Jackies name championship panel ahead of Donegal duel

Wed, 28th October 2020

Dublin's management have named a 37-strong championship squad ahead of this Saturday’s opening round of the TG4 Ladies SFC opener against Donegal. In total, 16 Dublin clubs are represented on the 2020 panel.

County runners-up Kilmacud Crokes have the highest representation with five, closely followed by Clontarf, Foxrock Cabinteely and St Sylvester’s with four. Up next are St Brigid’s, Cuala and Na Fianna with three, while Thomas Davis and Ballinteer St John's have two representatives each.

The balance of the panel comprises of players from Lucan Sarsfields, Scoil Uí Chonaill, Naomh Barróg, Skerries Harps, Fingallians and Clann Gael Fontenoy.

Dublin captain Sinéad Aherne is the longest serving member of the squad having made her Dublin debut against Longford in 2003. To date, Aherne has won four senior All-Irelands, 13 Leinster senior championships, three NFL titles and seven All-Star awards. She has also captained Dublin to three All-Ireland victories in-a-row.

Other long serving Dublin stalwarts included in the 2020 panel are, Siobhán McGrath, Lyndsey Davey, Noelle Healy, Sinéad Goldrick and Niamh McEvoy. While making a welcome return to intercounty championship football are Deirdre Murphy, Leah Caffrey, Sarah McCaffrey, Laura McGinley, and Rebecca McDonnell, all previous All-Ireland winners under Mick Bohan.

A number of players from the 2019 winning squad not featuring in the sky blue this season are; Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), Rachel Fleming (Kilmacud Crokes), Rachael Ruddy (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Siobhán Woods (Raheny), Oonagh Whyte (Clann Mhuire), Sarah Fagan (Clontarf), Kate Fitzgibbon (Clontarf) and Emma McDonagh (Foxrock Cabinteely).

Newcomers to the panel include 2019 minor panellists Cassie Sultan (Kilmacud Crokes), Jodie Egan (Foxrock Cabinteely) and Karen O’Connell (Na Fianna). While 2018 minor footballers Hannah Leahy (Scoil Uí Chonaill) and Rachael Hartnett (Cuala) are welcome editions to the panel with both girls having overcome serious knee injuries to return to playing football.

Other additions to the 2020 squad include Niamh Sweeney (Ballinteer St John’s) and Laura Kane (Kilmacud Crokes) both of whom got a run out during the now postponed NFL campaign. Current minor goalkeeper Abbie Shiels (Lucan Sarsfields) rejoins the panel having been understudy to Ciara Trant for the 2019 championship campaign.

Dublin begin the defence of their All-Ireland title this coming Saturday when they travel to Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan for their championship encounter with Donegal. The game is live on TG4 with coverage getting underway at 5pm. Score updates will also be available on Dublin LGFA social media platforms.

Dublin Championship Panel 2020: Niamh Sweeny, Orlagh Nolan (Ballinteer St John’s), Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire), Rebecca McDonnell (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Caoimhe O’Connor, Niamh Hetherton, Sarah McCaffrey, Siobhán Killeen (Clontarf), Jennifer Dunne, Martha Byrne, Rachael Hartnett (Cuala), Muireann Ní Scanaill (Fingallians), Hannah O’Neill, Jodie Egan, Niamh Collins, Sinéad Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely), Aoife Kane, Cassie Sultan, Éabha Rutledge, Laura Kane, Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Abbie Shiels (Lucan Sarsfields), Karen O’Connell, Leah Caffrey, Lucy Collins (Na Fianna), Laura McGinley (Naomh Barróg), Hannah Leahy (Scoil Uí Chonaill), Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps), Ciara Trant, Deirdre Murphy, Noelle Healy (St Brigid’s), Kate Sullivan, Niamh McEvoy, Nicole Owens, Sinéad Aherne (St Sylvester’s), Ciara McGuigan, Siobhán McGrath (Thomas Davis).