Dunboyne…2-11
Foxrock/Cabinteely (Dublin)…2-08
Don’t try and figure it out, just enjoy it. However, for clarity and context, let it be pointed out once more that it was only in 2014 St Peter’s re-affiliated an adult Ladies Football team. Now, they stand crowned as one of the four best sides in the country at the highest level. A status achieved following this epic encounter against the seven-in-a-row chasing Dublin winners in wintry sunshine at Kinnegad.
True to form, Vikki Wall immediately laid down a marker for the first time finalists when grabbing the throw-in surging forward and blasting over inside 15 seconds. The Dublin 4 outfit haven’t achieved all that is so without being laced with laced with class and it was there for all to see as they went on to dominate the remainder of the first half.
A goal by Katie McNally – daughter of team manager and former Dublin star Alan and niece of Joe – eased the title holders into a 1-05 to 0-04 interval advantage. The remainder of Dunboyne’s response coming from the boot of Emma Duggan. Half time was always going to be crucial and it generated a major swing in favour of the challengers.
The leaders lost the vastly experienced Niamh Collins to a hand injury at half time while, at the same time, the introduction of Niamh Williams had a huge influence on the match for Dunboyne. The No. 30 got on a mountain of ball and was a crucial link player as Brendan Quinn’s side effected an eight point turn around in the early stages of the second half as team captain Fiona O’Neill once again found the net and points followed from the imperious Wall, Duggan, Saoirse Quinn and the excellent Alison Jones.
When the Meath champions defeated Seneschalstown in the Meath SFC Final, it was remarked that to become the best you have to beat them first. Again they did it here but not before the reigning champions amply demonstrated just why they are one of the greatest sides the game has seen as a goal from substitute Hannah O’Neill cut the deficit to the minimum once more.
One thing this Dunboyne team does not do, however, is panic and after some truly heroic defending from a magnificent rearguard unit, how fitting it was that one of their All Ireland winning legends, Shelly Melia, had the final say as her high blast to the net turned out to be the all important score.
FOGRA: As will surely well know by now, 2021 has undoubtedly been the most difficult in which these wheels have been rolling around this earth. But I will never be able to truly express how much how the exploits of these heroic sportspeople have helped through these past months. And how, yes, this Christmas will be unspeakably difficult but knowing their journey will continue gives me a target to lock onto and aim at.
Dunboyne: A. O’Sullivan; R. McDermott, E. Doyle, D. Blaney; A. Delaney, H. Hickey, A. Moffatt; V. Wall (0-3), A. Jones (0-1); J. Kavanagh, S. Melia (1-0), S. Quinn (0-1); H. Nolan, E. Duggan (0-5) , F. O’Neill (1-1). Sub; N. Williams for Nolan.
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