Leinster Minor Championship

Saturday 14th February 2015

Dublin 4-22 Westmeath 1-05 (FT)

 

Martin McDonnell's Minor team got the defence of the Leinster title off to a flying start with a 26 point victory over Westmeath in front of a large crowd in Parnells GAA club, Coolock.

 

Dublin appeared to be nervous in front of their home support and it was Westmeath who got on the score board first with a converted free inside the opening minute of the game.

 

Westmeath controlled most of the possession in the opening minutes of this first round championship clash but failed to make their dominance count as they hit a number of poor wides.

 

Dublin then hit a purple patch with points coming from Rebecca McDonnell, Shauna O'Hara and Emma Colgan. The tide had turned with Dublin now dominating possession in the 15th minute they turned the screw on Westmeath by hitting 2-02 from play.  Dublin's two goals came from some brilliant incisive moves that had opened up the Westmeath defence with Rebecca McDonnell and Amy Conroy both raising the green flag for the home side.

 

Westmeath to their credit never gave up and outscored Dublin by three points to one in the closing stages of the first half.  At the interval Dublin took an eight point lead into the half time dressing room with the score board reading Dublin 2-07 Westmeath 0-05.

 

The second half of game was totally dominated by Dublin with midfielder Niamh O'Neill controlling the centre of the park linking up well with half backs Ciara Crotty and captain, Hannah Hegarty.

 

The sucker punch came for Westmeath when Dublin raised the green flag in the 36th minute with Emma Colgan blasting her shot passed Grainne Byrne in the Westmeath goal. 

 

Amy Conroy confirmed victory for her team in the 57th minute when the Round Towers Clondalkin forward raised her second green flag of the day.

 

Westmeath only score of the second period came in injury time when they broke through the Dublin defence to pop a shot past Dublin keeper Sarah Jane Hecker.

 

Dublin ended the game strongly by adding on four more points courtesy of Amy Conroy, Emily Flanagan and Rebecca McDonnell.  McDonnell was superb for Dublin throughout the 60+ minutes finishing the game with a personal tally of 1-06.

 

Dublin next game will be against Kildare on March 1st in DCU at 2pm.

Dublin:

Sarah Jane Hecker (Round Towers Clondalkin), Muireann O Gorman (Kilmacud Crokes), Tarah O Sullivan (Foxrock Cabinteely), Ciara Crotty (Foxrock Cabinteely), Hannah Hegarty , (Naomh Jude), Laura McGinley (Naomh Barrog), Erica Byrne (O'Dwyers), Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Niamh O Neill (St Brigids), Emily Brown (Templeogue Synge St), Rebecca McDonnell (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Jennifer O Dell (Templeogue Synge St), Emma Colgan (St Margaret's), Shauna O'Hara (O'Dwyers), Amy Conroy (Round Towers Clondalkin)

Subs:

Julia Buckley for Magee, Emily Flanagan for O'Dell, Mia Jennings for Brown, Grace O'Shea for Colgan, Sinead Moran for Crotty.

 

Dublin Scorers:

Rebecca McDonnell 1-06, Amy Conroy 2-02, Niamh O'Neill 0-05, Emma Colgan 1-01, Shauna O'Hara 0-03, Grace O'Shea 0-02, Hannah Hegarty 0-01, Mia Jennings 0-01, Emily Flanagan 0-01.

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