Senior camogie team hold off Waterford

DUBLIN 0-15 WATERFORD 1-10        

It wasn’t only the heat that had the Dublin senior camogie management and fans sweating at Walsh Park on Saturday. 

At the three-quarters mark, Dublin were comfortably in front by 0-13 to 0-7 but in the closing 20 minutes of play Waterford outscored the Dubs by 1-3 to 0-1. At point in the game when Dublin should have put Waterford to the sword, the home side showed tremendous resilience and ability particularly their leaders Aine Lyng, Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett. The long whistle was welcomed with great relief in the 65 ^th minute.

On a perfect day for camogie, Dublin dominated the opening 15 minutes with Emma Flanagan pointing after 4 minutes after getting on the end of a 70m free from Faye McCarthy. A minute later Emma was the beneficiary of a great block on the Waterford goalie Brianna O’Regan to add a second point. This was followed by an Aisling Maher free. All over the field Dublin were first to the ball and Waterford looked vulnerable.

Dublin were using Faye McCarthy to add the metres to frees in her own half but Waterford got off the mark when Beth Carton converted a free in the 8 ^th minute.

Miriam Twomey was superb covering acres at midfield and at centre back Aisling Carolan was a rock. Beside Aisling, Hannah Hegarty was also strong and decisive. But although Dublin had possession the scores were slow in coming and the attack was unable to create the space for a pop at the net. That said great work by Siobhan Kehoe created a turnover and Aisling Maher pointed and two more from Faye McCarthy and Zoe O’Donoghue pushed Dublin 0-6 to 0-1.

Dublin’s momentum was probably disrupted by a 4 minutes stoppage for an injury to Waterford’s Caithriona McGlone. When play resumed Dublin took their eyes of the ball momentarily and Niamh Rockett capitalised on the lack of concentration to point from play. Although Faye McCarthy came off her line to send over a 60m free Waterford claimed the next two scores through the stick of Beth Carton.

Ali Twomey was now operating at centre forward and caught a couple of great balls. But the next phase was never clinical enough to create a goal chance, occasional indecision and a number of aimless shots failed to do damage to Waterford's morale.

Eimear McCarthy won the ball from a throw-in, from the pass Miriam Twomey scored a great point. The score sparked a good closing spell to the half with Emma Flanagan bringing her tally to three with a good point.

Dublin held a 0-10 to 0-4 lead at the interval and within a minute of the restart Faye McCarthy put her name on another pointed free but a fine point by Becky Kavanagh cut the lead to 0-5. Dublin’s response was excellent and Ali Twomey and Aisling Maher (f) extended their lead to 0-13 to 0-5. But for the remaining 20 minutes Dublin would only add two more points.

Beth Carton and a superb score from Aine Lyng raised Waterford hopes and one could see their confidence growing. But they never looked like scoring a goal and that was due to a very tight Dublin defence where Arleen Cushen, Eve O’Brien and sweeper Gráinne Quinn. Emma Flanagan had her best game of the season and set up Aisling Maher for her fifth point. As the game approached the 60 ^th minute Faye McCarthy put a mighty point over from a free on the midway mark to make it a six points lead.

One would have thought that would be enough but with 4 minutes added Waterford pointed a free from Beth Carton and then Aine Lyng sent a 30m all the way to the net maybe with the help of a ricochet.

How a game of camogie can change but Dublin had secured a deserved win and a vital three points on the table going into the final game next Saturday against Kilkenny

Dublin Scorers: Aisling Maher (0-5), Faye McCarthy (0-4), Emma Flanagan (0-3), Ali Twomey (0-2), Zoe O’Donoghue (0-1)

Waterford Scorers: Beth Carton (0-5), Aine Lyng (1-1), Niamh Rockett (0-2), Becky Kavanagh (0-1)

Referee: Liz Dempsey

Pic: ilivephotos