Jackies U21s power past Royal County

Aisling McGing U21 Championship

DUBLIN 7-10 MEATH 0-5

Reigning champions Dublin got their defence of the All-Ireland crown off to a flying start on Sunday afternoon with a resounding 26-point victory over Leinster rivals Meath.

With thirteen of last years All-Ireland winning panel still eligible for the U21 grade this season Dublin would have been many pundits favourites coming into this clash in Dunboyne.

Dublin’s experience, fitness and work-rate was far superior to that of their provincial neighbours, this was soon reflected on the scoreboard as within eight minutes of the game commencing Dublin had hit Meath for three goals one of which was a penalty converted by Dublin captain Carla Rowe.

The Blues first three pointer came from the boot of the Fingallians flyer Niamh Rickard while the second was an own goal scored by the hapless Meath fullback Michelle Peel.

Meath’s opening score of the game was registered in the twentieth minute from a converted Kelly Harris free. Just before the interval Dubs midfielder Sarah McCaffrey hit Meath again with a well taken goal to bring the half time score to Dublin 4-03 Meath 0-02. Meath second point was taken by Maeve Downey while the fore mentioned Rowe (2) and Rickard (1) had pointed for the blues.

Having dominated the opening thirty minutes Dublin began the second half as they had finished the first with well taken points from Rickard (1) and McCaffrey (2). The Dublin forwards backed up by the superb midfield partnership of Molly Lamb and McCaffrey where putting the Meath defence under severe continuous pressure.

As a result of the Dublin bombardment the Royal back line buckled coughing up a second penalty when the industrious Eabha Rutledge was pulled back in the small square by Meath keeper Sarah Powderly in the 42^nd minute.

Up stepped skipper Carla Rowe to despatch the penalty kick with aplomb to the back of the Meath net the difference between the sides was now nineteen points.

To their credit Meath kept plugging away with Kate Byrne and Shauna Ennis tagging on a couple of well taken points for the Royals. But a Dublin win was never in doubt and the victory was signed, sealed and delivered for the Dubs when they added on two further goals courtesy of full forward Siobhan Woods and second half sub, Ciara McGuigan in the 44^th and 59^th minutes.

The full time score read Dublin 7-10 (31) Meath 0-05 (5).

Next Sunday Dublin travel west for a second round encounter with Galway who took a thrashing off Cork today in the other A Championship fixture, as the rebel County ran out comfortable winners by 7-13 to 0-01.

Dublin XV versus Meath: 1 Ciara Trant (St Brigid’s), 2 Aoife Curran (O’Dwyers), 3 Muireann Ní Scanaill (St Margaret’s), 4 Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), 5 Martha Byrne (Cuala), 6 Deirdre Murphy (St Brigid’s), 7 Katie Murray (Clontarf), 10 Molly Lamb (Kilmacud Crokes), 9 Sarah McCaffrey (Clontarf), 23 Leah Mullins (St Brigid’s), 11 Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire), 12 Niamh Ryan (Foxrock Cabinteely), 13 Niamh Rickard (Fingallians), 14 Siobhan Woods (Raheny), 15 Eabha Rutledge (Kilmacud Crokes)

Dublin Subs: Kate Fitzgibbon (O’Tooles) for Caffrey, Oonagh White (Clann Mhuire) for Mullins, Ciara McGuigan (Thomas Davis) for Murray, Danielle Pugh (Na Fianna) for Byrne, Ciara Purdy (Na Fianna) for Rickard.

Dublin Scorers: Carla Rowe 2-02, Niamh Rickard 1-04, Sarah McCaffrey 1-02, Ciara McGuigan 1-02, Siobhan Woods 1-00, Meath fullback own goal.

Dublin Panel: Eve Keogh (Skerries Harps), Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), Fiona Tuite (Na Fianna), Niamh McGoldrick (Thomas Davis), Mags Mohan (Clontarf)

Dublin Management: Gregory McGonigle, Davy Burke, Bobby McNulty, Kathleen Colreavy (FLO), Declan Cassidy (Analysis), Shane Lawless (Physio)

Meath XV versus Dublin: Sarah Powderly, Aisling Sheridan, Michelle Peel, Ellen Hennelly, Siofra Cleary, Niamh Lister, Laura Bagnali, Katie Byrne, Emma Troy, Laura Griffin, Shauna Ennis (Capt), Meabh Downey, Kelly Harris, Cliona Murray, Aoibheann Leahy

Meath Subs: Niamh Sheridan for Ellen Hennelly, Kate Flynn for Aisling Sheridan, Jacinta Maher for Cliona Murray, Niamh Crowe for Laura Griffin, Naoise de Graaff for Aoibheann Leahy

Meath Scorers: Kate Byrne 0-02, Shauna Ennis 0-01, Maeve Downey 0-01, Kelly Harris 0-01

Meath Management: Eamon Murray, Fergal Lynch, Bertie McLoughlin, Eimear Murray

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow)