Green and Red have no answer to storming comeback by Capital girls
Mayo’s Aoife Geraghty clashes with Dublin’s Caoimhe O’Connor during last Sunday's Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 encounter at James Stephens Park, Ballina. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
Dublin 2-15
Mayo 2-8
Patrick Hennelly at James Stephens Park, Ballina
Mother Nature had its say with this Ladies NFL encounter at Ballina on Sunday afternoon, as a wind-assisted Dublin hit turbo boost during the second-half to amazingly overturn a nine-point interval deficit and leave North Mayo with the spoils.
Sunday’s encounter was a prime example of a game of two halves as Mayo made full use of the near gale-force wind at their backs during the first-half to lead 2-7 to 0-4 at the break, only for Dublin to utilise the elements even better during the second-half, with the guile and experience of the guests coming to the fore.
The visitors – and current All-Ireland champions – were under pressure during the embryonic stages of this clash, with an early point from Mayo’s Lisa Cafferky quickly followed up with a goal for the hosts on three minutes. Mayo’s precise passing and interlinking play was particularly eye-catching during the opening half, with one such windswept move culminating in Cafferky collecting possession and rounding Rachel Fleming before coolly slotting the ball to the back of the net.
Soon after, Sinead Walsh guided over a splendid point and the Green and Red were in flying form.
The Dublin defence struggled to cope with Mayo’s blistering attacking waves and the hosts were awarded a penalty on nine minutes after the industrious Tara Needham was fouled inside the danger zone. Cafferky was coolness personified from the spot and when she added another point soon after, Liam McHale’s outfit held a commanding 2-3 to no score lead.
Dublin badly needed a score and it finally arrived on 14 minutes, as Kate Sullivan – who would go on to have a terrific outing – opened the Metropolitans account from the placed ball.
Lisa Cafferky was posing the Dublin rearguard plenty of problems and after guiding over a free on 18 minutes, Mayo’s top-scorer in the game pointed a gem from an acute angle, much to the delight of the vocal home supporters.
Facing into the teeth of a strong wind, Mike Bohan’s Dublin struggled to create decent scoring opportunities, but they did manage to open their account from play on 20 minutes as the deadly Orlagh Nolan forced the umpires into action.
Shortly after Cafferky had guided over another perfectly taken free for the Green and Red, Dublin very nearly snatched a first-half goal on 24 minutes. Some eagle-eyed vision from Claire Kirwan resulted in the hovering Ellen Gribben receiving possession and the Mayo custodian Laura Brennan was mightily relieved to see the former’s thunderbolt crash against the crossbar, before Annabelle Timothy tapped the loose ball over the black-spot.
Dublin’s Sullivan added another single for the Sky Blue and Navy, but a dominant Mayo had the final say of the half as Cafferky pointed from play and the hosts led 2-7 to 0-4 during the half-time musings.
Dublin re-emerged for the second-half with renewed vigour and points from Timothy, the influential Sullivan, and Gribben, during the opening six minutes of the new half, helped set the tone for remainder of the game.
Mayo, led by the hardworking duo of Nicola O’Malley and Danielle Caldwell, tried their level best to lift the Dublin siege, but there was no stopping the now weather-backed attacking forays of their opponents.
A point from Orlagh Nolan proved to be the prelude to a three-pointer from Mick Bohan’s outfit, as Caoimhe O’Connor collected possession and darted towards goal before finishing with aplomb past Brennan and now with 42 minutes played, there were just two points separating the sides, 2-7 to 1-8.
St Sylvester’s Kate Sullivan’s contribution was highly effective and two quickfire frees from the dynamic wing-forward restored parity after 45 minutes.
Mayo tried their level best to halt their opponent’s new found momentum, but the signs were ominous when the lively Timothy edged the Metropolitans in front for the first time in this tie on 47 minutes courtesy of a magnificent long-range white-flagged effort.
The hosts regrouped and the home faithful were given a glimmer of hope when Dublin were reduced to fourteen players on 49 minutes after their influential midfielder Niamh Hetherton received a sin-bin. However, Dublin had experienced players to step up to the mark, and their half-time substitute Chloe Darby landed a skyscraper of a point to help garner a crucial 1-12 to 2-7 advantage for the guests.
Mayo’s only score of the entire second-half arrived on 59 minutes, as Cafferky pointed a free to reduce the deficit to the bare minimum once again. But Mayo’s comeback hopes suffered a set-back as their busy and tenacious wing-forward Fionnuala McLoughlin picked up a yellow card on 60 minutes and was sin-binned.
Dublin upped the tempo during the closing stages of the tie and points from Nolan and the returning Hetherton were buttressed by a fortuitous three-pointer four minutes into added time. Gribben skipped past the Mayo cover and despite her strike hitting the woodwork, the sniping Sullivan was on hand to guide the rebound to the back of the net.
Dublin then put the icing on the cake courtesy of a fine point from Parnells girl Darby, with her teammate Ashling Nyhan’s late sin-bin mattering little in the end.
“We played very well in the first-half but in the second-half we ran out of a little bit of steam,” admitted Mayo manager Liam McHale afterwards. “Dublin’s power and conditioning is probably a little bit further down the road. Dublin played a good defence during the second-half and their experience showed.
“We are getting better and we showed that at times, especially during the first-half,” continued McHale. “I know Dublin are missing some players, however, I am not worried about them. We are also missing some quality players who could possibly have made a difference today.”
