Dublin 4-10  Galway 2-8

30 years ago in Ballinasloe, Dublin overcame Galway to capture the U16 All-Ireland title.  Three decades later - different location, same team same result.  A wonderful All-Ireland title and long after the game was over, Dub fans, players, mentors, families were still on the O'Connor Park sod savouring the occasion.

To win All-Irelands you need a team capable of winning; prepared to put in the hours; good coaching and management and a few breaks on the day.  For once the whole scenario fell into place for Dublin.

This side is laden with talent and fiercely committed to the game.  They have put in countless hours and miles over the past four years in pursuit of excellence and they got their reward.  The management of Paul Beecher, Stephen Hoary, Ciarán Hayes and Eimear Butler has been painstaking in their preparation and the performance demonstrated their work.  Great teamplay, intelligent use of the ball and astute tactics all hallmarks of a well-prepared team.

The few breaks were also important but in most games you make your own luck so they are not to be overstated.  Nevertheless they played their part.  For instance - Galway attacked from the throw-in and aided by the slight breeze they had the first three assaults on the Dublin goals in the opening four minutes - all came to naught.  Dublin make their first raid into Galway territory in the fifth minute and Orla Beagan taps over the first of her personal tally of 1-3.  Two minutes later Aoife Molloy takes a pass from very hard-working Martha O'Donoghue and Dublin are two points to the good. 

Dublin are in full flow now and Tara O'Flaherty keeps the ball in play and from the tightest of angles sticks the ball in the net.  Next up Aisling O'Leary places Orla Beagan for a point before the superb Doireann Mullanney parts to Aoife Molloy who points for the second time.  Five minutes of superb play and Dublin lead by 1-4 to nil after 10 minutes.

Fast forward to the 16th minute of the second half. Galway are fighting tooth and nail to deny Dublin.  The Dublin defence is defending heroically.  Galway win a free.  The excellent Emma Helebert lines up - another point will leave just a single goal between the sides and the initiative will be with the Westerners.  The ball slips wide - Dublin still four to the good.  Doireann Mullanney wins the puckout, Aoife Molloy sends it on the full-forward Aisling O'Leary who palms to the net.  Dublin go for the kill.  The magnificent Orla Beagan secures the puckout and drives the ball into space behind the full-back, Aisling O'Leary sees her chance and first times to the net.  In the space of two minutes Dublin have gone from 4 to 10 points clear - game over (more or less).

It was a pivotal moment but in truth Dublin had the edge in most departments.  None more so than at full and centre backs.  Tradition has it that these spots should be filled by players blessed with a lot of centimetres but not in Dublin.  Niamh Byrne and Annemarie Courtney conceded height but in skill, striking, positioning and their first to the ball approach they were not bettered.  An outstanding performance.

Dublin's defence had to be good.  They had seen off the might of Kilkenny after two games and had previously drawn with Galway.  But in these games this result was forged.  Áine Woods (whose mother Trish Clinton was on the '82 team seen left with husband/Dad Tony) and Blaithín McQuillan were outstanding and southside pair Hannah Hegarty and Sarah Nagle never put a foot wrong (the Nagle roar could be heard on the Firhouse Road!).
 
But there were two great teams in this final. After Dublin's early burst, Galway responded with points by Emma Helebert (f) Ciara Burke and a goal by Erica Coen.  Only for a brilliant save (one of several) by Faye McCarthy in the 16th minute from Patricia Manning Dublin would have trailed at the break.  Galway were dominant at this stage and held Dublin scoreless from the 10th to the 28th minute.  But 6 first half wides were costly for Galway as Dublin finished the half with an inspiring catch and 35m run by Doireann Mullaney who pointed to give Dublin a 1-5 to 1-2 half-time edge.

59 Seconds after the restart Dublin, Martha O'Donoghue again turned provider.  Orla Beagan took the pass, made 40m and buried the ball in the net to the delight of the Dublin faithful.  It was to be the start of an epic 15 minutes of camogie of the highest order as both sides battled for supremacy.

Galway came back with points from Ciara Burke and Ciana Ni Churraoin.  All within the space of the first two minutes of the half.  Eve Kehoe who had a roving commission in the second period benefited from the wonderful work of Leah Mullins and put the ball between the posts.  But Ciara Burke was back by the 35th minute with her third point of the game.

Galway were ringing the changes and were well in contention.  Two excellent Tara O'Flaherty points by the 40th minute made sure that Dublin's advantage never dropped below four points - a psychologically important margin in camogie.

And then came that two goals sally by Aisling O'Leary in the 37th and 38th minutes.  Dublin still had work to be done but the backline stood up to everything that Galway threw at them.  The tactic of playing Eve Kehoe and Leah Mullins in the Dublin half worked as the Dublin forwards had pace and used the open space.  But Galway struck for goal in the 51st minute through Amy Caulfield but throughout the game Dublin responded whenever the questions were asked and in the 52th minute player of the match Orla Beagan (right) added a 45 and Doireann Mullanney closed the Dublin scoring as she did in the first half with a massive point.

Galway camped in the Dublin box for the closing five minutes but the Dublin defence were in control.

The final whistle ended a long lean spell and sparked great celebrations as Catherine Neary, Camogie Vice President presented the cup to Annemarie Courtney.

Among the attendance were Denise O'Neill (O'Leary) another member of  the 1982 team and Bríd Power who was a selector (along with Carmel Cooper, Kathleen Campbell) of the side which included the likes of Kathy Walsh of Crumlin, Phyllis Byrne of An Caislean, Adele Campbell of Marino, Ann Cooper of Woodville, Ann Archbold. 

Dublin Faye McCarthy, Áine Woods, Niamh Byrne, Blathín McQuillan, Hannah Hegarty, Annemarie Courtney, Sarah Nagle, Leah Mullins, Doireann Mullaney (0-2), Orla Beagan (1-3), Aoife Molloy (0-2), Eve Kehoe (0-1), Martha O'Donoghue, Aisling O'Leary (2-0), Tara O'Flaherty (1-2)

Subs:   Jenny Ryan, Ailish O'Neill, Ciara Casey, Zenouska Murphy, Laura Morrissey, Mary Cronin, Emma Loo, Sophie Lyons, Vanessa Boland, Amy Conroy, Tess Coyne, Laura Kilcoyne, Chloe Rochford, Lilly Conway, Ciara Carolan

Ref:  Donal Leahy (Tipperary)