JUNIOR DUB STARS MATCH REPORT
NEW IRELAND ASSURANCE JUNIOR DUB STARS
NAVY TEAM 6-9
BLUE TEAM 5-11
By Daire Walsh
A final-minute point from Aoife Keyes helped the Navy Team to complete an impressive comeback against their Blue Team counterparts in the New Ireland Assurance Junior Dub Stars Challenge at the DCU Sportsgrounds on Sunday.
With 15 minutes remaining in a gripping contest, the Blues had developed a seemingly insurmountable nine-point advantage (5-10 to 3-7). However, Navy dug deep in the final-quarter, and thanks in no small part to strong scoring returns from Gillian McCluskey, Clara O’Sullivan and Rachel Staunton, Martin Mitchell’s charges ultimately came out on top.
The Navy team had a point to spare in last year’s inaugural junior clash, but while there were some returning faces 12 months on (McCluskey and Staunton were opponents on that occasion), this was a debut bout for a number of players.
From the first attack of the proceedings, the Blues hit the front with an excellent point by St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh attacker Gaby Couch. Edel O’Brien was a late introduction for her Ranelagh Gaels team-mate Deirdre Breathnach at the heart of the Blues attack, and she played an instrumental role in the game’s opening goal.
With just under 60 seconds gone on the clock, the full-forward saw her effort from a left-hand angle tipped onto the woodwork. Navy weren’t able to clear the ball from safety, though, and Garristown’s Edel Quinn palmed home the rebound.
The Blues continued their dream start with a third-minute point from O’Brien, but though these were ominous signs for Navy, they subsequently fought their way back into contention. Louise Fagan found the Blues net with a sublime chipped effort over the advancing Chloe Downs, and this was supplemented by McCluskey’s opening score of the day.
O’Sullivan was fouled as she attempted a shot from close-range in the 10th-minute, but after Downs let the ball slip through her fingers, a goal was awarded to the Naomh Olaf star.
The Blues were now facing into a two-point deficit, and required a score to calm their nerves once again. A memorable run by Jenny Kelly brought them into the Navy half, and she eventually picked out Laura McManus with a neat hand-pass.
McManus was aiming for a point off her right-foot, but when her strike deceived Navy netminder Olivia McLoughlin, she came away with her side’s second goal. This was the catalyst for a strong purple patch by the Blues, which yielded unanswered points from Couch, Ciara McDunphy (two) and Kelly.
Another speculative shot by McDunphy produced another major on 17 minutes, and increased their advantage to a commanding eight points (3-6 to 2-1). Navy were once again left in a position where they had to chase the game, but with both sides opting to make rolling substitutions as the half developed, it was expected that they would enjoy another period of dominance.
Indeed, a combined salvo of 0-6 from McCluskey (four) and Rita Carroll (two) cut the gap down to three points, before a stoppage-time Anne Whelan goal propelled the Blue Team towards a 4-6 to 2-7 lead at the break.
Navy were able to take solace from being in a similar position at the midway stage in last year’s final – they trailed 2-4 to 1-4 – and the free-flowing nature of the play meant they were still in the running for the top prize.
Their chances of success suffered an additional set-back in the form of a 34th-minute Lisa Sweeney goal for the Blues, and McDunphy added to her own personal haul from open play. Rachel Staunton was one of the star performers in the 2017 decider, and her superb finish on the stroke of 40 minutes breathed fresh life into the Navy challenge.
Yet, thanks to a trio of superb scores by Couch, McDunphy and Sweeney, the Blues quickly re-asserted their authority. Navy were not prepared to go down without a fight, however, and another clinical Staunton three-pointer kick-started a powerful rally from the defending champions.
They maintained their momentum with a close-range O’Sullivan free, and after McCluskey was fouled inside the square nine minutes from time, she coolly slotted home the resultant penalty. This sustained pressure placed the Blue Team on high alert for the remaining minutes, but they brought their counterparts’ scoring sequence to a halt with a fine McManus point from distance.
Navy were determined to finish the game with a flourish, and give the gathering supporters the gripping finale that they desired. An excellent McCluskey goal levelled matters for the first time since Couch’s opener at the start of the action, and there was certainly a sense that the next score could well be a decisive one.
At the end of normal time, versatile St Jude’s star Keyes kicked between the posts at the end of a fine move to give Navy a slender cushion. This was a remarkable turnaround for her side, and when a goal-bound effort by Eimear Mairtin from the final play was fisted inches past the left-hand upright, they squeezed over the line in dramatic fashion.
Scorers – Dub Stars Navy Team: Gillian McCluskey 1-5 (0-2f), Clara O’Sullivan 2-1 (1-0 pen), Rachel Staunton 2-0, Louise Fagan 1-0, Rita Carroll 0-2, Aoife Keyes 0-1. Dub Stars Blue Team: Ciara McDunphy 1-4 (0-2f), Laura McManus 1-01, Lisa Sweeney 1-1, Edel Quinn 1-00, Anne Whelan 1-0 each, Gaby Couch 0-3, Jenny Kelly, Edel O’Brien 0-1 each.
NAVY TEAM: Olivia McLoughlin (Raheny); Lauren Sweeney (O’Dwyers), Ailish Neville (Na Fianna), Elaine Bolger (Foxrock/Cabinteely); Amy McCaffrey (Fingal Ravens), Laurie Baxter (St Finian’s, Swords), Naomi Leonard (St Monica’s); Hannah Brunton (Whitehall Colmcille), Aoife Keyes (St Jude’s); Amy Morgan (Crumlin), Clara O’Sullivan (Naomh Olaf), Christine Dilworth (St Brendan’s); Louise Fagan (Ballyboughal), Gillian McCluskey (Erin’s Isle), Rita Carroll (Thomas Davis).
SUBS: Cathy May (St Finian’s, Newcastle), Olivia Crossan (Foxrock/Cabinteely), Susan Lynch (Ranelagh Gaels), Aisling Frier (Na Fianna), Rachel Staunton (Stars of Erin), Linda Deasy (Thomas Davis), Alison Hickey (Cuala), Anne McSweeney (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh), Rebecca Grimes (Round Tower Lusk), Aoife Keyes (St Jude’s), Rachael O’Shea (Trinity Gaels).
BLUE TEAM: Chloe Downs (Parnell’s); Laura Burke (Clontarf), Ailise Duffy (Fingallians), Karen Cooney (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Kate Fagan (Ballyboughal), Molly Power (Scoil Ui Chonaill), Niamh Rafferty (Castleknock); Jenny Kelly (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Kate Murray (Kilmacud Crokes); Edel Quinn (Garristown), Eimear Mairtin (Naomh Olaf), Ciara McDunphy (Raheny); Laura McManus (Garristown), Edel O’Brien (Ranelagh Gaels), Gaby Couch (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh).
SUBS: Roisin Doyle (Craobh Chiarain), Lisa Sweeney (St Peregrine’s), Tara Byrne Seery (Erin’s Isle), Niamh Leacy (Templeogue Synge Street), Shauna Allen (Robert Emmet’s), Niamh O’Sullivan (St James Gaels), Erin Fadian (St Brendan’s), Eilis Davenport (Ballymun Kickhams), Niamh Whyte (Man-O-War), Anne Whelan (Wanderers), Laura Leacy (Templeogue Synge Street).
Player of the Match: Ciara McDunphy (Raheny).