Dublin’s U16’s sparkle in All Ireland Camogie Championship win
The performance from Dublin’s U16’s was brimming with top class stick work, clever passing, eye catching scores
Dublin 2-18
Wexford 1-04
By Nigel McCarthy
Dublin’s U16’s put in a sparkling display this afternoon to record a seventeen point win over Wexford in the opening round of the All-Ireland U16A Camogie Championship.
On the warmest afternoon of the year to date Dublin we’re in red hot form in Round Towers GAA club in Clondalkin and put on an exhibition of excellent stick work, clever passing, stellar defending and clinical score taking which Wexford just had no answer for.
Dublin’s defensive unit were rock solid, read the game with a maturity way beyond the years and offered very few scoring opportunities to the Wexford forwards.
All six defenders were outstanding with Síbeal Cherry and Lauren Burke particularly catching the eye with some towering high fielding and perfectly timed interceptions.
The midfield pair of Zara Thorne and Clara Finn bossed the middle third and between them contributed 1-06 to Dublin’s scoring total. Finn was unplayable at times and was easily the Player of the Match.
Up front the pace, movement, quick interplay and accurate shooting had Wexford at times chasing shadows. Iseult Costello was menacing down the Dublin right wing and finished with a personal tally of 0-04.
All six of Dublin’s starting forwards got their name on the scoresheet in what was an impressive team performance.
Dublin’s U16’s opened the scoring in the third minute of the game with a super point from midfielder Clara Finn. Wexford equalised moments later with a converted free from half-forward Robyn O’Connor.
Then came the Dublin scoring blitz as they hit an unanswered 1-09, five excellent points from play, two from Iseult Costello and one each from Clara Finn, Kate Wilson and Aoibheann Stokes in a three minute spell put the Dubs in control of the contest.
Kerri Austin struck a free between the sticks in the 11th minute, Dublin won the resultant restart and centre half-back Sarah Power broke forward and struck a fine effort over the bar.
Two minutes later and the Dubs were almost out of sight when a well worked team move was finished to the net for the games opening goal by Ella Wilson.
Further points from Kerri Austin from a free and Clara Finn with her third point of the half put Dublin 12 points in front. Wexford finally scored their second point of the game with eight minutes to go to the short whistle from substitute Karen Hayden.
But it was Dublin who finished the half on the front foot and all but ended the game as a contest with further points from Clara Finn, Saoirse Behan and Iseult Costello to lead by fourteen point at half-time with the score 1-13 to 0-02.
The sweltering heat was always going to play a part in slowing down the action and scoring in the second half particularly as the opening half had been played at a very high tempo.
In saying that, the opening quarter after the restart was as exciting as anything the had preceded it in the opening half.
The impressive Clara Finn hit a wonderful point in the opening minute of the second half, her fifth point of the game. Wexford responded with a fine point from play by Bronagh Kenny, but three more points in as many minutes from Iseult Costello, Clara Finn and Kerri Austin from a free put Dublin out of reach of Wexford.
In fairness to the young ladies from the southeast they never dropped their heads, Karen Hayden grabbed her second point of the day from a free and in the 42nd minute Belle Kisov found the back of the net after a scramble in front of the Dublin goal.
That though was to be Wexford last score of the game and Dublin’s U16’s rounded off the game with a point from substitute Caoimhe French and a goal from the superb Zara Thorne who put in an all action shift in midfield.
With only three teams in the group today’s win guarantees Dublin a place in the knockout stages and with a bye week next weekend manager Niall Daly will have two weeks to prepare for their final group game away to Kilkenny and the chance to top the group.
Dublin Scorers
9. Clara Finn 0-06
13. Iseult Costello 0-04
11. Kerri Austin 0-03 (3f)
14. Ella Wilson 1-00
8. Zara Thorne 1-00
10. Kate Watson 0-01
12. Aoibheann Stokes 0-01
6. Sarah Power 0-01
15. Saoirse Behan 0-01
21. Caoimhe French 0-01
Wexford Scorers
19. Belle Kisov 1-00
29. Karen Hayden 0-02 (2f)
11. Robyn O`Connor 0-01 (1f)
12. Bronagh Kenny 0-01
Dublin
1. Enya Kennedy
2. Mia Browne
3. Éabha Ní Mhaolagáin
4. Síbeal Cherry
5. Aoife Kenny
6. Sarah Power
7. Lauren Burke
8. Zara Thorne
9. Clara Finn
10. Kate Watson
11. Kerri Austin
12. Aoibheann Stokes
13. Iseult Costello
14. Ella Wilson
15. Saoirse Behan
Dublin Substitutions
27. Milly Hughes for Mia Browne (HT)
21. Caoimhe French for Saoirse Behan (43)
18. Ashling Nyhan for Aoibheann Stokes (50)
28. Rebecca Horan for Iseult Costello (55)
22. Caoimhe Tierney for Sibeal Cherry (55)
Wexford
1. Keeva Steadmond
2. Jane Murphy
3. Kasey O`Connor
4. Cliona McCarthy
5. Kennedy Cullen
6. Sophie O`Leary
7. Leah Morris
8. Niamh Hearne
9. Nicola Corrigan
10. Kiera Dempsey
11. Robyn O`Connor
12. Bronagh Kenny
13. Sadhbh Buttle
14. Caoimhe Browne
15. Aoife Farrel
Wexford Substitutions
29. Karen Hayden for Kiera Dempsey (21)
19. Belle Kisov for Caoimhe Browne (HT)
17. Riona Mahon for Kennedy Cullen (HT)
18. Aisling Fitzpatrick for Nicola Corrigan (35)
20. Roisin McGonigale for Niamh Hearne (44)
24. Chloe Whelan for Sadhbd Buttle (47)
28. Isobel English for Riona Mahon (57)
Report: Nigel McCarthy @We Are Dublin GAA