In the Leinster final on Sunday, Dublin celebrated a resounding victory against Meath with a scoreline of 3-17 to 0-8, marking their 11th consecutive Leinster LGFA Senior Championship title. Carla Rowe, Jennifer Dunne and Caoimhe O’Connor were responsible for incredible goals at Croke Park. This success adds to Dublin’s impressive record as the current champions of the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, having defeated Meath only a week prior in a round robin game at Parnell Park.
In the match, despite Meath’s wing forward Ciara Smyth making the first score early on, Dublin’s Hannah Tyrrell countered with two impressive shots from her reliable left boot while their captain, Carla Rowe, managed a straightforward free. Rowe caused numerous issues for the Royal defence, and with O’Connor’s assistance, she scored an excellent goal 11 minutes in, further capitalising on Dublin’s control.
Emma Duggan from Meath and Tyrrell exchanged scores, following which Dublin’s midfielder Dunne took control, resulting in a score that stretched Dublin’s lead. Dublin achieved a significant lead by half-time, 2-8 to 0-2, thanks to Carey, Magee, Tyrrell and the tireless Nolan.
Despite Meath making the first score in the second half courtesy of Duggan, Dublin maintained their dominance with successive points from Tyrrell and Rowe. O’Connor, who contributed to Rowe’s first goal, managed to score a remarkable goal herself 39 minutes into the game – narrowly following attempts by Sullivan and Goldrick.
Towards the third-quarter mark, Meath enjoyed a brief spell of superiority, with both Aoibhin Cleary and Duggan scoring, yielding unanswered points. Dublin, however, never compromised their potent offense, with crucial points coming from Niamh Hetherton, courtesy of a masterful pass from Tyrrell, and additional contributions from Rowe and sub Chloe Darby. While Duggan racked her score to 0-6 towards the match’s conclusion, Dublin had answers through Hetherton’s back-to-back points and a solid performance by Nicole Owens. This led Dublin to a comfortable finish.
Point scorers – Dublin: Caleisha Rowe 1-3 (three frees), Haidee Tyrrell 0-5 (one free), Niamh Hetherton 0-4, Jasmine Dunne, Constance O’Connor 1-0 each, Orla Carey, Jemma Magee, Octavia Nolan, Nicole Owens, Chloe Darby 0-1 each. For Meath: Edel Duggan 0-6 (four frees), Aoibhin Cleary, Caroline Smyth 0-1 each.
DUBLIN team line-up: Andrea Shiels; Martha Byrne, Lauren Caffrey, Noelle Donlon; Sarah Goldrick, Orla Carey, Lily Magee; Jasmine Dunne, Jacqueline Tobin; Constance O’Connor, Octavia Nolan, Caleisha Rowe; Haidee Tyrrell, Niamh Hetherton, Karen Sullivan. Substitutions included: Glenda Kos for Carey, Ella Gribben for Nolan, Alicia Kane for Magee, Nicole Owens for Sullivan, and Chloe Darby for Goldrick.
In the TG4 Connacht senior ladies football championship, which took place at the St. Brigid’s GAA, Kiltoom, Co Roscommon, Galway emerged victorious. Andrea Trill’s final attack goal ensured that Galway reclaimed the title previously lost to Mayo. Daniel Moynihan’s side narrowly commanded the game at 0-11 to 0-9 in the decisive moments, after a trio of free kicks by Lisa Cafferky brought the reigning champions, Mayo, back into contention.
The perennial clash between these regional adversaries, as anticipated, was brimming with excitement. Towards the end of the match, Galway barely escaped a free kick when Chellene Trill remarkably blocked Nicola Ward’s kick. The final goal by Trill secured the victory for Galway.
During the initial half, the teams were even-stevens five times, initiated by a goal by Emma Reaney for Galway in the first 20 seconds. Her strike resulted from a brilliant charge down the middle from Louise Ward following the throw-in. Mayo retaliated swiftly via Lisa Cafferky and by the fourth minute, a stellar long-range effort by Sinead, her sister, brought the scoreline to 0-2 to 0-1 in Mayo’s favour.
Galway faced challenges in penetrating their opposition’s defence. Despite Roisin Leonard missing three shots, she managed to equalise the score at 0-2 each at the ninth minute. Maria Cannon brought Liam McHale’s team to the lead, but it was short-lived as Coen levelled the score within a minute. After an impressive kick-start by Ailbhe Davoren, Leonard closed a move but Ciara Durkan’s efforts paid off when she facilitated Sinead Cafferky to score for Mayo at the 17th minute.
Their finest performance began as they took a two-point lead. Sinead Cafferky successfully passed the ball diagonally to Lisa, who scored for the lead. Lisa continued to increase their score with her third kick from play at the 23rd minute, resulting in a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage.
Galway had to regain control and managed to close the period with two scores. The first score was achieved by Shauna Hynes, assisted by Reaney, and the second through a free kick by Leonard, resulting in a 0-6 tie at half-time.
The sweltering heat was a significant factor in the game, with Galway, and specifically Olivia Divilly, contributing to the scoreline. At the same time, Nicola Ward’s strategic runs proved critical in breaching Mayo’s defence.
Divilly added two points to either side of a Nicola Ward score, establishing a 0-9 to 0-6 lead before a 43rd minute point was notched by Ailish Morrissey on her return. Another score by Divilly left Galway with a five-point lead as they entered the last 10 minutes.
Mayo remained resilient, having previously compelled an attempted save from Dearbhla Gower via Fionnuala McLaughlin. Despite managing to reduce their deficit by three points, a late score by Trill guaranteed Galway’s triumph as the Connacht champions.
The GALWAY team was constituted of D Gower, K Geraghty, S Lynch, M Jordan, C Cooney, N Ward (0-1), C Trill; M Glynn. L Ward; S Hynes (0-1), A Davoren, L Coen (0-1), E Reaney (0-1), R Leonard (0-3, two frees), O Divilly (0-3). The team made five substitutions which included A Ni Cheallaigh for Cooney (33), A Morrissey (0-1) for Reaney (41), N Divilly for Hynes (44), A Trill (1-0) for Leonard (56), M Walsh for Glynn (60).
MAYO’s team comprised L Brennan, S Lally, N O’Malley, K Sullivan, E Ronayne, C Durkan, D Caldwell, A Geraghty, E Murray, F McLaughlin, C Needham, S Cafferky (0-2), A Staunton, M Cannon (0-1, one free), L Cafferky (0-6, three frees).
The substitutes included A Fitzpatrick who replaced Sullivan just after half-time, F McHale came in for Cannon in the 41st minute, H Reape took over from Geraghty at 43 minutes, E Needham subbed for C Needham after 46 minutes and M Reilly took the place of Staunton in the 50th minute. The match was officiated by referee Aaron Clogher from Roscommon.