Dublin 2-14  Cork 1-10

Level at half-time having played into the breeze, Dublin had the look of winners but they didn’t manage to put daylight between themselves and Cork until a golden spell from the 50 ^th to the 52 ^nd minutes when they hit 1-3 without reply.  

Working off the same template as the U16As, the side plays with great confidence and understanding.   The support play is excellent and everyone seems to know whats expected of them.  

Opting to play into the breeze in the first half, Dublin managed the opening point from Hannah Clarke.   The No 12 put in a great first half with a three points tally from play.     Cork took an early lead when Kaitelyn Holland, Tara McCarthy and Eva-Rose Boylan all pointed.

But just when it looked like they might build a nice lead, Hannah Clarke pulled a great ball out of the clouds to notch an important score.   But the impressive showing wasn’t only in attack.   A super hook by Lauren Robinson on Elena Kelleher denied Cork a certain score in the 17 ^th minute. This was made all the more important when from the next play Hannah Clarke got hers and Dublin’s third point to trail by just one point 0-4 to 0-3 at this stage.    Siobhan O’Donovan was on track for Cork to put them two up in the 19 ^th minute but wihin seconds   a super hand passed point by Meghan Rock brought the game back to one point match.

Dublin’s backs were also looking very solid in front of a very safe pair of hands in Maeve Bogan.   Megan Carroll, Helen Barr and Lauren Robinson provided excellent cover and Dublin’s half-back line of Sarah Fenlon, Claire Clinton and Abby Farrell didn’t put a foot wrong.  

Cork through Mairead Crowley and Elena Kelleheer brought their side’s tally to 0-7 but Dublin were equal to the task and the excellent Cliodhna Nicoletti pointed twice in as many minutes, her second the result of a surging run into the Cork half.   The leveller came from the same player in the 27 ^th minute from a 45 after Megan Carroll played a very clever stick pass under great pressure at her own end of field.

Level on 0-7 apiece at the break, Dublin looked like they had put themselves in a winning position not because of the breeze but more for the quality of their play which might receive some bonus from the extra metres that the breeze would deliver.

Two minutes into the half, Cliodhna Nicoletti got the show on the road with her fourth point.   The hallmark pressure of the Dublin teams forced a turnover in the Cork and Meighan Rock had the umpire reaching for the white flag for the second time in this half.

More pressure followed by Kate Corcoran in the Cork goals was equal to the challenge.   Dominant at midfield thanks to the industry of Aine Reilly and Niamh Heffernan but despite the possession, Dublin were not converting this into scores. Cork full-back Jennifer Murphy time and again was out first to deal with high and low balls to great effect.   Jade Hooper and Lucy Wallace also had their moments and their cause was helped whem Eva-Rose Boylan brought Cork to within a point of Dublin.

The home side was in danger of easing their grip on the game – urgent action was needed and it came in the form of a net Ciara Golden point in the 43 ^rd minute.   Although Dublin would miss a scoreable free four minutes later all would turn right in a great two minutes spell.

Firstly Cliodhna Nicoletti put Dublin three clear from a free.   A super point by Megan Benson and that important psychological four points lead was reached.   A goalkeeping error let in Chloe O’Connor for a goal and then Meighan Rock showed great pace and finishing for another point and Dublin were suddenly breathing easier 1-13 to 0-8.  

Cork have plenty of quality in their side too and Kaitelyn Holland and Mairead Crowley did their best to stem the tide with two excellent points.   But the killer goal came in the 54 ^th minute when a long ball from Cliodhna Nicoletti drifted over the full-back and poacher Chloe O’Connor was superbly placed to catch and hammer home her second goal.   The introduction of Nicola Carr also added to Dublin’s efforts and although Cork managed to goal a penalty through Eva-Rose Boylan, Dublin had the last word when Ciara Golden always so comfortable on the ball applied the finishing touch to a well merited win.

Dublin Scorers:  Chloe O’Connor (2-0), Cliodhna Nicoletti (0-5), Hannah Clarke (0-3), Meighan Rock (0-3), Ciara Golden (0-2), Megan Benson (0-1)

Cork Scorers:  Eva-Rose Boylan (1-2), Kaitelyn Holland (0-2), Mairéad Crowley (0-2), Tara McCarthy (0-1), Eimear Hurley (0-1), Siobhan O’Donovan (0-1), Elena Kelleher (0-1)

Referee:  Liz Dempsey