DUBLIN LADIES’ CUP DIVISION 2

Daire Walsh

PARNELL’S………………..…4-22 TEMPLEOGUE SS……………….3-7

PARNELL’S got their Adult Ladies Football Cup Division Two campaign off to a perfect start with an 18-point triumph over Templeogue Synge Street at Dolphin Park last Wednesday evening.

In the first competitive game of the year for both sides, the Coolock outfit laid down a marker for the weeks and months to come. In addition to a 1-6 haul from Aoife McGrath, Niki Kaiser (2-1), Emma Lawlor (0-6) and Rachel Douglas (0-5) were in fine scoring form for the visitors.

Despite being second best on the day, credit must go to TSS for their perseverance with Holly Curran (niece of former Dublin footballer Paul), Sarah Jane Hecker and Lisa Hayes rattling the net in the second half.

Kelli Taite had a brief stint on the Dublin senior panel in 2017 and she got the hosts up and running with a fine point in the fourth minute. Parnell’s were slowly working their way into the contest but finally hit their stride in clinical fashion.

McGrath knocked over a brace of scores, before Lawlor and Douglas opened their own personal accounts. On a humid night, both teams were grateful for water breaks in both halves.

McGrath (free) and Douglas ensured Parnell’s remained in the driving seat after the opening period interlude, but TSS did get a lift when netminder Emma Hiney turned away a Douglas penalty on 21 minutes.

Full-back Niamh Leacy (lining out alongside twin sister Laura) was sin-binned for a foul in the lead-up to this set-piece, however, and this did affect them as the action progressed. Although Hecker converted a free in the 23rd-minute, this was to be TSS’ final score of the half. In the space of just 11 minutes, Parnell’s blitzed their opponents with an unanswered tally of 2-8.

Lawlor and Douglas bagged three points each during this juncture, while McGrath added 1-2 to her personal total. Ciara Corr also raised a green flag to give Parnell’s an insurmountable 2-14 to 0-2 interval lead.

Lawlor and McGrath stretched their cushion on the resumption, but TSS finally gained some solace in the form of a Curran goal on 36 minutes. Claire Hiney and the lively Laura Cahill did find the range in response to a Céiligh McDonald point as TSS started to get some joy in attack.

Yet the option of unlimited substitutes was always going to suit Parnell’s best and the fresh legs of the Northside reserves worked to the advantage of their starters. Having opened her account with a point moments earlier, Kaiser struck goals in the 42nd and 48th minutes.

Eimear Canty and Danielle O’Leary pointed at the end of well-worked moves, but a resilient TSS proceeded to outscore Parnell’s by 2-3 to 0-2 in the closing minutes. Cahill (two) and Claire Hiney registered points to supplement goals from Hecker (penalty) and Hayes.

Still, Aoife Manning and Lawlor efforts meant a sizeable gap was maintained between the teams.

SCORERS – Parnell’s: A McGrath 1-6 (0-2f); N Kaiser 2-1; E Lawlor 0-6; R Douglas 0-5; C Corr 1-0; A Manning, E Canty, C McDonald, D O’Leary 0-1 each. Templeogue Synge Street: SJ Hecker 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f); L Hayes, H Curran 1-0 each; L Cahill 0-3 (2f); K Taite, C Hiney 0-1 each.

PARNELL’S: C Lynam; A Doolan, V Ronning, C Lawless; E Grant, A Manning, E Canty; A Kane, A McGrath; N Kaiser, S Comiskey, R O’Reilly; C McDonald, E Lawlor, R Douglas. Subs: E Colligan, P Black, M Waters, S Corr, A Lowery, C Corr, D O’Leary.

TEMPLEOGUE SYNGE STREET: E Hiney; E Hughes, N Leacy, L Leacy; C Bell, A Hughes, O Paterson; B Leitch, E Brown; SJ Hecker, K Taite, C Hiney; L Hayes, L O’Donovan, C Cassidy. Subs: F Harmon, C Bracken Burke, H Curran, L Cahill.

MENTORS – Parnell’s: John Mulligan Sr, John Mulligan Jr.

Templeogue Synge Street: Michael Collins, Ger O’Donoghue, Gabrielle Ruane.

REFEREE: Paul Flanagan (St James’ Gaels).

WIDES – Parnell’s: 9 (6+3). Templeogue Synge Street: 7 (3+4).

CONDITIONS: Warm and sunny conditions with just a light breeze.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Aoife McGrath (Parnell’s).