Senior ladies make a second half comeback to secure their win over Mayo in the LIDL NFL

Sun, 4th February 2024

Dublin 2-15

Mayo 2-8

By MIKE FINNERTY

A remarkable second half comeback propelled All-Ireland champions Dublin to their first victory of this Lidl National League campaign at a windswept James Stephens Park in Ballina.

Mick Bohan’s team had trailed at half-time by nine points after playing against the gale in the opening half, but Dublin took complete control after the restart and turned the game on its head.

The visitors outscored Liam McHale’s homeside by 2-11 to 0-1 during a one-sided second period with goals from Caoimhe O’Connor and Kate Sullivan among the many Dublin highlights.
Mayo had seemed to be in a commanding position at half-time, leading by 2-7 to 0-4.

The star of the show in that period was Lisa Cafferky, who helped herself to 2-6 and terrorised the Dublin defence.

It took the Kilmovee star just three minutes to open her account, and seconds later she had the ball in the Dublin net after Rachael Fleming’s short kick-out was intercepted.

Sinead Walsh topped up Mayo’s lead before Lisa Cafferky tucked away a penalty in the ninth minute after she had been brought down in the square.
Dublin finally opened their account in the 12th minute through a Kate Sullivan free, but that score was quickly cancelled out by a brace of brilliant efforts from the relentless Cafferky.

Scores from Orlagh Nolan, Annabelle Timothy and Kate Sullivan kept Dublin in the hunt, but Mayo also kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end through the prolific Lisa Cafferky, who tapped over a free and clipped a superb point from play.

Mayo were to the dressing-rooms with a spring in their step but everything changed very quickly after the restart.

Dublin hit the ground running with early points from Annabelle Timothy, Kate Sullivan, Ellen Gribben and Orlagh Nolan, but the tide really turned once Caoimhe O’Connor goaled in the 42nd minute.
Dublin went ahead for the first time in the 47th minute through Timothy and Mayo’s sole score of the second half didn’t arrive until the 59th minute — a free from Lisa Cafferky.
The winners shot 1-3 in additional time to seal the win.

Scorers - Dublin: K Sullivan 1-5 (3f), C O’Connor 1-0, O Nolan 0-3, A Timothy 0-3, C Darby 0-2, N Hetherton 0-1, E Gribben 0-1

.Mayo: L Cafferky 2-7 (1-0 pen, 3f), S Walsh 0-1.

DUBLIN: R Fleming; N Crowley, L Caffrey, N Donlon; L Magee, M Byrne, K Murray; N Hetherton, O Carey; C O’Connor, O Nolan, K Sullivan; A Timothy, C Kirwan, E Gribben. Subs: C Darby for Kirwan (HT); H Hegarty for Murray (47); A Nyhan for Timothy (60); A Lambe for Sullivan (65).MAYO:L Brennan; T Needham, N O’Malley, S Lally; K Sullivan, D Caldwell, J Mortimer; A Geraghty, H Reape; F McLaughlin, L Cafferky, A Fitzpatrick; E Needham, F McHale, S Walsh.Subs: M Cannon for T Needham (HT); E Reape for Fitzpatrick (38); N Mooney for E Needham (43); C Durkan for Sullivan (47); C Doherty for Caldwell (54);

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).