Littlewoods National League
Division 3
Antrim 1-9 Dublin 1-7
Saturday 19 February
Antrim got off to a winning start to their campaign on Saturday afternoon as they saw off the challenge of Dublin with two points to spare.
It was a performance full of work rate and desire from the Saffrons as they were well worthy of their victory. Dearbhla Cosgrove top scored for the Saffrons with six of her seven points coming from placed ball while Tara O’Neill bagged their major in the 22nd minute of the first half.
The Saffrons controlled the second half for long periods and built a five point lead with a quarter of the game remaining but had to withstand a fightback from the Dubs. Cosgrove fittingly scored the last point of the contest in the fourth minute of injury time and despite one last roll of the dice from the visitors, Antrim held out for a deserving win.
On a dry but cold afternoon, the Saffrons made all the early running. Katie Laverty’s positional sense in defence allowed her side to keep pressure on the Dublin defence and it wasn’t long before that pressure turned into points on the board. Cosgrove with a free and ’45 in the opening exchanges while some last ditch tackling from the Dublin defence thwarted Fionnuala Kelly from scoring the opening goal of the contest.
Niamh Comerford opened Dublin’s account with a free 45 yards from goal before the visitors scored the opening goal of the game in the 13th minute. Collecting the sliotar on the left hand side, Aoibhe Dillon hit a speculative effort for a point that dipped into the bqck of Aine Graham’s net.
A setback for the Saffrons but they responded superbly. Orlagh Laverty dissecting the posts show casing her turn of pace to evade any would be challenges to leave the minimum between the sides.
Antrim restored their lead with their next meaningful attack when Cosgrove and Brogan Abram combined with Abram’s effort for a point dropping short. Dara Cooke in the Dublin goals partially cleared the danger but Tara O’Neill was first to the rebound and pulled first time to the back of the net.
Cosgrove (free) and Aoibhe Dillon (’45) swapped scores before the interval to leave Antrim leading 1-4 to 1-2 ahead at the short whistle.
Antrim maintained their impressive pressure game and created chances in good positions. Fionnula Kelly’s early score was cancelled out by Emma Young’s score for the Dubs but Antrim turned the screw in attack. Young’s score would be Dublin’s last for 13 minutes with a trio of placed ball scores from Cosgrove increased Antrim’s lead to five points.
The Saffrons had another big goal chance with Tara O’Neill in the thick of the action once again. Kelly’s shot was blocked by Dara Cooke and O’Neill looked to have been fouled after gathering the loose sliotar, her effort was deflected wide for a ’45.
With 15 minutes remaining Antrim looked comfortable but Dublin and Niamh Comerford had other ideas. She led the Dubs attack and halted the brief scoring drought for her side in the 49th minute before Dillon and Aoife Deegan left just two between the sides.
Antrim’s attacking threat was minimal in those closing stages but should have added to their goal count at the end of the hour. Eimear McKee with the chance but her effort drifted to the right of the post.
Dublin reduced the deficit to one in the third minute of injury time through substitute Cara Feeny but it was as close as they got with Cosgrove’s seventh point of the game the final score.
Dublin had one last chance with Aoibhe Dillon’s floated ’45 landing in the danger area but Antrim cleared the danger and held out for an excellent result to start their league campaign.
TEAMS
Antrim: Aine Graham; Claire Kearney, Eilis Kearns, Emma Laverty; Maria McLarnon, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe McNaughton; Anna McNeill, Tara O’Neill; Nuala Devlin, Dearbhla Cosgrove, Brogan Abram; Orlagh Laverty, Eimear Bryne, Fionnuala Kelly
Subs: Shannon Darragh for E Byrne (44); Eimear McKee for B Abram (55)
Scorers: D Cosgrove 0-7 (3 ‘45’s, 3 f’s); T O’Neill 1-00; O Laverty 0-1; F Kelly 0-1
Dublin: Dara Cooke; Laura Robinson, Rachel Seery, Emma Parker; Ciara Clohessy, Siobhan Kehoe, Erin Kennedy; Lucy Quinn, Meadhbh Hicks; Emma Young, Grainne Skelton, Niamh Comerford; Aoibhe Dillon, Aoife Deegan, Sarah Fenlon
Subs: Niamh McCormack for S Fenlon (HT); Cara Feeny for C Clohessy (44); Ciara Holland for G Skelton (47)
Scorers: A Dillon 1-1 (0-1f); N Comerford 0-2 (2f’s); E Young 0-1; A Deegan 0-1; C Feeny 0-1; S Fenlon 0-1 (1 ’45)
Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)