Match Report
By acting Dublin Camogie Assistant PRO Joseph Shannon
Camogie U16 All Ireland Championship - Dublin versus Galway
Round Towers GAA Club, Clondalkin, Sunday 14th July 2019
Another warm summer’s day and a sporadic, cool breeze winds (no pun intended) its way across Round Tower’s pitch. The sun is coming out in bursts and spectators are present in numbers, and as the weather permits, enthusiastically sporting tans, tattoos and t-shirts. Dublin’s U16 Camogie Team warm up beside their opponents Galway, both sets of players calm and measured in their preparations.
The second round of the All Ireland U16 Camogie Championship is about to get underway. Voices travel across the field with a roar of support for the team and the game begins. Dublin start in lively fashion, quick to the sliotar and sharp in the tackle. They are soon rewarded with two frees which Ellie Young dispatches for the first points of the game. This is soon followed up by a point from Ashling O’Neill after her trade mark meandering run through the opposition. Galway, slower to build momentum in the opening minutes, then get a chance at goal which is expertly deflected by the Dublin keeper Eabha Mooney.
The next period sees some good passing from Dublin and shots going wide by both teams. Galway then put the sliotar over the bar from play after a fine run from their number 10. Aisling O’Neill promptly responds with a point. Galway, injecting impetus into their game, add two more points in quick succession to their tally. Their number 10 then storms in and delivers a devastating pass which is driven into the back of the Dublin net. Dublin remain calm and play their way up field and after a fine pass from Ellie Young, Sinead Daly sends the sliotar over the bar.
The two teams continue to trade ‘blows’ with a point a piece, Ashling O’Neill again adding to her tally. The sun is remorseless when it emerges and both teams welcome a water break to gather their energy. Suitably refreshed, Sinead Daly adds another point and Galway make a point blank save from an Ashling O’Neill strike. With the wind picking up, Galway win a free in an advantageous position and an opportunistic strike sees the sliotar driven into the lower left hand corner of the Dublin net. Ellie Young follows with another point from a free. Galway, with a nose for goal, hand-pass the sliotar into the net after a powerful run.
To Dublin’s credit they recover quickly and put two points on the score board thanks to fine strikes by Emma Diamond. Galway end a well-contested first half with another point.
HALF TIME SCORE: Dublin 0-10 Galway 3-05
The balance of the game would depend on the opening exchanges and Galway pounce with a point and a goal in the early minutes. This is despite some strong individual Dublin performances. The game witnesses some tense match-ups with fierce exchanges resulting in frees being awarded to both teams. Galway emerge from these skirmishes, sometimes by a nose, and prove ruthless in their finishing by scoring a further goal and point from play. The intensity does not diminish, Claire Gannon breaking a hurl in a series of relentless tackles and Eabha Mooney once again making a bold save on the line. Dublin put up a valiant defence but the potency of the Galway attack is steadily increasing and culminates in another point for Galway.
A second water break is welcomed by both teams. Galway follow it with a goal after another very strong run. Ashling O’Neill responds with a finely cut shot from the acutest of angles to score a much needed point. Galway presses on and the spectators witness another brave save from the Dublin keeper, Eabha Mooney. The next few minutes see Dublin engage in some lively duels with Galway. Three points follow, one a fine volley for Lucy Quinn with Ashling O’Neill and Sinead Daly adding one apiece.
But Galway are not to be stopped and bound for the Dublin goal where, despite another acrobatic save by Eabha Mooney who parries the sliotar away only to see it sent back in an unstoppable strike. Dublin generate some excitement in the final minutes with a scramble on the Galway goal line but to no avail.
A good win for Galway. Some fine performances from Dublin and lessons, which only experiences like these can deliver, to fortify the squad for their next match.
FINAL SCORE: Dublin 0-15 Galway 7-10