By Anthony Newman
Carla Rowe scored the last two points of the game as Dublin used all of their experience to get over the line in a thriller against Cork in the Lidl NFL Division 1.
By half-time it looked like Dublin had secured the points when four first-half goals saw them lead by double scores, 4-8 to 0-10. However, a storming restart from Cork saw them back in contention and with five minutes to go they were in front at Páirc Ui Rinn.
The home side got two early second-half goals to put only three points between the sides at that stage. But a couple of late frees from Rowe saw the visitors run out winners by a single point.
Cork got off to the better start with Eimear Kiely putting them in front and from the kick-out they regained possession to see Katie Quirke add their second inside two minutes.
Daire Kiely set up her twin sister Eimear for her second score as Cork dominated the early exchanges. Hannah Tyrrell got Dublin off the mark before she set up Jennifer Dunne.
But the home side continued to dominate and points from Libby Coppinger, Quirke, Rachel Leahy and Eimear Kiely made it 0-7 to 0-2 after 14 minutes.
Ellen Gibben and Tyrrell scored for Dublin before a mistake by the Cork defence saw Kate Sullivan set up Rowe for Dublin’s opening goal. Three minutes later Dublin turned the game on its head when Rowe assisted Caoimhe O’Connor for her goal, to make it 2-5 to 0-8.
Sullivan and Quirke exchanged points before Abby Shiels made a point blank save from Quirke to deny Cork a goal. At the other end Dublin continued their ruthless streak with Tyrrell and Sullivan both finding the back of the net to make it 4-8 to 0-10 at half-time.
Cork started the second strongly and were back in contention when a ball from Erika O’Shea was palmed to the net by Dublin substitute Lauren Magee.
Then Eimear Kiely scored their second goal and it was game on. Three from Tyrrell kept Dublin in control as they lead 4-11 to 2-13 after 45 minutes.
Shiels made another great save, this time from Coppinger before Quirke pointed to make it a three-point game with 10 minutes go to.
Coppinger won possession from the kickout and she played in Orlaith Cahalane to put Cork back on level terms, 3-14 to 4-11. And with six minutes to go Quirke had Cork back in front.
Mick Bohan, Bainisteoir @dublinladiesg 🥳
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— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 6, 2023
Nevertheless, Rowe drew the sides level again from a free and she was on target from another placed ball to seal the win.
Afterwards, Dublin manager Mick Bohan told TG4 about how it’s his intention to let his team express themselves in the League.
“Realistically, I wouldn’t see a massive benefit in that (implementing systems) at this stage (of the year). We’re just trying to find out what players are capable of playing at this level. Particularly when you find yourself in trouble in the second half, who’s going to step up to the plate, that’s way more important than systems.
“It was a game of football. In the National League, you’re just trying to find out who’ll battle for us when we’re in trouble, and play on the front foot.
“I don’t think there was a whole heap of tactics going on today. It was just both teams playing on the front foot, seeing what we can find out about our troops at this point in time.
“I thought, from our point of view, the movement of Caoimhe O’Connor was excellent. I’ve a concern in the ladies game, about the tackle. I’ve said this a long time. I just see that with a little change, the game could be way more open.
“Because, ultimately, when there are a lot of bodies in one end of the field, and you run at somebody and then you’re deemed to be charging when somebody’s arm goes out, I find that very frustrating particularly when you’re trying to orchestrate good movement.”
Scorers – Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-6, C Rowe 1-3 (2f), K Sullivan 1-2, C O’Connor 1-0, J Dunne 0-1, E Gribben 0-1.
Cork: E Kiely 1-3, K Quirke 0-6 (3f), L Magee 1-0 (OG), O Cahalane 1-0, L Coppinger 0-3, R Leahy 0-1, A Healy 0-1, H Looney 0-1.
Dublin: A Shiels; R Brennan, M Byrne, J Tobin; L Caffrey, D Lawless, E Deeley; J Dunne, E O’Dowd; O Nolan, C Rowe, E Gribben; C O’Connor, H Tyrrell, K Sullivan.
Subs: L Magee for Brennan (15), S Wylde for Deeley (22), K Owens for Sullivan (46), N Hetherton for Tyrrell (48).
Cork: M O’Sullivan; S Kelly, S Leahy, D Kiniry; A Healy, H Looney, M Duggan; M O’Callaghan, E O’Shea; E Cleary, L Coppinger, D Kiely; K Quirke, E Kiely, R Leahy.
Subs: L O’Mahony for O’Callaghan (ht), A Ryan for Kiniry (ht), O Cahalane for D Kiely (ht), B O’Sullivan for O’Shea (45), K Redmond for Leahy (46), R Phelan for Duggan (58), A Ring for Kiely (58).
Referee: Garryowen McMahon (Mayo).
