Report

Dublin v Wexford

Dublin 1-8  Wexford 0-4

Dublin/Wexford matches over the last 5 or 6 years have not been the source of many happy memories for the girls in blue so not even the Arctic chill could remove the smiles from the faces of players, management and supporters after this deserved win at O'Toole Park.

The home side was the better throughout but for periods especially in the first half struggled to make that dominance tell in that most important area - the scoreboard. 

Opening with a cracking run followed by a point by Aoife Kelly after only 22 seconds to be followed by a pointed free by Ali Maguire a minute later, Dublin ran up an early 2 points lead.  But although aided by a stiff diagonal breeze it took Dublin 24 minutes to add another point.  In that spell the side were largely on top with Laura Twomey and Danielle Smith having excellent games in the middle of the field.  But the cold and the breeze were difficult opponents and a few chances slipped outside the posts as the wides tally reached 8 for the first half.

Wexford threatened only occasionally in the half and when they did, they found Lizzie McSweeney, Gráinne Quinn and Elaine O'Meara in no mood to concede scores.  Wexford did fire over a great effort in the 21st minute courtesy of Fiona Kavanagh and at that stage a one point lead did not look like providing a winning platform for Dublin with the breeze at Wexford's backs in the second half.

Not for the first time, Louise O'Hara showed tremendous leadership when she drilled home a great point from the best part of 70m.  Suddenly Dublin found a new gear.  A great move involving Aoife Kelly, the hard-working Áine Fanning and Ali Maguire set up Aoife Bugler who was making her first league start and she nailed a great point in the 29th minute.  But a foul 20m out from the Dublin posts allowed Bríd Gordon the chance to reduce the gap to two points.

A two points lead looked like becoming a three points advantage when Alison Maguire faced up to a placed ball.  Her effort fell short and when the resultant clearance came her way, Ali had a second bite of the cherry.  This time Wexford 'keeper Mags D'Arcy made an uncharacteristic error and the ball ended in the net.  A great boost for Dublin as the sides headed for the dressing rooms with Dublin 1-4 to 0-2 in front.

The goal gave Dublin a margin that was far from unassailable but nevertheless on a bitterly cold day, where forwards found it tough going to make the kind of space that they would like - it was probably not a bad lead.

Added to that was the fact that Dublin struck the first point of the second half when Alison Maguire pointed from a free in the 32nd minute.  Bit by bit one could almost see the confidence rising in the Dublin team.  The striking was good.  Players were composed under pressure and the workrate was phenomenal. 

All over the field, Dublin put in an amount of hooks, blocks and turnovers epitomised in the 40th minute when in a great bout of play involving several contributions by Sarah Ryan, Áine Fanning and Laura Twomey, Laura had the vision to spot the unmarked Alison Maguire and she popped over a great point. 

Kate Whyte was making her first start in the National League and made a great save in the 43th minute which Dublin built on a minute later when fellow debutante Aoife Bugler split the posts for the second time.  Fiona Hayes, Louise O'Hara and Catriona Power were in charge in the half-back line and as the game entered the final quarter, the prospect of a Dublin win grew more likely. 

Dublin's midfielders Laura Twomey and Danielle Smith were still dominating and with the game being played in Wexford's half, an 8 points lead was looking solid.  This became 9 in the 46th minute when the Wexford defence was penalised and Ali Maguire kept her nerve to bring her tally to 1-4. 

Victory should have been sealed in the 53rd minute when sustained pressure saw the ever industrious Aisling Carolan give a great pass to clubmate Aoife Bugler whose bullit hit the cross bar with such force that the net shook.  It deserved a goal. 

But Dublin were not daunted and substitutes Ali Twomey and Eimear McCarthy came on to make telling contributions.  Wexford got their first score of the half from an Ursula Jacob free in the 52nd minute.  They managed another point from a penalty in the 62nd minute. 

While the All-Ireland champions were short a number of regulars, Dublin can be proud of their display.  The win can only boost confidence and the quality of their play into the breeze in the second shows the importance of workrate.  It isn't often any Wexford team is held to one point from play in 60 minutes and the side can now focus on the final game in the group against Galway knowing that a place in the semi finals is up for grabs.

Kate Whyte, Lizzy McSweeney, Gráinne Quinn, Elaine O'Meara, Fiona Hayes, Louise O'Hara (0-1), Catriona Power,  Laura Twomey, Danielle Smith, Alison Maguire (1-4, 03f), Aoife Kelly (0-1), Aisling Carolan, Aoife Bugler (0-2), Sarah Ryan, Áine Fanning

Subs: Alison Twomey, Eimear McCarthy
Not Used: Helen Cosgrave, Hannah McInerney, Shauna Duff, Emma Flanagan

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