By Daragh Ó Conchúir
Dublin 1-10
Limerick 1-3
A 44th minute goal from Anna Sullivan was the key score as Dublin emerged victorious from the Very Camogie League Division 3B final at the Tipperary Camogie Grounds The Ragg.
Ella Hession had rocked the Metropolitans with a stunning goal in the first half to give Limerick real hope at the break, trailing by 0-9 to 1-3, having played into a very strong wind.
The margin had stretched by just one when Sullivan struck and the Dubs never looked like letting it slip from there, with Sinéad Murphy and skipper Niamh Gleeson real defensive rocks and Limerick, remarkably, unable to score with the elements in their favour.
Gerry McQuaid’s crew only had a point to spare when these teams met in the group stages but Limerick scored three goals on that occasion and reducing that green flag threat, and in particular Hession’s influence, was a significant factor in their triumph this time around.
The Sky Blues, who had Wexford legend and former Clare hurling coach, Mags D’Arcy as well as ex Antrim manager, Elaine Dowds among the backroom staff, got off the mark when Eimear O’Leary finished a move started by Murphy, and with Jennifer Moore providing the final pass, O’Leary split the posts after a neat side-step created the space.
Limerick were defending well, the likes of Abby Murrihy looking alert as Dublin looked to hit the corners.
Carla Griffin, one of six Limerick players that lined out in last year’s All-Ireland minor A Shield final, drove powerfully through the breeze to equalise from a free in the tenth minute, awarded for a push on the closely monitored Hession but Róisín Ní Chathasaigh, Jennifer Moore and Ní Chathasaigh again responded in three minutes as Limerick began to struggle to clear their lines
A fantastic solo score by Hession, beating three Dublin defenders before supplying the finish at the end of the first quarter appeared a brief respite as points from Gráinne Skelton (free), Sullivan and O’Leary put five points betweeb them.
The Shannonsiders got a huge boost however, when Hession sent a rasper beyond Chloe Ní Cheallaigh to register her seventh goal of the campaign in the 23rd minute.
It is an early contender for goal of the season, as Hession, forced out to the left wing about 22m out and under pressure, lifted the sliotar using the two-foot-jump technique, turned and showed good strength to break through before sprinting clear of the cover and providing the resounding finish.
Skelton (free) and Ciara Murphy steadied Dublin but another converted placed ball by Griffin gave the Limerick supporters real hope at the break that Dave Deady’s unit could prevail.
Dublin showed tremendous grit in the second half, however, and Ní Chathasaigh made up for missing a goal chance with an excellent point.
Then came the key score, Sullivan drifting in behind the Limerick defence cleverly to take the pass from Amy Carey, after good work initially by O’Leary to emerge from a ruck with possession. She made no mistake from close range and Limerick had a mountain to climb.
Dublin defended stoutly and made sure that Hession was denied a quality supply.
The first time she got good possession was as the clock ticked into injury time and the full-forward was dragged back for a penalty. Unfortunately for Limerick, Valerie Shanahan completely mis-hit her shot and it was an easy save for Ní Cheallaigh.
The final whistle came soon after and the first silverware of the inter-county season had gone to Dublin.
SCORERS FOR DUBLIN: A Sullivan 1-1; R Ni Chathasaigh 0-3; E O’Leary, G Skelton (fs) 0-2 each; J Moore, C Murphy 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR LIMERICK: E Hession 1-1, C Griffin 0-2(f)
DUBLIN: C Ní Cheallaigh, K Fenlon, N Gleeson, C Tierney, N McCormack, S Murphy, A Kenny, G Skelton, S Cherry, C Murphy, E O’Leary, R Ní Chathasaigh, A Sullivan, A Carey, J Moore. Sub: K McEvoy, G Shanahan, E Ní Cheallaigh
LIMERICK: L Quinlan, A Murphy, T Lenihan, M Ryan, A Kennedy, C Houlihan, L O’Connor, K Feasey, S Fitzgerald, V Shanahan, C English, L Southern, A Burke, E Hession, C Griffin. Sub: N Curtin, C Dunne, E Frawley, L English
REFEREE: Colm Ó Mocháin (Cork)
