Dublin lose out to Donegal in dramatic NFL semi-final
Clondalkin native Hannah Tyrrell struck 1-1 at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones this afternoon, but the Dublin ladies footballers were left stunned in a dramatic LIDL National Football League Division One semi-final against Donegal.
Seemingly on their way towards a second successive top-flight showpiece appearance, the Jackies conceded two goals in the 58th-minute to eventually lose out on a final score of 2-8 to 1-10.
Now in her second season back in the fold, Tyrrell is carrying on the form that saw her earning an All Star award in 2021. She was joined in the starting line-up by Kate McDaid – sister of Dublin senior men’s footballer and Ballyboden St Enda’s star Robbie – and Orlagh Nolan of Ballinteer St John’s.
There was also local interest on the Sky Blues bench with Abby Shiels (Lucan Sarsfields), Tammy Quinn Corbally (Thomas Davis) and Julie Vaughan (Ballyboden St Enda’s) all included in the match day squad of 30 for their visit to Monaghan.
Although five-time All-Ireland winner Lyndsey Davey kicked them into the lead on six minutes, it proved to be a tough opening quarter for the Jackies.
Karen Guthrie and Geraldine McLaughlin contributed two points apiece from frees, before the impressive Guthrie kicked a point from play on the turn to give the Ulster women a 0-5 to 0-1 cushion at the first half water break.
After the resumption of play, Dublin continued to pass up some good opportunities until their luck finally turned on the stroke of 20 minutes.
After intercepting an attempted clearance from the hand off a miscued Kate Sullivan free, Tyrrell hammered home a goal from play. This was quickly supplemented by a Sullivan point, but Donegal subsequently rallied through Yvonne Bonner and McLaughlin to bring a 0-7 to 1-2 cushion into the dressing rooms.
Dublin remained in contention, however, and found themselves back in the ascendancy courtesy of a dominant third-quarter showing. Even though Bonner kicked a superb individual score for the O’Donnell county, Kate Sullivan (free), Davey, Nicole Owens and Jennifer Dunne were all on target to give the Leinster giants a 1-6 to 0-8 buffer.
Marauding wing-back Nolan – who also picked up an All Star last year – created further daylight with an excellent point before the returning Sinead Aherne, Tyrrell and Nicole Owens also found the target to move Dublin five points clear with the finishing line in sight.
Yet the game was completely turned on its head when Emma McCrory and Bonner rattled the Dublin net within 23 seconds of each other and while Dublin battled for an equaliser in the dying seconds, it didn’t materialise.