Dublin 1-8  Antrim 0-9  

An amazing game that had everything – tremendous commitment, great scores and a last minute penalty match winning save.  Top that off with a 46 minutes interruption due to an unfortunate accidental injury to Dublin midfielder Zoe Couch nine minutes before half-time.  Zoe caught the tailend of an overhead flick and was not feeling well.  As a precautionary measure no risks were taken and she was removed to hospital – we wish her a quick return to action.

A vocal crowd turned up to Naomh Peregrine to watch and from the outset this had the appearance of a close-run affair.

Chloe Mullen opened the Dubs account after a minute with a neat point but Antrim had travelled with purpose having lost their opening game by just a point to Waterford.    By the 6 ^th minute they had levelled through a fine pointed free by the impressive Emily Falloon.  

Dublin were playing solidly with Zoe Couch and Caoimhe Hughes shading the midfield battle.   Aoife Farrell, Emily Browne, Laura Morgan and Emma O’Byrne put in many great clearances at the back.

Pressure eventually paid off and Aoibhe Dillon at full-forward netted from a long range free by Rebecca Lewis in the 7 ^th minute.   Chloe Mullen added another point but bit by bit Antrim began to claim the upperhand.  

Some excellent play by defenders Orla and Cliodhna Donnelly, Siobhan McKillop while up front Victoria Edge was showing that she would be a handful to watch.   Aine Donnelly pointed followed by two more from Victoria Edge.   The latter was also denied a goal by a super stop from Megan Thomas.   Antrim seemed to have an edge in pace in the attack but when play was stopped due to the injury to Zoe Couch it probably came at a bad time for the Ulster side.    When play resumed they did manage to add the leveller from the stick of Emily Falloon.

Nicole Malcolmson had entered the fray at wing back in place of the injured and played a pivotal role in keeping close tabs on Antrim danger woman Aine Donnelly.   However despite the best efforts of Niamh Mulroney who played a fine game at full back, Antrim’s full-forward full-forward Victoria Edge knew where the posts were and pushed her side two points clear 0-7 to 1-2.  

A Rebecca Lewis free ended a 20 minutes spell without a score for Dublin but Victoria Edge quickly cancelled that out with a free of her own.   However the closing 15 minutes belonged largely to Dublin.   They laid siege to the Antrim goal where Caitriona Graham was excellent between the posts.     Siobhra Andrews, Sinead Wylde and Sarah Murphy fought for everything and kept play at the Antrim end of the field.

But the pressure would soon tell.   Aoife Dillon drove over a free before Aine Donnelly responded for Antrim.   Ciara Byrne had entered the fray for Dublin and contributed before Aoife Dillon showed great leadership to work her way into a scoring position after picking up a cross from Chloe Mullen.    It was now the turn of Aisling Andrews to hammer over the leveller in the 54 ^th minute as the game hung in the balance.

The momentum was with Dublin and after Caitriona Graham brilliantly turned away a goalbound shot for a 45, Rebecca Lewis held her nerve to put Dublin one clear.     With two minutes left on the clock, Rebecca split the posts with a free from 43m.   But there was a dramatic finish in store as the game entered added time.

Strangely Antrim’s top score Victoria Edge could be seen 30m from the Dublin goal but despite her absence the ball was worked up field to Siobhan McKillop and she showed tremendous skill and strength to win possession and head for goal.   All the options seemed to favour her but she seemed to take the ball too far and ended up being fouled by the ‘keeper for a penalty.   The delay in taking the shot didn’t help the taker Victoria Edge and her effort was saved by Megan Thomas in the Dublin goal with the final whistle sounding seconds later.

Scorers: Aoife Dillon (1-2), Chloe Mullen (0-2), Rebecca Lewis (0-3), Aisling Andrews (0-1)