Dublin 0-15
Wexford 1-7

by Dean Goodison at Chadwicks Wexford Park

Dublin are the inaugural Glen Dimplex All Ireland U23 B camogie champions after a powerful performance against hosts Wexford in Chadwicks Wexford Park.

The Metropolitans were the class of this grade from the moment it kicked off and they were fully worthy of their title, twice coming to the south-east and beating their main rivals Wexford in their own back yard.

The champions had strong performers all over the park but were led by the exceptional Róisín Ní Chathasaigh, who racked up an impressive six points, including five from open play.

Dublin immediately got on the ball and started imposing their will on Wexford. They interchange and game-plan was clearly a step up on their hosts as they opened the scoring through the impressive Ní Chathasaigh.

The Dublin scorer was fouled and Sinéad O’Hanlon tapped over the resulting free. Sarah Hobbert did get Wexfords’ first score in the sixth minute and there was still a point between the sides when Ní Chathasaigh and Siobhan Sinnott exchanged minors.

Wexford gave themselves a bit of hope downwind when Emma Dempsey fed Ciara Butler in the 13th minute and she rattled the net. However, the Slaneysiders scored just one point in the second quarter, through Butler, as Dublin controlled the game.

A pair of Sinéad O’Hanlon frees got her side back on terms before Ni Chathasaigh put the visitors ahead. Éile O Ceallaigh went within inches of getting the goal back when her shot fizzed just wide but points by Aoibheann Stokes and O’Hanlon ensured Dublin took a 0-8 to 1-3 interval lead.

Despite having the elements, Dublin weren’t as clean in their execution in the second half as Wexford upped the ante, getting the first point on the board through Orla Redmond. Yet, the girls from the capital hit back with overs from Ní Chathasaigh and Ó Ceallaigh, the latter an outstanding point from the right touchline.

Dublin were maybe a little guilty of leaving too much space between their half-forward and full-forward line as the third quarter progress and Wexford started to give as good as they got as they cleaned up ball in that area.

The scores went back and forth, Meabh Wickham registered a lovely point but Ruby Wood replied on the turn. Ciara Butler took over frees for the home side and her first success was again countered by Wood.

The Slaneysiders were unable to get a run going, with Butler getting her side within two again in the 51st minute. However, that would be their final score as Dublin got to grips with their opponents intensity and edged away.

The killer score came in the 58th minute, fittingly through Ní Chathasaigh, the first time Dublin had moved two strikes of the ball ahead in the entire game. If there was any doubt heading into additional-time, the Kilmacud Crokes clubwoman ended it in added time with her sixth point.

Ní Chathasaigh was awarded the ‘Player of the Game’ for her stellar performance and she, along with a few others in this squad, will be ones to keep an eye on as they move to the senior team in the years to come.

SCORERS FOR DUBLIN: R Ní Chathasaigh 0-6 (1 ‘45), S O’Hanlon 0-4 (4f), R Wood 0-2, A Stokes, É Ó Ceallaigh, G Skelton 0-1 each.

SCORERS FOR WEXFORD: C Butler 1-3 (0-2f); S Sinnott (f) S Hobbert, O Redmond, M Wickham 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Brennan; C Tierney, R Ni Drisceoil, N Roche; L Quinn, E Jamieson-Murphy, M Hughes; S O’Hanlon, E Dunphy; R Ni Chathasaigh.G Skelton, E Ó Ceallaigh; A Stokes, R Wood, A Deegan (capt.). Subs: E Moran for Deegan (31), A Carey for Ó Ceallaigh (44), M Hicks for Stokes (55).

WEXFORD: E Coleman; K Cullen, L Dempsey, K Dempsey; G Ivanoff, L Doyle (capt.), R Fanning; S Sinnott, A Goggins; O Redmond, E Dempsey, M Wickham; C Whelan, C Butler, S Hobbert. Subs: L Smyth for Whelan (29), A Mac Sweeney for Hobbert (36), KA Dempsey for Goggins (38), S O’Donoghue for Wickham (47).

REFEREE: Colm Ó Mocháin (Cork).

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