Dominant display by Dublin Senior Camogie who finish Season on a high after win against Derry

Dublin V Derry 

Parnell Park

Saturday June 28th 2 pm

One change on the Dublin team this week, Emma O’Byrne replaced Aoife Kenny in the Dublin defense. 

This was a winner takes all match as the loser would have to prepare for a  relegation game v Wexford. Dublin were determined to make sure that they were not going to be part of that game. Within the first minute Dublin’s long time go to forward Aisling Maher struck for goal. The perfect start. Over the next 5 minutes Derry scored their first point. Dublin added 4 points from Sinead  Wylde, Aoife McKearney and 2 from Aisling Maher (free) before the 7th minute when Emma Flanagan played a superb ball across the Derry box for Kerrie Finnegan to catch and strike to the net. Dublin 2-04, Derry 0-01. 

Only 4 minutes later Finnegan doubled her tally but this time it was all her own work as she chased down a long ball over the Derry defense. After stopping the ball near the end line Finnegan turned and headed straight to the Derry goal and flicked the sliotar to the net. While Dublin were on top the defense needed to be alert. On 14 minutes, Eimear Hurley saved a close in shot. Derry converted the resulting 45. 

However immediately from the puck out, Grace O’Shea won the lose ball and took off towards the Derry goal. Unselfishly she slipped the ball perfectly to the on running Emma Flanagan who buried the ball. 4-04 to 0-02. It was great to see such a high level of unselfish play between the Dublin forwards. Next up Aisling O’Neill set up Aisling Maher for her second goal of the game.

Over the remaining 15 minutes both sides added 4 points each (O’Shea, Wylde, Maher and Flanagan) but the pick of them being a catch, turn and shot over the bar by Emma Flanagan. 3 of the Derry scores were from frees. 

Half Time score 5-10 to 0-06

Half Time saw 2 significant substitutions with both Zoe Couch and Jody Couch coming on for their first appearance in this years Championship. Everyone in the set up was thrilled to see their return. Aisling O’Neill opened the scoring for Dublin followed shortly by Gaby Couch the hard working mid fielder who scored for her third Championship match this year. 

Aisling Maher popped over a free followed shortly afterwards by the Dublin 5th goal of the game as Emma Flanagan turned and shot on the turn. Áine Rafter replaced Gaby. 

Suddenly at 38 minutes Derry managed to find a gap in the Dublin defense and the ball rolled into the Dublin net. This seemed to wake Dublin up again as they hit the next 3 points, 2 from Maher and a super long range point from Ais O’Neill. 

Derry grabbed 2 more and then another significant sub as another recovering long term injury, Eve O’Brien came on for Emma O’Byrne. Over the final 10 minutes Dublin added 3 more points from their forwards (McKearney, Maher and O’Neill) with Emma Flanagan adding her 3rd goal of the game mainly thanks to hard battling by O’Neill on the end line. Credit to Derry who have had a tough season but their heads never dropped and were putting pressure on Dublin right to the final whistle. 

This result ends Dublin’s involvement in the 2025 Championship but Derry must regroup to face Wexford in a Relegation battle. 

Final Score:

Dublin 7-19 Derry 1-11