Dublin 1-6 Carlow 0-5
A first National League title in a quarter century for Dublin after a tight battle with Carlow at the superb Donaghmore-Ashbourne venue. It was a very welcome win for Dublin and the first national silverware to come to the county since the Junior All-Ireland in 2006. The victory also fully justified last year's decision to retain a second Dublin adult team.
This was the second meeting of the sides in the Irish Daily Star National League and in some respects the victory was fashioned by what was learnt on that day when Carlow were deserved winners. Carlow's Ciara Quirke was a major threat on that day in Naomh Mearnóg and the decision of the Dublin management to assign Shauna Duff to a woman-marking task played a huge part in the victory. Shauna policed the excellent Carlow attacker to all parts of the field with great effect and the decision of the Carlow mentors in playing No. 13 in the half-forward line for all of the second half, well away from the dangerzone, also worked to Dublin's advantage.
From early on it was very clear that whichever side got a goal would have taken a major step towards victory. With the score at 0-5 to 0-4 in favour of Dublin and 43 minutes gone on the clock, the Dubs struck a vital blow. A speculative effort from Joeleen Hoary struck the upright and rebounded to the incoming Laoise Quinn who hammered to the net to put four points between the sides.
It was a huge boost for Dublin who were playing into the breeze against a Carlow side that battled ferociously throughout. In fairness, had they netted Dublin would have found it very hard to recover. But in goals, they had a star performer in Stephanie Carthy who made several fine stops in both halves including a superb save a minute after the Laoise Quinn goal. Stephanie won Irish Daily Star Player of the Match but she would have pushed all the way by the outstanding Deirdre Johnston who met ball after ball in the closing 15 minutes with great confidence and ability.
Indeed the Dublin defence played particularly well. Gráinne Free and Gráinne Ryan continued their consistently high performances with Clodagh McGough and Ellen Keatley also shining. Rachel O'Connor when introduced also played very well.
Niamh Drummond had some fine moments at midfield where Ellen Keatley also assisted and Eve O'Brien had her moments too.
Scores from play were at a premium and it took all of 17 minutes of the game for the first white flag from play to be raised when CarolAnne Canning pointed. Before that three placed balls from Carlow's Emma Brennan to one free from Elaine Gallery and a 45 from Joeleen Hoary had given them the lead. The Canning leveller sparked a good period of dominance from Dublin with Mikaela Dunne and Lisa Berkeley working hard in attack. But in the closing 13 minutes of the half, they could only add one more point - a free from Joeleen Hoary to lead by 0-4 to 0-3 at the break.
Both sides were very much in the game but Carlow were aided by a slight breeze and in the 49th minute drew level thanks to an Emma Brennan 45. Five minutes later, Joeleen Hoary pointed a free to restore Dublin's lead before the all-important goal from Laoise Quinn. It was down to pure heart and effort after that and Niamh Adams and Gráinne Smyth put their shoulders to the wheel in those final minutes.
It was fitting that it was captain Elaine Gallery who drove over the clincher in the 55th minute to seal victory.
Stephanie Carthy, Grainne Free, Deirdre Johnston, Grainne Ryan, Clodagh McGough, Shauna Duff, Eve O'Brien, Ellen Keatley, Niamh Drummond, Mikaela Dunne, CarolAnne Canning (0-1), Grainne Smyth, Lisa Berkeley, Elaine Gallery (0-2,1f), Joeleen Hoary (0-3, 2f, 1 45).
Subs: Rachel O'Connor, Laoise Quinn (1-0), Niamh Adams
Remaining Panel: Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin, Aisling Spillane, Claire Graham, Lorna Gardiner, Róisín Collins, Katie King, Claire McDonald, Sinead Lowe, Róisín Gillen, Leanne Walsh, Elaine Sherry
Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan)
Well done to the management team of Gerry McGough, Brendan Cooper, Dave Dunning, Colm Berkeley and Sandra Tarr.