Patricia Monahan reports of Kerryâs loss to Dublin in round
2 of the National League via www.womenssportjournal.com
Dublin Ladies got their 2014 TESCO Home Grown NFL campaign
off to a winning start today with an impressive eleven point win over Kerry.
The game which was played at a fast pace by both sides was an entertaining
encounter despite the plummeting temperatures and swirling wind that was
churning around the impressive Coolock venue.
Dublin played with the aid of the strong wind for the first
half with the Dubâs using the ball intelligently and speedily when moving it
out of their defensive line. Dublin defenders Sinead Goldrick, Siobhan McGrath
and Rachel Ruddy where in outstanding form for the metropolitans giving the
Kerry attackers no time on the ball thus causing the ball to be turned over on
numerous occasions.
Up front the Dublin forward was also moving well, Dublin had
notched up three points on the score board courtesy of McEvoy, Davey, and
Aherne before Noelle Healy popped up to claim her sides first goal.
Within minutes Healy was to be on the score sheet again the
St Brigids forward had her initial shot stopped well on the line by Kerry
keeper Amanda Brosnan however the blocked ball rebounded at the feet of Healy
who duly despatched the ball into the Kerry net.
Former Dublin minor, Carla Rowe added further to Kerryâs
woes when she too raised the green flag for Dublin to give the home side a 3-03
to nil lead with 19 minutes gone on the clock.
Dublinâs confidence was mounting as the game progressed with
further points coming from Furlong, Healy, Woods and Aherne. At the interval
Dublin lead by 3-07 to 0-02, Kerryâs two points where scored by centre forward
Sarah Houlihan (free) and by veteran corner forward Patrice Dennehy.
On the restart Kerry battled hard and challenged Dublin in
the physical stakes with some crunching challenges but despite the efforts of
Dennehy, Louise Galvin and Sarah Jane Joy the damage had been done in the first
30 minutes with Kerry chasing a lost cause.
Houlihan, Joy and Dennehy tagged on five points second half
for the visitors while Rowe and Aherne popped over a point a piece for the
Dubâs.
The final score saw Dublin run out comfortable winners by
3-09 to 0-7 and a first win for new boss Gregory McGonigle, up next for the sky
blues is a away game to Cora Stauntonâs Mayo.
Dublin boss McGonigle, will be happy with his chargers
performances having amassed all their scores from play although he will be
hoping that both Siobhan McGrath and Lyndsey Davey will be available for
selection against Mayo as both players picked up knocks today against Kerry.
Dublin: Hannah Tyrell, Siobhan McGrath, Rachel Ruddy, Leah
Caffrey, Sinead Goldrick, Sorcha Furlong, Colleen Barrett, Sarah McCaffrey,
Sinead Finnegan, Noelle Healy, Niamh McEvoy, Carla Rowe, Lyndsey Davey, Sinead
Aherne, Siobhan Woods.
Subs: Martha Byrne for McGrath (HT), Natalia Hyland for
Davey, Olivia Leonard for Healy, Murphy for Barrett.
Scorers: Noelle Healy 2-01, Carla Rowe 1-1, Sinead Aherne
0-3, Sorcha Furlong, Niamh McEvoy, Lyndsey Davey and Siobhan Woods 0-01 each.
Kerry: Amanda Brosnan, Cait Lynch, Aislinn Desmond, Gina
Crowley, Julie Brosnan, Denise Hallissey, Maria Quirke, Lorraine Scanlon, Sarah
Jane Joy, Emma Sherwood, Sarah Houlihan, Deirdre Corridan, Patrice Dennehy,
Louise Galvin, Louise Ni Mhuirtceartaigh.
Subs: Claire OâSullivan for Ni Mhuirtceartaigh, Debra Murphy
for Houlihan
Scorers: Patrice Dennehy 0-03, Sarah Houlihan 0-2 (1F),
Sarah Jane Joy 0-2
Referee: James Flood (Wexford)
