Dublin girls face Cork in semis

All roads lead to Nowlan Park, Kilkenny this Saturday for the All-Ireland Camogie semi-final where Dublin take on Cork with a throw-in time of 1.15 pm reports Stephen Farrell.

With Cork topping their group in the Championship, which meant they qualified automatically for the semi-final, Dublin will have it all to do on Saturday.

‘The Dubs’ played Kilkenny in the quarter final on July 06 in Croke Park and caused something of an upset by prevailing on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-12.

Sinead Wylde scored the crucial goal in the first half and there were also prominent displays from Aishling Maher (0-7, 6 fs), who is an All-Star full-forward and Ashling O’Neill (0-2), who came on after 42 minutes, for ‘the Dubs’.

However, Kilkenny had to line out without Miriam Walsh who was injured and it was ‘the Cats’ who were leading by 0-7 to 1-2 after 25 minutes.

On the other hand it should also be borne in mind that Dublin missed a first half penalty.

On the changeover ‘the Dubs’ took over proceedings eventually running out four-point victors.

This was a notable victory for Dublin as Kilkenny had beaten them a few weeks previously in the Leinster Final.

This performance must also have been pleasing for the management as it was a good team effort from Dublin with significant contributions from all their main players.

Players from the locality on the team include goalkeeper Amy Gorman, Aoife McKearney, Emma Flanagan (Lucan Sarsfields), Emma O’Byrne (Good Counsel Liffey Gaels), Grace O’Shea (Ballinteer St Johns) and Niamh Gannon (St Jude’s).

Other players from the locality on the panel include Aine Rafter (Ballyboden St Enda’s), who came on in the second half of the victory over Kilkenny, as did Laura Sharkey (Lucan Sarsfield’s).

Other members of the panel from the locality also include Niamh Comerford (Kilmacud Crokes), Jennifer Moore (Good Counsel Liffey Gaels), Eimear O’Leary (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Ash Gannon, Claire Gannon and Sinead Nolan (St Jude’s).

The Dublin team will be doing a ‘meet and greet’ with the public this Thursday, July 25 at Abbotstown at 7 pm.

Also Dublin Camogie in conjunction with Friends of Dublin Hurling are providing a €200 rebate for each club organising a bus trip to the semi-final in Nowlan Park.

The other Glen Dimplex All-Ireland semi-final is between perennial rivals Galway and Tipperary which also takes place on Saturday in Nowlan Park, throw in 3 pm.

Both semi-finals are due to be televised on RTÉ One, according to the Camogie Association.

The All-Ireland finals are due to be held on Sunday August 11.