Dublin Ladies League
Go-Ahead Intermediate Championship Group B
BSJ 1-09 O’Dwyers 1-10
Heartbreak for BSJ as O’Dwyers Snatch Victory
There was a similar headline after the Cork Dublin ladies all Ireland final in 2014 where Cork won by a single point and were outplayed for most of the game. BSJ were the better team on Wednesday night in Marley Park and with five minutes to go led 1-09 to 0-09. In the last report I had predicted we would win by 3, the bet was looking good. A harsh penalty changed the game and despite Kate reading the direction of the strike it ended up in the back of the net. Carla Rowe would not have struck it better. One parent beside me commented “If that was a penalty then Charlie Haughey is the love child of Mother Teresea.” Maybe this should be the headline. All square and then a simple free with a minute or two left on the clock sealed a surprise victory for the top team on this side of the table. Cruel.
The game was a classic and the quality of the football was like the 2017 final between Mayo and Dublin. Thankfully Mick Bohan’s Dublin won that one after a long drought. The BSJ ladies came out on the pitch with a determination to keep playing the same fearless style they played in the last 20 minute of the Clan Na Gael game. The mentors saw that determined look and left them to it. Our work is done. The BSJ ladies tore into the much-fancied opposition showing them zero respect. The crowd all moved to the edge of our seats and sensed we were in for a special night. Our backs were ruthless and refused to give the O’Dwyers forwards an inch. The MacGillycuddy's Reeks Mountain range was erected and the BSJ backs dared the opposition to try and scale it. They fed a midfield and half forwards that were on fire, and they ripped into the game with fast accurate kicks to a jubilant forward line that ate every ball and attacked the goal with ferocity. This is how to play ladies Gaelic football. The crowd moved closer to the line and began to believe. Comments included “I knew they that had it them” “They are class” “Brilliant.” “Me nerves” “BSJ all the way”.
When O Dwyers attacked you could see why they lead the table and are unbeaten. They have a few very classy forwards who strike the ball with the accuracy of Amie Mackin. They were settling into the game and suddenly they were 3 ahead. We needed to reassert that early pressure. A BSJ point then another and at half time there was only one in it. Nonsmokers started smoking and people paced up and down the line nervously.
I was lucky enough to witness Cork’s masterclass against Limerick in the hurling semifinal this year and it all happened in the first 12 minutes of the second half. BSJ ladies took a leaf out of that book and came out like wild Irish wolfhounds and took control of the game with goal and a few more points. There were a few goal line scrambles on the ODwyers line where the ball randomly bounced in O’Dwyers favour more than once. “The jammy xxxxxx.” was heard from the BSJ sideline. Our domination should have registered more points as our play was amazing. A few of the O’Dwyers players faces seemed to be enquiring as to when the next bus to Balbriggan was leaving. The keeper was struggling by our zone play. The margin remained too tight and at this stage passers-by joined the crowd sensing a classic. Poor Michael, Liam, Chris and Nora were having palpitations and at one point they appeared to join the game as half forwards and full backs.
A sign of a good team is to never give up and in fairness O’Dwyers never game up. In the last ten minutes they won some crucial 5050 balls. The penalty, the free and the game was over!
A special call out too for Sorcha McGarvey who was starting a senior championship game for the first time and put in a super shift at No5 and also for Laura Dunne, who didn’t play on the night but is one for the future and was in the squad for the first time. A quote from Michael “She’s going to be a super talent. Remember the name.”
MVP was Laoise Tully who manged to extinguish the threat of Dwyer’s danger player and put in a stellar hour’s work. No mean feat.
The sense was not bitter disappointment but satisfaction that we played the style of free-flowing football many of us knew the ladies were capable of. The cancellation of a few games pre championship and a number of injuries did not help this team. God forbid if we were at full strength! The future looks bright. Credit to every player for a masterclass in this beautiful game. Well done to the coaches and volunteers who support this team. The amount of selfless volunteerism is incredible from mentors to physio to video setter up to scorekeeper to flag and net collector! Paul and Bernard respect.
The shield beckons and we go into the next game confident.
Team: Katie Morgan Tighe, Eibhlin Barry, Isabelle Ryan, Laoise Tully, Sorcha McGarvey, Alana Dolan, Derbhla Nolan, Ciara Andrews, Katie Fearon, Ruth Nolan, Emily Adderley, Niamh Leahy, Rebekah Fitzpatrick, Jenny Andrews, Lisa Webster
Subs Roisin Tuomey, Lauren Burke, Grace Dent, Elaine Egan, Belen Swords, Grace Lynch, Sophie Fearon, Laura Dunne.
