Michael Lyng Motors Senior Championship Quarterfinal:
Dicksboro 7-21 Danesfort 1-8
Both sides made the short journey to sunny Freshford to battle for a position in the Championship semi-final. Dicksboro had two changes to the team sheet with Amy Clifford starting at corner forward and Ciara Phelan starting in the half back line.
Pairc Lachtain was in superb condition but a noticeable wind down the field favoured Danesfort in the first half. Dicksboro didn’t let this wind stop them as Rachel Dowling opened the scoring with an excellent goal after receiving a perfect pass from the inform Amy Clifford. Danesfort replied 3 minutes later with a point after Shauna Mahony set Rachel Phelan up with a perfect ball. However, after this score, the Dicksboro forwards took off, showing excellent team work, precision passing and classy finishing. Points from Aoife Prendergast (4), Rachel Dowling (2) and Amy Clifford (1) and an unstoppable goal from Asha McHardy put Dicksboro ahead 2-8 to 0-1 after 18 minutes. Danesfort continued to battle and diligent work from their forwards resulted in 3 points from frees, taken by Eva Dunne and Olivia Mahony. Orla Hanrick added to Dicksboro’s scoreline with a beautifully taken point after Aisling Browne sent her across field ball. Shortly after that, Aoife Prendergast managed to lose her marker, she followed this up with an excellent goal. Asha McHardy and Amy Clifford both added goals of their own and two more points finished their scoring for the half. Danesfort were still working hard, with Olivia Mahony scoring two frees and Rachel Phelan taking an excellent individual point when she received the ball from Louisa Gilmore at mid field, in the closing minutes of the half. By halftime, the gap in the scoreline was significant as the Dicksboro defence seemed comfortable with Caoimhe Dowling and Aobha O’Gorman putting in a huge shift.
Half time score: Dicksboro: 5-10 Danesfort: 0-6
Dicksboro started the second half in a similar fashion to the first half. Their intent was immediate and they had another 1-2 on the board with a point and goal from Aoife Prendergast and a well worked point from Asha McHardy. Danesfort’s Olivia Mahony responded with a point from a free but there was no stopping Dicksboro’s Aoife Prendergast as she fired home her third goal of the game. Dicksboro’s forwards were on fire and more points came from Amy Clifford (2), Asha McHardy (2) and Orla Hanrick (1). Danesfort never stopped working and Olivia Mahony put another free over the bar and in the 51st minute, Eva Dunne scored Danesfort’s only goal of the game after claiming the ball from a free in the backs and immediately shooted for goal. Dicksboro responded with calm precision and through Amy Clifford, Niamh Phelan and Rose Kelly, the claimed the final 3 points of the match to finish in a domineering and strong position going forward to their semi-final.
Final score: Dicksboro: 7-21 Danesfort 1-08
Dicksboro: Cara Duggan, Niamh Phelan, Tara Clifford, Katie Byrne, Ciara Phelan, Caoimhe Dowling, Aisling Browne, Aobha O’ Gorman, Tara McGrath, Asha McHardy, Jenny Clifford, Rachel Dowling, Aoife Prendergast, Orla Hanrick, Amy Clifford.
Danesfort: Bronagh Davis, Jill O’Brien, Ciara Gleeson, Brionadh Barragry, Laura Dunne, Olivia Mahony, Muireann Kelly, Louisa Gilmore, Aileen Gleeson, Rachel Phelan, Eva Dunne, Shauna Mahony, Aoife Farrell, Bobbie Brennan, Niamh Davis.
Referee: Eamon Larkin
By PRO Fri 2nd Oct
