DUNBOYNE MADE LIGHT of the weather conditions to produce a superb display that saw them overcome a young Bantry Blues side to become the 2015 Ladies Junior All-Ireland Club Champions.
The scoring star on the Dunboyne side was full-forward Vikki Wall and her goal just before the interval proved decisive.
Dunboyne hit the front after 10 minutes with a point from Wall.
The conditions were difficult for both sides but Dunboyne captain, Julie Kavanagh dealt with them better than most, dominating in midfield for the Meath women.
Aoife O’Driscoll scored the only point of the half for Bantry, who failed to take advantage of the strong wind.
Fiona O’Neill added another point from play for Dunboyne before Shelly Melia sent in a perfect angled pass into the path of Wall who palmed the ball past Seadna O’Sullivan in the Bantry goal just two minutes before halftime. Dunboyne had a healthy 1-3 to 0-1 lead at the break with the wind at their backs in the second period.
Bantry needed a fast start to the second half but it was Dunboyne who grabbed the first score; Melia driving the ball over the bar within a minute of the restart.
Impressive young forward Libby Coppinger replied with a point for Bantry, who were beginning to gain a foothold in the game.
Wall scored points either side of an Aoife Thompson effort as they were coasting to victory, leading 1-7 to 0-2.
However, strong work from Eve Murphy saw O’Driscoll receive the ball in space and she grabbed the chance by drilling the ball into the Dunboyne net to give her side hope.
Wall, as ever, was on hand to reply with a point, electing to put the ball over the bar despite having a half-chance at goal.
Bantry were to rue some wayward shooting as they started to dominate possession and Rachel Murphy’s point was to prove little more than consolation as Wall had the last say with a well-taken score to seal the All-Ireland Club title for the Meath club on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-03.
Bantry Blues: Seadna O’Sullivan; Edel McGovern, Aoife Crowley, Doireann O’Shea; Mairead Dullea, Ann Coakley, Sarah Deane; Emma Spillane, Jessica Coakley; Niamh Crowley, Myra O’Sullivan, Kate O’Brien; Sarah Coakley, Aoife O’Driscoll (1-01, 1f) Libby Coppinger (0-01).
Subs: Sarah Murphy, Eilish Harrington, Laura O’Sullivan (capt), Meabh Ni Shuilleabhan, Eve Murphy, Rachel Murphy (0-01), Alice O’Shaughnessy, Kathleen Casey, Lucy Coakley, Ellen O’Sullivan, Bernadette O’Flynn, Sarah Bishop, Eileen O’Driscoll, Katie O’Shea, Emilie Murphy.
Dunboyne: Maeve Clince; Claire Baker, Lauren Byrne, Emma O’Byrne; Dee Blaney, Elaine Doyle, Ann-Marie Moffatt (0-01); Julie Kavanagh (capt), Amy Coyne; Shelly Melia (0-01), Alison Jones, Sinead Hackett, Aoife Thompson (0-01, 1f), Vikki Wall (1-06) Fiona O’Neill (0-01).
Subs: Meabh O’Doherty, Niamh Williams, Roisin Doherty, Louise Grant, Odharnaith McKenna, Katie Tobin, Aoife Ryan, Chloe Coyne, Niamh McDermott, Roisin McGoldrick, Rachel McDermott, Hollie Donnelly.
