GOLDRICK DRIVES FOX/CAB TO GLORY
Full-forward line in superb form for classy southsiders
DUBLIN LADIES SFC FINAL
FOXROCK/CABINTEELY…………………………………… 3-10
ST BRIGID’S……………………………………………………. 2-1
By Daire Walsh
THE full-forward line of Amy Connolly, Hannah Noonan and Amy Ring proved to be instrumental for Foxrock/Cabinteely at Parnell Park on Friday evening, as the southside outfit secured their second-ever Dublin Ladies Senior Football Championship title in emphatic style against an overwhelmed St Brigid’s.
Pat Ring’s charges grabbed their maiden crown with an impressive triumph over Na Fianna three years ago, and with their inside line contributing a combined tally of 2-7, they were also deserving victors on this occasion.
SURGING
The surging runs of player of the match Sinead Goldrick and Niamh Collins were a regular feature of the contest, and although Brigid’s broke the deadlock with an excellent fourth-minute point from full-forward Elaine Kelly, Foxrock/Cabinteely did manage to discover their attacking rhythm with points from Noonan, Ring (free) and Dublin star Goldrick.
Following their defeat to Na Fianna in last year’s decider, the Kilbogget Park girls were eager to make amends in the 2015 showpiece, but they received something of a let-off at the end of the first-quarter when a penalty from Brigid’s centre-back Sorcha Furlong drifted past the left-hand post – via the woodwork.
The industrious Ring (daughter of manager Pat) was denied a goal of her own by excellent defensive cover from Brigid’s, but after a 0-3 salvo from Noonan helped to give Fox/Cab a six-point cushion just shy of the half-hour mark, Ring eventually found the back of Ciara Trant’s net after the alert Noonan displayed great vision to pick her out from a quick free.
WELL-DRILLED
This meant that Foxrock/Cabinteely had a 1-7 to 0-1 buffer at their disposal upon the resumption, and if Brigid’s (who last appeared in a senior final back in 1997) were to rein in the challenge of their well-drilled counterparts, they needed to make a strong statement after the restart.
The introduction of Aoibheann Lynch and Siobhan Devlin did offer fresh impetus to the Brigid’s play, but even though they dropped a number of shots into the arms of opposition netminder Trant, Foxrock/Cabinteely remained in firm control of their own destiny.
The outstanding Goldrick added her second point on 34 minutes, and this was soon supplemented by scores from Laois native Laura Nerney and Connolly.
There are a number of players within the Fox/Cab squad who hail from outside the capital, and it was Louth’s Anne Marie Murphy who registered her side’s second goal 15 minutes from the end.
The former Cooley Kickhams lynchpin calmly converted a penalty beyond the reach of Trant after captain Fiona Claffey had been fouled inside the square, but there was some solace for Brigid’s from the resulting attack, when Leah Mullins fired past Carol Manning for a superb individual major.
U21 All-Ireland medallist Mullins never stopped trying throughout the course of the action, but Foxrock/Cabinteely soon restored their 15-point advantage courtesy of Connolly’s terrific left-footed three-pointer.
This turned out to be Fox/Cab’s final score of the game, but with several players being introduced from the bench in the closing minutes, it was perhaps understandable that they took their foot off the gas.
Mullins did add a late consolation goal for Brigid’s when she palmed home Colleen Barrett’s long-delivery, but it wasn’t enough to spoil the Foxrock/Cabinteely party.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – Foxrock/Cabinteely: A Connolly 1-2, A Ring 1-1 (0-1f), H Noonan 0-4, AM Murphy 1-0 (pen), S Goldrick 0-2, L Nerney 0-1. St Brigid’s: L Mullins 2-0, E Kelly 0-1.
FOXROCK/CABINTEELY: C Manning; N Mohan, A Murray, S Delahunty; S Goldrick, S Brophy, N Collins; M Candon, L Nerney; F Claffey, AM Murphy, C O’Riordan; A Connolly, H Noonan, A Ring.
SUBS: C Crotty for Noonan (53), C Murphy for Mohan (57), E O’Herlihy for Claffey (60), L Fusciardi for O’Riordan (60), L Ahern for Connolly (61).
ST BRIGID’S: C Trant; S Hinkson, C McCormack, S Barrett; A McKenna, S Furlong, C Barrett; E Farrell, C Brogan; O Brennan, N Healy, N O’Neill; L Mullins, E Kelly, A Molly.
SUBS: A Lynch for Brennan (34), S Devlin for McKenna (34), AM Troy for O’Neill (48).
MENTORS – FOXROCK/CABINTEELY: P Ring, A McNally, C Kearney, N Callan, E Brophy, P Clarke. ST BRIGID’S: B Quane, C Brennan.
REF: B O’Connell (Croi Ro Naofa).
WIDES – Foxrock/Cabinteely: 10 (7+3). St Brigid’s: 6 (4+2).
CONDITIONS: Slightly breezy, but also dry and mild.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock/Cabinteely).