Dublin 1-11  Clare 0-12  

As the last few players left the green sward of Semple Stadium after this epic encounter, the strains of the Rocky III theme song “Eye of the Tiger” could be heard coming from a nearby fairground. 

The lyrics from the song sung by the aptly named group Survivor include

So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

They could have been written about this team.   No medals or cups were given out but it felt like they had been.   After an eventful lead in to the game – progression in the championship was decided where it should be on the playing field.   For pure heart alone Dublin deserved not to lose this game.   Blocks, hooks, super saves, raging runs, smashing scores, collisions aplenty and massive skill.

It was a game where every single one of the 20 players who got pitch time could be said to have played a pivotal part.   And no better place to turn on the style than in the Home of Legends as Michael O’Grady commented.

The game of camogie is evolving all the time and naturally draws from hurling for tactical ploys.

Clare played with a slight breeze and for the entire first half operated with the aid of a sweeper similar to their county hurling teams.   As a result Dublin were left with a spare defender and looking back on the game, it was a move that did not yield the kind of results Colm Honan’s side hoped for.

The Banner would have been encouraged by an early three point start with points by Eimear Kelly and two frees from dangerwoman Chloe Morey which gave Clare a 0-3 to nil lead after 5 minutes.   But the workrate, the controlled aggression and the growing confidence of the Dubs fought ferociously to cut down space and options for the Munster girls.   An interesting stat – 73% of Dublin’s scores came from play – Clare totted up 42% from the same source.

But a minute later Dublin put together a move that stopped the rot and settled the side.   Miriam Twomey so often a forward and even a corner back is now revelling in the role of midfield dynamo and set up a great clearance to Emma Flanagan.   Emma delivered a super cross in the direction of Siobhan Kehoe who despite the pressure managed to force the ball through to Áine Fanning.  The full forward found Louise O’Hara in support and she hammered to the net.   Louise and Áine would be among a few (Elaine O’Meara, Catríona Power) when Dublin last played in the Mecca of Hurling in 2008.

Before the 6 ^th minute had passed Ali Maguire’s clearance had found Sarah O’Donovan to earn a point.   Four minutes later Áine Fanning found the range for her first point of the afternoon.   Game on.

Clare ‘keeper Denise Lynch had a key part to play in her team’s game plan.   Her puckouts were meant to carry a message but more often than not a Dublin player got in the way of clean possession.   That was until the 11 ^th minute when the ball was worked neatly upfield where Chloe Morey gave a super hand flick off the stick to Emma O’Driscoll for Clare’s fourth point.   Clare persisted with the high risk puck out strategy and paid the price four minutes later when a ball destined by wing back Kathleen Horgan was won by Siobhan Kehoe and she drilled a mighty point from in front of Ardán Ó Riain on the sideline and 45m from the posts.   Shivers was a constant threat and was the “go to” player for much of Dublin’s tactics.

But if Denise Lynch was key to Clare plans. Síle nic Coitir was absolutely essential to Dublin’s.

A long ball was dropped into the Dublin box and instead of opting to catch the sliothar full back Rose Collins batted the ball into the path of inrunning Chloe Morey.   Her first time pull was heading for the net until a full length diving save by Síle nic Coitir brought gasps of awe from the crowd.   She even managed to regain her feet before kicking the ball out of the danger area.

The importance of the save cannot be overestimated especially as Clare hit the next three points from Chloe Morey, Emma O’Driscoll and Aoife Keane.    Put a goal with this tally and it would have given the Banner girls a massive boost.

The Clare defence was also very disciplined and Dublin did not get a free inside the opposition for all of the first 30 minutes.    On the 21 ^st minute Alison Maguire was presented with an opportunity about 50m from the posts and her well placed delivery landed in front of Áine Fanning and with work to do she still pointed.  

Dublin’s determination was typified by the workrate of all players.   None more so as the game came up to half-time when Elaine O’Meara, Aisling Carolan, Laura Twomey and Orlaith Durkan chased, cleared, blocked with immense intent.   Sarah O’Donovan was another to lead by example and a wonderful piece of chasing and harrying turned over possession that led to Áine Fanning finding Laoise Quinn and the half-forward’s aim was sweet and through.

