U21 Jackies into All-Ireland decider

Aisling McGing U21 Championship

DUBLIN 3-17 CORK 0-10

For a second year in-a-row Dublin will contest the Aisling McGing U21 All-Ireland final. Reigning champions Dublin sealed their place in this year’s final following a convincing 16-point victory over Cork on Sunday.

Gregory McGonigle's side got off to the perfect start when Eabha Rutledge with less than a minute gone on the game clock finished off a fine Dublin movement to the back of the Cork net. Three minutes later Dublin would breach the Cork defence again on target this time for the blues was full forward Siobhan Woods.

Cork who lined out without the services of their senior star Doireann O’Sullivan can thank corner forward Laura Fitzgerald for keeping Cork in touch with the home side especially in the opening quarter of the contest. The Mourneabbey free taker was in exceptional form from both the placed ball and from play giving Dublin’s Aoife Curran a lot to think about throughout the first half of the game.

Despite the best efforts of Fitzgerald, Joe Carroll’s side received another blow just before half time when Dublin’s Niamh Ryan scored her sides 3rd goal. Dublin’s movement, work rate and fitness appeared to be on a different level to that of the Rebels with Cork struggling to contain the sweeping counter attacking movement of the Dubs.

As the half time whistle blew Dublin had opened up an 8 point lead over the visitors, HT Dublin 3-06 Cork 0-07.

Dublin’s first half points came from Ryan (02), Rowe (2f), Rutledge (01), Woods (1) while Cork 1^st half scores hailed from the aforementioned Fitzgerald (04 (2f), Scally (01), O’Callaghan (01) and O’Sullivan (01)

Dublin on the resumption picked up where they had left off with the industrious Carla Rowe tapping over her sides 7^th and 8^th points to push her sides lead out to ten points within 2 minutes of the restart.

Cork to their credit responded with scores from O’Callaghan and a Fitzgerald free but the Lee-siders had left themselves with way too much work to do. Try as they might the writing was on the wall for the Rebels from early on in the second half. In the end Dublin ran out comfortable 16 point winners and can now look forward to an All- Ireland final meeting either with Cork or Meath in two weeks’ time.

There was a number of positives for Dublin today no more than to witness the performance of 2012 Minor All Ireland winner Oonagh White who popped over four wonderful points from play. The Naul forward who suffered a dreaded ACL injury a few seasons back was quite superb when introduced at corner forward early in the second half.

Elsewhere Muireann Ni Scannaill, Martha Byrne and Leah Caffrey where strong and resilient in the Dublin back line while Molly Lamb and Sarah McCaffrey dominated midfield for the blues. Up front Rowe, Woods and Ryan all had an enjoyable outing in the sky blue jersey.

Dublin XV: 16. Emer Ni Eafa (Fingallians), 2. Aoife Curran (O’Dwyers), 3. Muireann Ni Scanaill (St Margaret’s), 4. Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), 5. Martha Byrne (Cuala), 6. Deirdre Murphy (St Brigid’s), 19. Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), 8. Molly Lamb (Kilmacud Crokes), 9. Sarah McCaffrey (Clontarf), 10. Niamh Ryan (Foxrock Cabinteely), 11. Leah Mullins (St Brigid’s), 12. Niamh Rickard (Fingallians), 13. Eabha Rutledge (Kilmacud Crokes), 14. Siobhan Woods (Raheny), 15. Carla Rowe (Capt.) (Clann Mhuire)

Dublin Scorers: Niamh Ryan 1-02, Siobhan Woods 1-02, Eabha Rutledge 1-01, Carla Rowe 0-04 (2F), Oonagh White 0-04, Sarah McCaffrey 0-02, Ciara McGuigan, Niamh Rickard 0-01 each

Dublin Subs: Oonagh White (Clann Mhuire) for Leah Mullins, Kate Fitzgibbon (O’Tooles) for Eabha Rutledge, Ciara McGuigan (Thomas Davis) for Niamh Rickard, Katie Murray (Clontarf) for Siobhan Woods

Dublin Panel:

Ciara Trant (St Brigids), Danielle Pugh (Na Fianna), Ciara Purdy (Na Fianna), Niamh McGoldrick (Thomas Davis), Eve Kehoe (Skerries Harps), Katie Murphy (Ballyboden St Endas), Margaret Mohan (Clontarf)

Dublin Management – Gregory McGonigle, Davy Burke, Bobby McNulty, Kathleen Colreavy, Declan Cassidy

Cork XV: Seadna O’Sullivan, Roisin Phelan, Sinead Cotter, Maire Ambrose, Aoife O’Sullivan, Maire O’Callaghan, Meabh Calahane, Shauna Kelly, Gemma Cashman, Claire Byrne, Aoife Walsh, Elaine Scally, Laura Crowley, Aine Terry O’Sullivan, Laura Fitzgerald.

Cork Scorers: Laura Fitzgerald 0-06 (4f), Maire O’Callaghan 0-02, Elaine Scally, Aine Terry O’Sullivan 0-01 each

Cork Subs: Laura O’Brien for Claire Byrne

Cork Management: Joe Carroll, Kathleen Kearney, Brian Leamy, Paddy Lucey, Deirdre Fitzgerald.

Referee: Colm McManus (Meath)