Fox-Cabs fall short at final hurdle

Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) 2-9 Foxrock-Cabinteely (Dublin) 0-8

Caitriona McConnell led the charge as Donaghmoyne won back-to-back All-Ireland ladies senior club football titles for the very first time at Parnell Park on Sunday.

Appearing in their seventh final, Donaghmoyne claimed a fifth crown but this was the first time in the club’s history that they’d managed to successfully retain the national silverware.

A dominant first half display provided the platform for victory against Dublin’s Foxrock-Cabinteely and McConnell, who took a year out from inter-county fare with Monaghan in 2016, finished with a personal haul of 1-5.

In a repeat of last year's semi-final, Foxrock-Cab did show some real spirit in the second half to outscore Donaghmoyne (0-6 to 1-2) but they had far too much work to do and a comeback was never on the cards.

Donaghmoyne did go 15 minutes without a score in the second period but the hard work was done and Niamh Callan’s 48^th minute point was crucial to steady the ship again for the winners, who prevailed by seven points.

There was a late scare for Donaghmoyne when Anne-Marie Murphy crashed a shot off the post with Linda Martin beaten but that miss was symptomatic of Foxrock-Cab’s luck on the day.

Donaghmoyne lost Cora Courtney to a yellow card with nine minutes remaining but with four minutes left, Foxrock-Cab had Niamh Collins booked as the physicality levels went up a couple of notches.

Foxrock-Cab had seen off five-time winners Carnacon in a pulsating semi-final but Donaghmoyne were obviously forewarned.

And right from the start they went about their business with intent, Cora Courtney’s second minute point handing them an early advantage.

Approaching half-time Donaghmoyne were ten points clear, leading by 1-7 to 0-0, and this final looked done and dusted.

McConnell was on song and she buried a 13^th minute goal to put real daylight between the sides, Donaghmoyne ahead to 1-4 to 0-0.

It was a first half where nothing went right for Foxrock-Cab.

Amy Connolly pulled an early goal chance wide before Amy Ring forced a fine save from Martin, player of the match in last year’s final, with Connolly off-target on the follow-up.

Ten minutes before half-time, Ring missed a close-in free that she’d normally convert as Foxrock-Cab became increasingly desperate in their quest for a score.

They thought they had it when Niamh Ryan’s shot was waved over by an umpire but that effort was subsequently ruled out.

Foxrock-Cab did break their duck when Anne-Marie Murphy pointed with two and a half minutes left in the first half but Ring limped off with a hamstring problem before Connolly added a second point for the Dublin team.

Facing an uphill task after the break, Foxrock-Cab needed a decent start but disaster struck when McConnell’s delivery was spilled by goalkeeper Laurie Ahern and Louise Kerley pounced for Donaghmoyne’s second goal.

To their credit, Foxrock-Cab did reel off the next four scores of the game – all of them from Amy Connolly – but Callan’s point was a tonic for Donaghmoyne.

They may only have scored much in the second half but Donaghmoyne, once again, are worthy All-Ireland senior champions, drawing level with Mayo’s Carnacon on the all-time roll of honour.

Scorers for Donaghmoyne: C McConnell 1-5 (0-2f), L Kerley 1-1, A Casey, C Courtney & N Callan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Foxrock-Cabinteely: A Connolly 0-5 (3f), A.M. Murphy 0-2, C Murphy 0-1.

DONAGHMOYNE: L Martin; J Geoghegan, F Courtney, Á McElroy; H Kingham, S Courtney, J Courtney; A Casey, C Courtney; C McConnell, E McElroy, R Courtney; L Kerley, N Callan, A Keenan.

Subs: L Garland for Kingham (39), S McConnell for Á McElroy (47), R Finnegan for Keenan (55), G Comiskey for Kerley (59).

FOXROCK-CABINTEELY: L Ahern; E McDonagh, N Collins, S Delahunty; S Goldrick, C Ní Mhurchadh, L Fusciardi; S Brophy, L Nerney; C O’Riordan, A.M. Murphy, N Ryan; A Ring, F Claffey, A Connolly.

Subs: H O’Neill for Ring (28), C Crotty for Delahunty (36), C Murphy for O’Riordan (46), T O’Sullivan for McDonagh (47), E O’Herlihy for Nerney (56).

Referee: G Carmody (Mayo).