Leinster U16 Championship Rd 1

Saturday March 4th

Dublin 4-09 (21) 

Meath 5-05 (20)

Dublin boss, Declan Patton will be thrilled with the spirit and resilience shown by his young U16 charges as they staged an late injury time comeback to defeat Meath by a single point.

The visitors thought they had the game won when full forward Poppy Byrne struck for the royals 5th goal of the game just as the clock struck sixty minutes.

Byrne’s goal pushed her side two points clear of the reigning champions with the game gone into added time. From the resultant kick out the Dubs worked the ball up the field at pace.

As the ball moved through the lines Ali Henry found herself on the end of the final pass to score the games winning goal much to the delight of her teammates and management.

Meath had led at the interval by 3-04 (13) to 1-05 (8) with the royals first half goals coming from Eabha Hanley (pen), Ella McGlue and the previously mentioned royal team captain, Poppy Byrne.

The first goal of the half was scored by Dublin full forward Grace Dolly. Dublin had a nervous opening 30 minutes and will be disappointed with their first half wide count while also failing to covert a penalty. Indeed, a second spot kick was also missed in the second half.

To their credit Dublin upped their game on the restart reducing the scoring deficit with Roisin Kirby and Hannah Galvin making an impact straight off the bench.

The final quarter of the game rained goals - five in total as Orla Keighran, Grace Connolly and Henry raised the green flag for the Dubs while McGlue and Byrne where once again on target for Meath.

But it was Henry’s late goal that sealed a great comeback for the Dubs who now look forward to their second round fixture versus Kildare on March 18th next.

Kildare earlier today enjoyed 6-03 to 1-03 victory over Wexford in their opening group game.

SCORERS: Dublin: Orla Keighran 1-03 (2f), Ciara Brogan 0-04 (1f), Ali Henry 1-01 (1f), Grace Dolly, Gemma Connolly 1-00 each, Lille Tully 0-01 (1f).

Meath: Poppy Byrne 2-02, Ella McGlue 2-00, Éabha Hanley 1-00 (pen), Muireann Nelson 0-3 (2f)

Dublin: Maia Ezan (Round Tower Clondalkin), Ella Geraghty (Scoil Ui Chonaill), Chloe O’Shea (Lucan Sarsfiels), Niamh Bush (St Maurs), Zara Kos (Kilmacud Crokes), Catarina Almeida (Scoil Ui Chonaill), Ruby Magnier (Fingallians), Kirsten Mooney (Fingallians), Hannah Murphy (St Vincents) Captain, Charlie Murphy (Ballyboden St Endas), Rebecca McEvoy (Cuala), Eile Caffrey (St Judes), Ciara Brogan (St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh), Grace Dolly (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Orla Keighran (St Judes).

Panel: Rachel Casey (O’Dwyers), Tara Walshe (Kilmacud Crokes), Abaigh Pollock (St Anne’s), Susie Greville (Ballyboden St Endas), Roisin Kirby (St Brigids), Anya Dunne (Lucan Sarsfields), Grace O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), Genevieve Kennedy (St Sylvesters), Kirsten Mooney (Fingallians), Abigail O’Neill (Stars of Erin), Sarah Doran (Kilmacud Crokes), Lille Tully (Round Towers Lusk), Ali Henry (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Gemma Connolly (Fingallians), Hannah Galvin (Templeogue Synge St), Cadhla Nig Fhloinn (Naomh Meranog). Additional panelists: Evelyn Arheit (Foxrock Cabinteely), Dayne Murray (Fingallians), Abbie O’Connor (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Saoirse McMahon (Ballyboden St Endas), Clodagh Franke (Clanna Gael Fontenoy).

Management: Declan Patton, Alex Chapman, Pat Kane, Michael Noonan, Michael Corcoran, Daria Chapman, Paula Jackson.

Image credit Maurice Grehan for Dublin LGFA

Report with thanks to Dublin LGFA