31 minutes played and the sides were level at the break 1-5 to 0-8.

Aisling Maher was introduced at half-time and Martha O’Donoghue joined the fray four minutes after the restart.   Both were to make telling impacts.   One of the great steps being made by Dublin is the improving strength in depth of the team.   Players with a proven record of making a difference are now available and mad keen to show what they can do.  

One sensed that whoever could get the first score of the second half might set the pace for the rest of the game and that was how it turned out.   After a few near misses from Clare, another wonderful dispossession by Elaine O’Meara provided the supply that saw Aisling Maher score a beauty from the near the sideline.   While the sides would draw level three times in the second half (7 times overall), Dublin were never in arrears at any time from the 6 ^th minute of the game.

Dublin’s defence was tight and first to most balls particularly the great hearted Rose Collins who held Chloe Morey scoreless from play and the pacey Aisling Carolan.   Scorer in chief against Derry, Alison Maguire had to wait until the 40 ^th minute for her first point, a 45 after great work by Siobhan Kehoe.   But Chloe Morey was unerring off placed balls and the game was level again by the 52 ^nd minute.

Siobhan Kehoe must be an admirer of Jonathan Glynn and Cian Lynch as in the 44 ^th minute she took off on one of her mazy runs, flicked the ball over the head of her opponent to pick the rebound and point.   If Dublin could put another on the board it would be a major statement.

Sarah O’Donovan was intent on doing something about that.   A wonderful hook recovered possession but in the opinion of the referee her momentum caused her to push the Clare player.   Sarah did not agree and shared that information with the referee!!!

Riled by the decision, she rose to the challenge and had a major impact on the closing quarter.   So much so that she was named player of the match.    A close range free presented Alison Maguire with the opportunity to stretch Dublin’s lead to two which she duly accepted.

But Clare have tremendous courage and ability and Andrea O’Keeffe fired over a great point that was followed 3 minutes later in the 52 ^nd minute with the equaliser from Chloe Morey.

However almost from the puckout Dublin won a free that Alison Maguire once again pointed.   It was helter skelter from now to the finish and game plans went out the window as both sides hung on for dear life.   The Dublin backline of Aisling Carolan, Rose Collins, Laura Twomey, Alison Maguire and the wonderful Catríona Power returned everything that Clare threw at them.

Sile nic Coitir had seen enough of this ping pong camogie and when the ball returned one more time, the ‘keeper made a mad 40m solo run up the field to relieve the danger.   It worked.   Dublin won a break and introduced substitutes Ali Twomey, Aoife Bugler and soon after Mairi Moynihan.  Síle showed great self belief and confidence a minute from the end of normal time to race off her line to gather a ball in the corner back position and clear.   Great decision making born from experience.

The interruption and the fresh legs – each injected new life in the team.    With a solitary point between the sides – extra time seemed a distinct possibility in the most talked about camogie game of the year.  

A cross field delivery from Aisling Maher was aimed for Aoife Bugler who was pushed just as she bent to collect the ball.   When Alison Maguire’s free attempt from 50m came back off the upright – thoughts immediately of – is that going to curse Dublin must have gone through peoples' minds? And for a second it seemed it might, as Andrea O’Keeffe’s effort seemed to be on its way over the bar only to drift wide at the last second.

With or without a hurley Martha O’Donoghue was battling and she showed maturity beyond her years in the 62nd minute to thread the ball through to Aisling Maher for the point that had the huge Dublin support doing a jig in the stand.  

A wonderful victory and a date with Wexford on Monday in Netscape Cullen Park in Carlow at 14.30.

The online support of so many over the last week is most appreciated but nothing beats being there and when you are there it means so much to the team.   Remember Monday in Carlow – Be there!

Scorers: 

Dublin: Alison Maguire (0-3), Louise O’Hara (1-0), Áine Fanning (0-2), Siobhan Kehoe (0-2), Aisling Maher (0-2), Sarah O’Donovan (0-1) and Laoise Quinn (0-1)

Clare:  Chloe Morey (0-7), Emma O’Driscoll   (0-2), Eimear Kelly (0-1), Aoife Keane (0-1) and Andrea O’Keeffe (0-1)

Referee: Cathal Egan