Dublin Power to Clare victory
NCL DIVISION 1 DUBLIN........................2-6 CLARE..........................1-8
Wednesday March 10 2010
CATRIONA Power of Naomh Mearnóg led by example as Dublin collected their first National Camogie League points at Parnell Park last Saturday.
Her clubmates Stephanie Carthy and Miriam Twomey also played their part, together with Jean Murphy of Skerries Harps, and it was a victory fashioned out of great heart and skill in the closing quarter of a tight contest.
Dublin got off to a flyer when Joelenne Hoary placed Mairi Moynihan for a goal after 17 seconds, but by the third minute Clare were level when a defensive error was punished by Deirdre Murphy, scorer in chief for the Banner girls.
Clare played their best camogie in the first half and opened a two-point lead by the seventh minute, but Dublin's full-forward line had the measure of their opposite numbers. When a direct ball was fielded superbly by Joelenne Hoary in the eighth minute, the ensuing pass was finished to the net by Mairi Moynihan and Dublin were back in front, with Twomey lending plenty of support.
Despite the boost of these two goals, Dublin did not manage another score for 23 minutes, and in between Jean Murphy, Tara Corrigan and keeper Carthy were called on to defend. Clare stretched their lead with excellent points from Deirdre Murphy and two wellstruck frees from Chloe Morey as Dublin's only point of the first half was scored by Hoary from a free â?“ half-time 1-7 to 21.
Deirdre Murphy pointed a 46th-minute free to open a four-point gap. The game was now at a critical phase, and it was Dublin who responded with an inspirational point by Louise O'Hara. A minute later Hoary cut the gap to two points with her first score from play.
The move of Ciara Burgess to midfield and the introduction of Amy Murphy â?“ who had picked up an injury in the Wexford game â?“ helped, and the latter popped over a great point in the 51st minute.
Dublin then earned a free in front of the posts for the leveller from Hoary, and when they earned another free in the 59th minute, Ciara Lucey assumed responsibility and drove over from 45 metres.
DUBLIN: Stephanie Carthy; Gráinne Quinn, Tara Corrigan, Jean Murphy; Catriona Power, Elaine O'Meara, Rachel Costello; Louise O'Hara 0-1, Ciara Lucey 0-1f; Ciara Burgess, Sarah Ryan, Aoife Kelly; Miriam Twomey, Mairi Moynihan 2-0, Joelenne Hoary 0-3 (0-2f). Subs used: Amy Murphy, Sherry Mannion; Not used: Rachel Noctor, Kirsten Farrell, Niamh McKennedy, Danielle Smith, Nuala O'Donovan, Anne Kirwan.
