Dublin under 16A Dublin 4-11 Waterford 1-12

Dublin under 16B Dublin 2-03 Derry 2-05

Under 16A Secure  All-Ireland semi-final place

Dublin secured their place in this year’s All Ireland semi -final with an impressive win over a tenacious Waterford team in Walsh Park today.

This thrilling game started with Waterford taking the lead with a point after just one minute, Dublin quickly worked the ball down the field and Laura Quinn took a fine point. Waterford then hit 3 points without reply and looked menacing, before a point from Ciara Holland settled the Dublin nerves, Waterford quickly clocked up another point from play.

With the Dublin backs now gaining the upper hand the Dublin forwards went on a scoring spree with 2 fine points from Ciara Holland; a well taken sideline cut from Aoife Mahon found Chloe Mullen who turned her player and struck a powerful  shot into the back of the Waterford net. Then a good clearance from Rachel Brennan to Sinead Wylde picked out Laura Quinn, who went on a run to pop over another point, but Waterford quickly responded with a point of their own. Ciara Holland's free-taking, accurate as ever delivered another point, then a long range free from the Dublin half-back line by Becca Lewis was fielded by Niamh Gannon who sidestepped her opponents to fire over a fine point. A good save from Megan Thomas resulted in a pointed 45 for Waterford; on the stroke of half-time they added a goal to leave the teams level on 1-7 apiece.

Waterford were first out of the blocks in the second half, quickly taking a point in the first minute, as in the first half Dublin responded with 3 well taken points from Ciara Holland, Laura Quinn and Ciara Murphy.  Waterford bounced back with a point from a placed ball, before Ciara Holland bagged another goal from play. In this tit for tat game Waterford hit back with 2 points to reduce the deficit to only 2 points, after some brave defensive play by Dublin, Sinead Wylde, now operating at full forward battled hard to win a ball which she fired over the bar, then Niamh Hetherton made a wonderful catch and gave a pinpoint pass to Laura Quinn who rattled the Waterford net. Waterford piled on the pressure but Megan and the defence held them to just one more point from play before Ciara Holland struck a killer blow raising the green flag again for Dublin. After one minute of injury time the referee blew the whistle, bringing this very exciting game to a close, final scoreline 4-11 to 1-12, much to the delight and excitement of the exhausted girls and the many Dublin supporters.

Team: Megan Thomas, Sarah Meagher, Rebecca Lewis, Jennifer O'Sullivan, Rachel Regan, Rachel Brennan, Aoife Mahon, Niamh Gannon (0-1), Sinead Wylde (0-1), Laura Quinn (1-3), Niamh Hetherton, Orla Gray, Ciara Murphy (0-1), Chloe Mullen (1-0), Ciara Holland (2-5), Derbhla Nolan (for Chloe Mullen), Jody Couch, Sarah Langan (for Orla Gray), Sophie Malone (for Ciara Murphy), Anne McSweeney, Hollyn Kennedy, Jessica McClelland (Capt), Alix Buckley.