Mon, 16th September 2024
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Juvenile News
Juvenile News
Dublin Manager Fearghall Brennan has kept faith by naming the same starting fifteen that took to the field against Meath for the Leinster Final. Dublin has not won an All-Ireland final at this grade since 2007, Brennan and his management team have been working diligently on the training field with his squad since the win over Meath in order to prepare for Saturday's contest eager to book their place in the 2014 decider on July 20th against either Kerry or Cavan.
Having played Mayo in the All -Ireland U14 Blitz in Mullingar on May 17th last Dublin would be fully aware of the fire power the Mayo forwards possess and would view the Connacht champions as formidable opponents.
On that occasion Mayo saw off the challenge of Dublin on a score line of 5-06 to 2-05 with a sharp display from their powerfully built forward line. To their credit Dublin too have their own sharp shooters in the form of Christina Hamill, Caoimhe O'Connor and Emer Loughlin, this trio bagged 3-10 of Dublin's tally of 3-14 against Meath.
Dublin will be hoping for another strong performance from team Captain Sarah Fagan at centre forward while Rachel Brennan at midfield will be looking to give another player of the match performance.
Saturday's contest has all the hall marks of being a hard fought tight contest which is only to be expected when Dublin and Mayo collide! Hopefully both teams get to show case their exceptional talents before a sizeable crowd of spectators with the Dublin Army expected to be out in full force.
Dublin LGFA will have live updates from the All-Ireland semi-final available via their twitter account @dublinladiesg
Kate O'Hogan (Kilmacud Crokes), Sinead Donoughe (Kilmacud Crokes), Aislinn Somers (St Monica's), Aoife Dwyer (Ballyboden St Endas), Kelly Jean Courtney (Parnells), Eve Reidy (Foxrock Cabinteely), Erin Healy (O'Dwyers), Rachel Brennan (St Peregrines), Maria O'Dea (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Ciara Holland (Naomh Mearnóg), Sarah Fagan (Clontarf), Sarah McMahon (Kilmacud Crokes), Christina Hamill (Foxrock Cabinteely), Emer Loughlin (Cuala), Caoimhe O'Connor (Clontarf)
The U21 championship was introduced last season by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, a year ago Cork as anticipated due to their dominance at under age level won the inaugural final beating Galway by two points, Cork 0-13 Galway 0-11.
Last Sunday in Semple Stadium, Dublin emphatically saw off Cork in the semi-final by a whopping twenty three points, Dublin 7-13 Cork 1-08. The fact that Dublin won by such a comprehensive margin over a hotly fancied Cork side will no doubt propel the Sky Blues as pundits favourites to lift the cup this Sunday afternoon in Clane.
Co-manager of Meath Ladies, Lar Wall in a recent interview on LMFM Radio said his chargers were looking forward to the game, and they are full of confidence, having come out the wrong side of a number of senior and minor Leinster finals, we believe this is one that we can turnover on Dublin.
So, Meath will be quite happy to wear the underdog tag!
The Royals have enjoyed a good U21 campaign conjuring up comprehensive results of their own over Galway, Cavan and Roscommon en route to the final. Both sides will be very familiar with each other having met on numerous occasions at underage level within Leinster with Dublin defeating Meath in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Minor Leinster finals.
Meath senior panellists, Michelle Peel, Emma Troy, Máire O'Shaughnessy, Shauna Ennis, Bridgette Lynch and Vivienne McCormack have all been impressive for Meath at U21 level their experience of playing against Dublin in big games will be an invaluable asset for the Royals in Sunday's showdown.
Dublin will be hoping that Nicole Owens continues with her goal scoring form as the St. Sylvester's ace forward has bagged eight goals in Dublin's three games to date, with hat tricks scored against Tyrone and Cork respectively. Dublin boss, Gregory McGonigle believes that one of the factors for Dublin's impressive performances is down to a phenomenal work ethic by the entire group of players.
A number of the U21 panel are pushing hard for a starting position in the senior team for Dublin's opening Leinster fixture versus Kildare on Sunday week, June 22. Dublin have named an unchanged line out for Sundays U21 show down versus Meath. Dublin boss Gregory McGonigle has shown faith in the same starting fifteen that defeated Cork comprehensively in last week's semi-final.
Ciara Trant, Olwen Carey, Lucy Collins, Leah Caffrey, Emma McDonagh, Deirdre Murphy, Martha Byrne, Molly Lamb, Sarah McCaffrey, Margaret Mohan, Aoife Kavanagh, Niamh Rickard, Nicole Owens, Siobhan Woods (captain), Carla Rowe.
