All Ireland U16 Final 2015

Wednesday 15th of July, 7pm

Dublin v Kerry

McDonagh Park, Nenagh
Dubs looking to over throw the Kingdom -

The great GAA sporting rivalry between Dublin and Kerry has long been written into sporting folklore with many a fine battle being played out between these two GAA sporting giants.

The next chapter of this sporting tale will take place this evening when both Counties meet in the U16 All Ireland semi-final at stake is a place in the 2015 decider on July 29th against either Galway or Tyrone.

Kerry will come into tonight's encounter with the Dubs as firm favourites based on the fact that the girls from the Kingdom have enjoyed two comprehensive victories over their great rivals Cork in the Munster championship.

In round one of their provincial championship Kerry defeated Cork by 7-17 to 1-09 however local pundits felt that Cork had fielded a depleted team for the opening round clash with their near neighbours with many dismissing the one sided result.

However when the two sides meet again on the 9th of May in the Munster final the result would turn out to be similar on this occasion the score board read Kerry 3-12 Cork 1-06 proving that the first game was no fluke with Kerry now being viewed by many within Munster as serious contenders for this years All Ireland U16 crown.

Kerry had also defeated Waterford in the group stages back in April on the score line of 5-09 to 2-10. A number of the Kerry U16 panel where also members of their All Ireland U14 winning side of 2014 so expectation and confidence will be high this evening amongst the Kerry squad and indeed their supporters.

Dub's manager Pat Kane has kept faith with the starting 15 that defeated Meath in the Leinster final on May 17th last there is however just one positional switch which sees Ciara McDunphy moving to corner forward in a direct swap with Naomh Olaf's Clara O'Sullivan who moves out to half forward.

Clara O'Sullivan from Naomh Olaf is the captain of the Dub's the Sandyford native was the hero of the day last year in the 2014 All Ireland U16 semi-final versus Galway.  Dublin will look to their captain for inspiration up front while other players who have shown great form this season are defenders Eve Reidy, Heather Bolger and Sarah Fagan along with forwards Caoimhe O'Connor and Danielle Lawless.

Dublin clocked up an impressive 28 goals and 67 points during their Leinster campaign scoring on average 4-10 per match. Pat Kane will be fully aware of the challenge that lies before his chargers this evening the Dub's preparations have gone to plan despite the difficulty of having to keep players focused on the task at hand especially with such a huge gap (7 weeks) between the Leinster final and the All Ireland semi-final.

Dublin have the fire power up front to cause Kerry problems while the Dubs defence will be acutely aware of the potential threat of Kerry trio  Emma Dineen, Erika McGlynn and Hannah O'Donoghue who together clocked up 2-07 from play in the Munster final victory over Cork.

It has all the hall marks of a classic encounter and one not to be missed!

Proceedings get under way  this evening in Nenagh at 7pm with Keith Delahunty from Clonmel in Tipperary the man in charge of this latest Kerry / Dublin showdown.

Dublin line out v Kerry:

1.            Jenny Flaherty (Ballyboden St Endas)

2.            Eve Reidy   (Foxrock Cabinteely)

3.            Siabh Hannigan   (Parnells)

4.            Sinead O'Donoghue (Kilmacud Crokes)

5.            Heather Bolger   (Clontarf)

6.            Sarah Fagan   (Clontarf)

7.            Shannon Murtagh   (Fingallians)

8.            Jennifer Dunne   (Cuala)

9.            Michelle Carey   (Ballinteer St Johns)

10.          Niamh Carey   (Ballinteer St Johns)

11.          Rachel Brennan (St Peregrines)

12.          Clara O'Sullivan (Naomh Olaf)

13.          Ciara McDunphy (Raheny)

14.          Danielle Lawless (St Sylvester's)

15.          Caoimhe O'Connor (Clontarf)

Subs:

16.          Rachel Fleming (Kilmacud Crokes

17.          Erin Healy (O'Dwyers)

18.          Orla Martin (St Oliver Plunket's Eoghan Ruadh)

19.          Aoibhe Bell (Clontarf)

20.          Jessica Darby (Parnells)

21.          Maria O'Dea (Clanna Na Gael Fontenoy)

22.          Dearbhla Snow (Fingallians)

23.          Aoife Foley (Fingallians)

24.          Eimear Loughlin (Cuala)

25.          Riona McTavish (Round Towers Clondalkin)

26.          Niamh Hetherton (Clontarf)

27.          Laura Dempsey (Fingallians)

28.          Sadhbh Uic Uileagoid (Ballinteer St Johns)

29.          Eavan Fitzgerald (Ballinteer St Johns)

30.          Sarah McMahon (Kilmacud Crokes)

 

Management: Pat Kane (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Lee Moroney (St Anne's), Stephen Healy (O'Dwyers), Clare Ryan (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Deirdre Colgan (St Margaret's) (FLO)

 

www.dublinladiesgaelic.ie

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