Dunboyne…3-13
Tinahely (Wicklow)…1-18
Not only did lightening strike twice in terms of the rudiments of today’s game, events of four seasons ago were re-visited as Dunboyne just edged through to the Leinster Club SFC Final after an extra time epic at the Wicklow venue this afternoon.
When last the two clubs crossed paths in the Leinster Ladies Club IFC in 2017, the drama was even more prolonged as it took a penalty shootout to separate these two gifted sides. Here, and by no means for the first time this year, it was the exquisite Emma Duggan who stood up to the plate when she was needed most.
The prodigiously talented full forward drove over the free which guaranteed the Meath champions another 20 minutes they just about deserved before the teenage All Star netted her side’s third ‘Major’ as extra time ebbed away. Thus guaranteeing Brendan Quinn’s charges a rattle at serial Dublin winners Foxrock/Cabinteely. That, however, would only tell a fraction of this epic encounter.
Those who made the 100km + journey got off to a great start with Duggan and skipper Fiona O’Neill looking lively in attack. By the time of the first water break they had constructed a cushion of 0-05 to 0-03. If time had imparted anything, it was the obstinate nature of today’s opponents and, true to form, the locals dominated the second quarter to deservedly lead by 0-08 to 0-07 at the midway point.
There appeared to be little change in the trend of the game initially after the restart until two quickfire goals from surging half back Annie Moffatt and the redoubtable Julie Kavanagh gave those in blue and red a bit of a break on their adversaries for the first time since the early stages of the game. Again, however, the Garden County representatives showcased their admirable durability and appeared to have finally broken the Dunboyne resistance until points from Moffatt, Vikki Wall, O’Neill and a couple of Duggan frees gave the battling Royals a reprieve their work rate and self belief on the day merited.
If anything, today’s demonstrated the mental strength and fortitude which this group possess to accentuate their latent football ability. They needed every inch of everything they had to extricate themselves from this entanglement among the Wicklow hills. Custodian Ali O’Sullivan kept her colleagues afloat at various stages in the drama with some outstanding stops, but on the one occasion the All Ireland medalist was left short on cover a Tinahely goal appeared to have settled the issue in their favour.
But no, despite trailing by 2-12 to 1-18 with only the second extra ten minutes remaining and in spite of some appallingly bad refereeing going in the hometown direction, Dunboyne hung in and firstly Duggan lofted over a free from an acute angle to leave the hosts with the most dangerous lead in football and then she extinguished it altogether.
Gaining possession around 40 yards out and slaloming towards the Tinahely goal before sliding a left footed shot under the advancing goalie and so complete a recovery mission that to be honest seldom looked likely. This writer missed today’s outing due to a combination of circumstances beyond my control (Major kudos to Leinster LGFA for live streaming the game) but wild horses won’t keep me away the next day. You don’t feel the cold when you’ve football in December!
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