Dublin 3-13  Galway 2-13

This was an enthralling game from start to finish against two superbly prepared teams.   The game was dotted with great skills, massive commitment and cracking scores.

Playing into the breeze in the first half Dublin opened the scoring with a point by the speedy Laura Quinn.   But it soon became apparent that the Galway girl in form was wing forward Niamh Niland.   Three points from placed balls from the No. 10 plus another from Rachel Murray gave the westerners a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 6 minutes but Dublin were well organised and by the 17 ^th minute had levelled the game.

Key to that recovery was the excellent play of Olivia Meagher who was acting as sweeper for the Dublin 15.    She was on top of that job from the get go and aided by the superb play and workrate of midfield pairing Aoife Mahon and Niamh Glennon Dublin were pushing forward with great confidence.   From the 8 ^th minute Dublin hit mighty points from Aoife Mahon, Niamh Lennon, Kim Hickey and Hollyn Kennedy.  

Dublin looked composed and assured in everything they were doing and so it was a surprise when a rare defensive lapse occurred in the 19 ^th minute when a ball that should have been cleared wasn’t and Aoife Ní Dhonnacha was on hand to first time to the net.  

That gave the Galway girls a huge boost and with centre back Muireann Faherty in outstanding form they added three more white flags from Rachel Murray and Niamh McPeake to lead by 1-8 to 0-6 at the interval.

Dublin would have the aid of the breeze but it would take more than the elements to overcome Galway.   They got a massive lift just 14 seconds after the restart when Kim Hickey took possession for the throw-in and left everyone for dead to hammer a great ball to the roof of the net.  

Galway though are always contenders no matter what the level and the excellent Niamh Niland fought back to point from play and from a placed ball to go back 1-10 to 1-6 in front by the 33 ^rd minute.    Laura Quinn who was a constant threat throughout rose above everyone else to grab possession and in the same movement fired home a rousing score for Dublin.   At the back Jody Couch was at the heart of many great clearances and in the 38 ^th minute from a long range free Laura Quinn got possession and made no mistake with Dublin’s second goal.  

Level now and the large crowd were in full voice.   The quality of Dublin’s play was admirable.   Great hands, super first touch, great decision making and massive workrate saw them strike a fine spell from the 39 ^th to the 48 ^th minutes to add points from Aoife Mahon, Laura Quinn and a 55m free from Aoife Mahon.

The performance of Mahon and her midfield colleague Niamh Glennon was among the reasons Dublin won this game.   Both are super athletes with a capacity to keep going that lasted to the finish.  

Points from Niamh McPeake and Tara Stephens gave everyone notice that Galway hadn’t gone away as Dublin held a precious one point lead 2-10 to 1-12 by the 48 ^th minute.

Dublin’s defence from goalkeeper Ally Ramsden, Aoife Byrne, Hannah Leddy as well as Molly Brown, Rachel Seery and Celine Antancio were very sound – great blocking and hooking as well as lengthy clearances had the Dublin fans in full voice.   But that good play needed to reap scores and a super pass from Hollyn Kennedy to Jody Couch who notched her only score of the day but what an important one it was.

It began to look even better for Dublin in the 53 ^rd minute when Aoife Mahon’s delivery was claimed by Kim Hickey and she put her name on her second goal of the day.

But as often happens the scoring team can be vulnerable immediately after a score like that.   Niamh Horan, the Galway midfielder won the puckout and made a 40m run before hammering a low ball to the net.   Two points game again.

Most impressively when the chips were down – Dublin responded with clinical scores to push them into that the relative safety of a four points lead thanks to points from Hollyn Kennedy and Aoife Mahon.    Although Niamh Niland cut the gap to a goal with a pointed free in the 34 ^th minute, the clock ran out.   Dublin winners and deservedly so.

Dublin Scorers: Kim Hickey (2-1), Laura Quinn (1-3), Aoife Mahon (0-5), Hollyn Kennedy (0-2), Niamh Gannon (0-1), Gaby Couch (0-1)

Galway Scorers:   Niamh Niland (0-8), Aoife Ní Dhonnacha (1-0), Niamh Horan (1-0), Rachel Murray (0-2), Niamh McPeake (0-2), Tara Stephens (0-1)

Referee Aiden O’Brien