Jackies outclass Monaghan

Dublin 5-18 Monaghan 0-6

Dublin bounced back from last weekend’s two point defeat to table toppers Mayo with a comprehensive third round victory over Monaghan.

When the two teams meet last August in the TG4 All Ireland quarter final a single goal was all that separated the sides. Today’s winning margin turned out to be far greater as Dublin ran out comfortable winners by 27 points.

The Farney women were without the services of nine players who featured in the quarter final defeat to Dublin in Clones last summer. Of the nine, four key players missing from the side include former All Stars Caoimhe Mohan, Caitriona McConnell and Amanda Casey along with current All Star goal keeper Linda Martin. All are currently unavailable to Monaghan manager Paula Cunningham either through retirement or due to work / family commitments.

It is obvious that Monaghan are a team currently in transition with Paula Cunningham taking over the management reigns from Peter Clarke only a few weeks prior to the commencement of the 2016 NFL

Despite Monaghan’s best attempts Dublin were dominant in most sections of the field so much so that bythe 17th minute of the game the visitors had raced into a 4-06 to nil lead. Nicole Owens (3rd min), Carla Rowe (6th min), Amy Ring (10th min) and Niamh McEvoy (17th) were Dublin’s goal scorers.

Full-forward Therese Scott eventually got the home side on the score board in the 18th minute with a well taken point. This would be Monaghan’s only first half score from play as Ellen McCarron (2f) and Cora Courtney (1f) added to their sides tally from placed balls.

Carla Rowe stunned Monaghan with her second goal in the 21st minute following a well-placed pass from full forward Niamh McEvoy. At the interval the score read Dublin 5-7 Monaghan 0-4.

Dublin totally dominated the second period of the game tagging on four points in quick succession before Ellen McKenna popped over a long range point for the home side in the 37th minute.

With Dublin in a commanding position, Gregory McGonigle took the opportunity to empty his bench giving his panel some valuable game time ahead of the visit of Cork to Dublin in two weeks time.

Cora Courtney, Sharon Courtney, Therese Scott, Grainne McNally along with the McAnespie twins all worked very hard for Monaghan today but the lack of strength in depth could cause Monaghan to struggle further in this competition with four more rounds of the NFL to go.

All six starting Dublin forwards scored today while Olwen Carey, Fiona Hudson and Sinead Finnegan gave solid performances in the back line. Sinead Goldrick returned to the starting team today after missing the opening two games due to injury. The Foxrock Cabinteely star came through todays contest unscathed with 50 minutes playing time under her belt. 

Dublin have a break next weekend but their attention will now turn to the visit of Cork to Parnell Park on Sunday February 28th, 2pm.

Dublin: 1 Ciara Trant (St Brigid’s), 2 Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), 3 Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), 4 Fiona Hudson (Fingallians), 5 Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely), 6 Sinead Finnegan (Fingallians), 7 Niamh Collins (Foxrock Cabinteely), 8 Amy Connolly (Foxrock Cabinteely), 9 Noelle Healy (St Brigid’s), 10 Nicole Owens (St Sylvester’s), 11 Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps), 12 Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire), 13 Sinead Aherne (St Sylvester’s), 14 Niamh McEvoy (St Sylvester’s), 15 Amy Ring (Foxrock Cabinteely).

Dublin scorers: Carla Rowe 2-05 (3f), Sinead Aherne 0-07 (2f), Nicole Owens 1-02, Amy Ring 1-01, Niamh McEvoy 1-00, Sinead Goldrick, Noelle Healy, Lyndsey Davey 0-01Dublin subs: Olivia Leonard for McEvoy, Siobhan Woods for Owens, Martha Byrne for Collins, Deirdre Murphy for Caffrey, Ciara Ruddy for Hudson, Emma Colgan for Ring, Lauren Magee for Connolly, Niamh Rickard for Davey, Rebecca McDonnell for Goldrick, Amy Conroy for Aherne, Niamh Ryan for Rowe.

Management: Gregory McGonigle, Bobby McNulty, Kathleen Colreavy, Ray Boyne, Paul Kennedy, Ronan McGann.

Monaghan: 1 Catriona McKenna, 2 Aoife McAnespie, 21 Clodagh Hamilton, 17 Lianne Ward, 5 Josie Fitzpatrick, 6 Hazel Kingham, 7 Grainne McNally, 8 Cora Courtney, 9 Sharon Courtney, 10 Eimear McAnespie, 11 Ellen McCarron, 29 Ellen McKenna, 13 Ciara McAnespie, 14 Therese Scott, 15 Rachel McKenna.

Monaghan scorers: Ellen McCarron 0-03 (3f), Therese Scott, Cora Courtney 0-01 (1f), Eileen McKenna 0-01.

Monaghan subs: Naoimi Cogan for Ward, Danica Tavey for Hamilton, Aoife Duffy for McKenna

Management: Paula Cunningham, Anthony Murphy, Dwayne McCarey, Adrian Little, Seamus Murray.

Referee: Kieran McKeever (Armagh)