’Boro fare best in Leinster Semi-Final showdown

Leinster Senior Club Semi Final

Dicksboro 1-10

St Martin’s (Wexford) 0-8

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

Dicksboro are through to the Leinster Senior Club Final but only after coming through a hard fought encounter with St Marin’s (Wexford)

The Kilkenny Senior County Champions made their provincial intentions clear when they attacked from the off at Palmerstown on Sunday. The game had barely started before the ‘Boro were in front.  Aoife Prendergast converting a free to push her side into a lead they would not lose

Prendergast was quick to double the home side’s lead with another free but for the next 13 minutes,  the scoreboard didn’t change as neither side found the target. The stalemate was ended when Ciara O’Connor opened St Martin’s account with a free before Linda Bolger levelled the game with a point from play.

Playing with the benefit of the wind, St Martin’s began to get into the game with Ciara O’Connor scoring two points to push the Wexford side ahead. However, Dicksboro didn’t take long to respond and fought back. Prendergast converting two frees to make it all square again

The deadlock remained until the break as Prendergast and O’Connor each bagged a brace of pointed frees, leaving the sides locked on 0-6 apiece at the interval

The second half was only two minutes old when the game took a turn in Dicksboro’s favour. The hosts took a big step ahead when Jenny Clifford raced after the sliotar when it was played into the corner. Gathering possession, Clifford ran along the end line before cutting back in and drilling an unstoppable shot to the net

REELING

Martin’s were left reeling by the goal and tried to recover. Ciara O’Connor converted a free for the Wexford side, but the ‘Boro were in no mood to let up. Pressing on they rattled off four unanswered points through Asha McHardy (2) and Aoife Prendergast (2fs) as they stretched their lead to six points (1-10 to 0-7)

Ciara O’Connor converted another free for St Martin’s but that was as close as they would get to reeling in their rivals. Over the final minutes, neither team added to their tally, but St Martin’s kept fighting for way back

With the game in injury time Martin’s were awarded a 21m free. When Ciara O’Connor stood over the sliotar she had nothing but the back of the net on her mind, but Kirsty Maher made a brilliant save – the Boro were safe and heading to the Leinster Final!

Dicksboro will play St Vincent’s (Dublin) in the provincial decider in Netwatch Dr Cullen Park, Carlow on Sunday November 19

Scorers – Dicksboro – Aoife Prendergast 0-8 (8f), Jenny Clifford 1-0, Asha McHardy 0-2

St Martin’s – Ciara O’Connor 0-7 (6f), Linda Bolger 0-1

Dicksboro – Kirsty Maher, Jane Cass, Tara Clifford, Katie Byrne, Niamh Phelan, Caoimhe Dowling, Ciara O’Shea, Ciara Phelan, Aobha O’Gorman, Asha McHardy, Amy Clifford, Rachel Dowling, Aoife Prendergast, Orla Hanrick, Jenny Clifford (Capt)

Subs – Rose Kelly for Orla Hanrick, Tara McGrath for Ciara O’Shea, Niamh O’Donoghue, Danielle Kenny, Bronagh Doheny, Lucinda Gahan, Caoimhe Carroll, Angela Carroll, Aisling Browne, Sarah O’Gorman, Orlaith Moore, Emer Phelan, Becky Peters, Sinead Carroll, Eva Healy, Issey Carroll, Isabel Roberts, Rachel Egan, Isabelle Egan, Kate O’Neill, Libby Carroll

St Martin’s – Ellen Coleman, Katie O’Connor, Anna Hennessy, Mary Barrett, Marie Claire Morrissey, Sarah O’Connor, Amy Cardiff, Ella O’Connor, Ciara O’Connor (Capt), Amy O’Leary, Linda Bolger, Lettie Whelan, Lisa Firman, Chloe Foxe, Emma Codd

Subs – Sarah Hobbert for Chloe Foxe, Ciara Bridges for Lisa Firman, Aoife O’Connor for Lettie Whelan, Sinead Cullen, Aine Ennis, Leagh Maddock, Aisling O’Connor, Fiona Esmonde, Aisling Goggins, Aoife Bridges, Alannah Davis, Aoife Cullen, Grace O’Connor, Jane Sinnott