Dublin kickstart round 1 of the National League with Draw game against clare

Centra National League

Dublin V Clare

2pm NGDC Abbotstown

Dublin started their Centra National League Division 1B campaign on a cold but thankfully dry afternoon in NGDC Abbotstown. Despite the recent poor weather the pitch was in perfect condition. There was a great crowd in attendance including the Dublin U14 Development Squads and mentors.

As soon as Barry Nea threw the ball in the Dublin captain, Niamh Gannon, led from the front and scored a superb point in the 2nd minute. Niamh Comerford followed 2 minutes later to double the lead.

It took Clare until the 6th minute to register their first point but managed to score 3 in a row before Dublin levelled it in the 15th minute. In the 17th minute Clare grabbed 2 quick points to lead by 2 but the visitors only managed 1 more point before half time.

Meanwhile Dublin finished the half strongly scoring 5 points. One each from Grace O’Shea and Niamh Comerford, resulting from great interlink play by the Dublin team. This scoring run also included a hat-trick of points that Aisling Gannon registered.

Half Time score Dublin 0-08, Clare 0-06

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with Dublin registering the first 2 scores, this time from Niamh Comerford followed by Grace O’Shea. Dublin had a 4 point lead.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to last too long as a speculative ball into the Dublin box deceived the Dublin goalie and just managed to drop over the goal line.

After a lengthy break in play while Sarah Power was treated for a head injury it was Claire Gannon’s turn to get her name on the scoresheet. Dublin still had a 2 point lead.

The game swung back in favour of Clare who dominated the scoring over the next few minutes registering 5 points without reply including 1 from a free and another from a 45. The 45 had been awarded after a superb diving save by Ciara Jones in the Dublin goal.

With 10 minutes left Dublin management made some changes. One minute later one of those subs Emma Moran scored her first, followed quickly by Kerrie Finnegan. Dublin had upped the intensity right across the field and this was starting to yield dividends as Niamh Comerford scored 2 more from dead balls ( 1 free, 1 from a 45).

Heading into the last 2 minutes of normal time Dublin had grabbed back the lead by 1 but Clare were in no mood to give up and in a nail biting finish Clare managed to get the final score in normal time to level it again. In the 32nd minute Aisling Gannon scored what we all hoped was the winner but with time ticking down Clare were awarded a free just outside the Dublin 20m line which was converted to level the game again.

Unfortunately Dublin didn’t have the opportunity to go for the winner as the referee blew full time following the puck out. Full time score Dublin 0-16, Clare 1-13

This was a very entertaining game between 2 teams who will have plans on competing for the division title.

Dublin travel north to Down next weekend before an away game to Wexford on Feb 28th.