling O’Neill.
The Dublin Team now found the rhythm to their liking with Ellie Young adding a point and Ellie Kane contributing a goal and point in the next few minutes. The final few minutes of the game were also Dublin’s and they produced 5 points from Aisling O’Neill, Ellie Young, Ellie Kane (2 points) and Eile O’Ceallaigh.
A good result sees Dublin go to their next match with full points. Well done to all the players and the coaching team for their hard work and dedication.
Final Score: Dublin 3-18 to Clare 1-6