Goals from Niamh Cotter and Mia Jennings and six points from player-of-the-match Eabha Rutledge helped Kilmacud Crokes retain their Dublin Go-Ahead Senior Football Championship title despite a tough second-half showing from Na Fianna Friday night.
Michelle Davoren kicked the opening point for the Crokes less than one minute in and her side's winning start continued with Cotter's goal just two minutes later, soon followed up by a point that was nearly a goal from Grace Kos.
Rutledge collected the first of her points before Laura Grendon scored Na Fianna's first goal and gave her side a much-needed boost. Na Fianna captain Aoife Caffrey quickly followed up with a point after a pass from Eilish O'Dowd but more points from Rutledge and Michelle Davoren and the latter's hand pass leading to a goal Mia Jennings meant that the scoreline at halftime was a comfortable 2-9 to 1-1 for the Crokes.
Grendon again carried Na Fianna's hopes as she secured a free soon after the restart and then a second goal in the 39th minute. Things began to look grim for Crokes as Mia Jennings and Laura Magee (as well as Na Fianna's Sophie Ahern) were sin-binned and Na Fianna's Claire Kelly scored around the 47th minute.
The gap had now decreased from 11 at halftime to just 3. Na Fianna's Hannah Tyrrell, Cotter and Grendon traded points to keep nerves on edge but further points from Michelle Davoren and Julia Buckley meant the Crokes would keep their crown.
Scorers:
Kilmacud Crokes: Eabha Rutledge 0-6 (3f), Niamh Cotter 1-1, Mia Jennings 1-0, Michelle Davoren 0-3, Grace Kos 0-1, Julia Buckley 0-1
Na Fianna: Laura Grendon 2-2 (0-1f), Claire Kelly 1-0, Hannah Tyrrell 0-1 (f), Aoife Caffery 0-1
Kilmacud Crokes: Rachael Fleming, Philippa Greene, Emer Sweeney, Ciara Regan, Aoife Kane, Kate Murray, Niamh Carr, Lauren Magee, Grace Kos, Niamh Cotter, Ailbhe Davoren, Mia Jennings, Amy Conroy, Michelle Davoren, Eabha Rutledge Subs: Julia Buckley for Conroy (halftime), Molly Lamb for Sweeney (44), Cassie Sultan for Kos (55), Sinead O'Donoghue for Regan (63)
Na Fianna: Karen O'Connell, Sophie Ahern, Niamh Gleeson, Eimear Nolan, Orla Martin, Elyse Jamieson-Murphy, Leah Caffrey, Eilish O'Dowd, Lucy Collins, Hannah Tyrrell, Aoife Caffrey, Aoife Nolan, Karla Conway, Laura Grendon, Emma Deeley Subs: Claire Kelly for Collins (16), Roisin Baker for Martin (44), Ellie McAleer for Nolan (55), Eva Ahern for Gleeson (66)
Referee: Ray McBride
Sourced from a report by Daire Walsh
