Dee Rangers 1-10 Oldcastle 1-07

Dee Ranger ladies made the trip to Oldcastle on Friday evening to fulfill the Division 1 round 6 fixture. This game was a repeat of last year's league final which took extra time to separate the sides so it had all the ingredients to make for an entertaining match. 

Both teams have performed well in the league so far and are in the top half of the league table. 

Dee Rangers were first to register a score, a pointed free from the ever accurate Grace Durnin. This score settled the nerves and the game began to flow. Oldcastle were strong in their attack and charged forward in numbers. Dee Rangers defence being tested from the beginning but solid in their roles. Dee Rangers coped well in defence and made some excellent blocks, Alanna Reilly, Anna Myles and Orlaith Duff piling on the pressure and executing some perfectly timed blocks. Oldcastle were forced to take their points and recorded two scores from play, in the first fifteen minutes. 

Both teams had good spells of football with excellent runs being made by midfielder Lara O’Neill and by the Oldcastle number eight. But scores were hard to come by, both defences piling on the pressure resulting in turnovers and shots missing the target for both sides.  

In the last ten minutes of the first half the movement in the Dee Ranger forward line improved and the Oldcastle defence were left with no option but to foul. Durnin converted two frees to leave the half time score at Dee Rangers 0-03, Oldcastle 0-02. 

The second half saw Dee Rangers start off the brighter of the two teams recording two points; one from O’Neill from play and another pointed free from Durnin, leaving the score at Rangers 0-05, Oldcastle 0-02. 

It looked as though Dee Rangers might have been about to take control of the game when a defensive handling error lead to a quick break from Oldcastle and they made no mistake in burying the ball in the back of the net. Dee Rangers 0-05, Oldcastle 1-02 and the game still very much in the melting pot. 

Oldcastle, boosted by the goal, recorded another point from play. Midfielder Eva McConnell dug deep and worked two excellent points from play to steady the ship for the Dee Rangers. Dee Rangers were back infront; Dee Rangers 0-07, Oldcastle 1-03. 

Both teams exchanged points for the next few minutes with each team scoring two more apiece, the game was still very much up for grabs. Dee Rangers 0-09, Oldcastle 1-05. 

With six minutes left on the clock, a great move up the field by Dee Rangers, left Grace Durnin with her marker and the goal keeper to beat, she side stepped her marker and drove the ball into the roof of the net leaving the keeper with no chance. Dee Rangers 1-09, Oldcastle 1-05. 

Oldcastle were not going to go down without a fight and scored two excellent points from play. Alanna McNulty recorded her first point of the evening after a great direct run. The final whistle blew and the final score was Dee Rangers 1-10, Oldcastle 1-07. 

An entertaining game of football and well done to both sides. 

Dee Rangers team: Sinead Carolan, Anna Myles (VC), Orlaith Duff, Ellen Cassidy, Niamh Byrne, Alanna Reilly, Ellen Carolan, Eva McConnell 0-02  Lara O’ Neill 0-01, Kelly Farrelly, Alanna McNulty 0-01, Emma Halpenny, Jodie Gilsenan, Hannah Carolan, Grace Durnin 1-06 (5f). 

Subs used: Orlaith Sheehy (C), Aoibheann Sheehy, Aine Byrne, Megan Malone. 

Referee: Joe Curran 

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