Joy as Juniors get off to winning start.

Dublin 1-15 Offaly 0-5

Dublin, electing to play against the breeze, got off to a good start when corner forward Laoise Quinn pointed within 2 minutes.  Offaly’s top scorer Michelle Davis levelled the scores on five minutes. Dublin were playing well with midfielders CarolAnne Canning and Emer Maher winning the midfield battles. Dublin added 4 unanswered points - 2 points from Georgina Kelly, one from Caroline Canning driving through on a strong run from midfield and one from Kirsten Farrell to leave Dublin 0-5 to 0-1 ahead after 12minutes.

Offaly enjoyed a good 10 minute spell but staunch defending by the Dublin backs contained Offaly to just 2 points–one from a free and one from a 45. The Dublin backs defended well with centre back Michelle Kelly playing a dominant role ably assisted by wing backs Grainne Smyth and Shauna Duff. Grainne Free was dominant at right corner back while Grainne Ryan and Siobhan Grimes were very dependable. Goalkeeper Stephanie Carty dealt confidently with the Offaly attacks.  Elaine Gallery finished the first half scoring for Dublin with 2 well taken points to leave Dublin 0-7 to 0-3 in front at the break.

With the aid of the breeze the Dublin took control of the game from the beginning of the second half  outscoring  Offaly 5 points to one in the first 12 minutes – 2 frees and a great point from play rom Georgina Kelly, and points from Kirsten Farrell and Elaine Gallery. Dublin’s half forwards Emma Flanagan, Georgina Kelly and Ali McGrath were very effective.  Despite the brave defending of the Offaly backs especially goalkeeper Shauna Carroll and full back Kate Aherne Dublin were 0-12 to 0-4 in front after 15 minutes.

But Offaly never gave up adding 3 points to their total. Dublin introduced 5 subs during the last quarter of the game – Emer Keenan, Roisin Collins, Clodagh McGough Ciara Long and Cliodhne McCullagh. Roisin scored the only goal of the game and had another saved off the line by the Offaly keeper.  It was appropriate that the game’s top scorer, Georgina Kelly, should score the last point of the game to bring her personal tally for the afternoon to 7 points.

Final score Dublin 1-15 Offaly 0-7.

A satisfactory start to the Junior A championship.

Stephanie Carthy, Grainne Free, Grainne Ryan, Siobhan Grimes, Shauna Duff, Michelle Kelly, Grainne Smyth, CarolAnne Canning (0-1), Emer Maher, Emma Flanagan (0-1), Georgina Kelly (0-7), Ali McGrath, Elaine Gallery (0-3), Kirsten Farrell (0-2), Laoise Quinn (0-1).

Subs: Emer Keenan, Roisin Collins (1-0), Clodagh McGough, Ciara McCullagh and Ciara Long