The Youth were just finishing up their Games, and the Notre Dame Ladies and Mairéad Farrell Ladies were warming up, prepared to get at one another. These two clubs are about as competitive as you can get. A Rivalry that builds every game. Good, clean, hard Football; with some well taken scores and class finishing. Both clubs have added a couple since the last time they met. The Dames have added the services of Gráinne McGlade, Aoife Dillane, Megan Burns, Danielle Morgan, and Aisling Maguire. The Farrells have added the services of Orla Fegan, Niamh McGuinness, and Michelle Mullin.

The game started with the Dames having great difficulty getting the ball out over their own 45 meter line. Given those opportunities, the Farrells punished them, with two points from Ciara Moore, and one from Rebecca McCrory. The Dames responded with a well struck point off the peg of Aoife Dillane. Less than a minute later Dillane broke loose from the pack, found daylight, and buried a goal, giving the Dames the lead inside sixty seconds. Farrells regained their composure, steadied the ship, and bounced back with fine scores. Points came courtesy of Natalie Hughes, Moore, McCrory, and Danielle McMearty. Dames couldn't find the target again in that half; hitting four wides, being robbed twice by Farrells Keeper Desiree DaBaldo, and producing no fruit from two (2) "45"s. Dames played the final five minutes (5 min.) shorthanded via the Sin Bin.

Short Whistle:
Farrells 0-07 to Dames 1-01

Second half action picked up right where it left off. Five minutes remained for the sin-binned offender, and the Farrells continued to apply the pressure. Points slotted over by Orla Fegan, and McCrory widened the gap to five. Dames responded with another cracking goal from Danielle Downey, and a fine point from Emer Flatley. Hughes pumped over a beauty for the Farrells, and the margin was now at two. Farrells marched back down the pitch after a great defensive steal by Dana Johns picking the pocket of Maureen Ennis. Farrells swung the ball around the forward line and won a free from a heavy collision. Tempers flared, some handbagging, when the dust settled the Farrells were reduced to twelve.

Dames went down the field and ripped a bullet off the post. The woman advantage was starting to wear down the Farrells. Ennis grabbed the lead with a goal, followed by points from Andrea Nardello and Aoife Dillane. Fegan broke through the Dames defense and slammed the Size Four off the Woodwork and over the Bar for a point. The deficit was at two for the Farrells. Another Dames' goal came off of Downey, but Farrells wouldn't lie down as Moore pumped a free and a point from play over the black spot. Anne O'Donovan widened the gap again for the Dames firing on the run across her body. The icing was applied by none other than Ennis as the Dames were awarded a penalty, shortly before the Long Whistle. Tough task for the Farrells playing with a reduced side, without adding a triple digit heat index of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38+ degrees Celsius).

Final:
Notre Dames • 05-05 (20)
Mairéad Farrells • 0-13

They face off again on the 22nd of July, and more firepower is rumored for both sides. Dames have at least one to add, while the Farrells add a minimum of two, and a veteran or two from injury.

Peter McDermott
Peadar MacDiarmada
Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Philadelphia
Oifigeach Caidreamh Poíblí