Dublin 2-10 Roscommon
1-5
Dublin were full value for their double score victory over
Roscommon at the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown in the opening game of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Division 3 game.
The firm dry sod suited the pacey Dublin 15
who opened a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after just three minutes.
First off the mark with only 14 seconds gone on the clock was
Ciara Carolan to be followed by a Róisín Drohan ’45 and the first of three from
livewire Laoise Quinn.
It took Roscommon 9 minutes to reply through a Karen Hopkins
free but the usually bang on target Karen had an off day and was guilty of a
number of wides from play and placed balls.
Dublin extended their lead in the 12
th
minute when Aoife Bugler got on the end of Laoise Quinn free to goal.
That lead could have been greater but they too passed up on
a number of chances. However while
having had control of the game for the opening quarter, Dublin went through a
rough spell which saw Karen Hopkins point another free, a fine score from play
from Susan Spillane and 1-2 from Hopkins to give the Rossies the lead 1-5 to
1-4 by the 24th minute. The
goal came after a good save by Chloe Ní Cheallaigh but the rebound was knocked
home from close range.
Dublin’s only scoring response in that spell was a fine
point from Emer Keenan who was at the heart of many of the home side’s best
moves in the half.
Before the short whistle was blown by referee Peter Dowd, Laoise Quinn had brought her tally to two from play and the leveller as the
sides went to the half-time break.
Eventhough the scores were level, Dublin had the look of
winners from early on. Roscommon were
somewhat fortunate to be on equal terms and Dublin’s pace and team play always
looked like yielding scores.
In defence Emma Barron, Ciara Buchanan and Deirdre Johnstone
were outstanding and they were well supported by Laura Walsh, Emma O’Flynn and
Gráinne Free.
At midfield Caoimhe Ní
Mhaolagáin and Róisín Drohan were putting in a very useful shift.
From the restart Dublin took control and although playing the
game in the Roscommon half, the westerners defended well through the likes of
Joanne Beattie, ‘keeper Caroline Connaughton and the ever dangerous Kelly
Hopkins and Susan Spillane.
Gráinne Power was introduced by Dublin and made an
impression and eventually in the 42
nd
minute Dublin converted their
supremacy into scores when Caragh Dawson used her pace to full effect to race
through the heart of the Roscommon defence for a great point.
Three minutes later Aoife Bugler pointed and
by the 48
th
minute a pointed 45 by Laoise Quinn have given the home
side a one goal advantage.
By no means a safe lead but Dublin’s industry and superior
fitness began to tell in the fourth quarter.
Dublin were growing in confidence and they began to throw the ball
around with confidence.
From one such
movement Ciara Carolan found Aoife Bugler and she set up Caragh Dawson for a
lovely finish.
Sinead Nolan was another
to catch the eye with her intelligent use of the ball.
Roscommon’s raids into the Dublin half were getting fewer
but Dublin needed a great save from Chloe Ní Cheallaigh on her Dublin adult
debut (a first for Naomh Olaf) stopped a Karen Hopkins free from sneaking under
the cross bar in the 51
st
minute.
A goal at that stage would not have helped Dublin’s cause.
Boosted by this save, Emer Keenan lifted spirits with her
second point. As the game entered the
final minutes Kate Mulvey, Aoife Dooley, Aoife Walsh and Nadine Murphy came on
to bolster the team. It finished in
style when a very smart pick up by Emma O’Flynn led to the move that saw Laoise
Quinn “dig the ball” out and over the line for the clinching goal.
Chloe Ní Cheallaigh, Ciara Buchanan, Laura Walsh, Emma O’Flynn,
Emma Barron, Deirdre Johnstone, Gráinne Free, Caoimhe Ní Mhaolagáin, Róisín Drohan (0-1), Sinead Nolan,
Aoife Bugler (1-0), Caragh Dawson (0-2), Laoise Quinn (1-3), Emer Keenan (0-2),
Ciara Carolan (0-1)
Subs Used: Gráinne Power, Kate Mulvey, Nadine Murphy, Aoife
Dooley, Aoife Walsh.
Subs: Eimear O’Riordan, Aishling Spillane, Róisín Baker,
Róisín McLoughlin, Siofra Walsh
Referee: Peter Dowd