The Jackies one step from three-in-a-row
BEFORE 2003, Dublin’s senior ladies never had the opportunity to make the promised land in Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day and now fast-forward 16 years, they are on the verge of winning three-in-a-row and their fourth in total.
Trumping Cork last Sunday in Croke Park, Mick Bohan’s Dublin teed up an encounter with Galway in the showpiece on September 15, the Connacht side playing in their first final since 2005.
Siobhán McGrath receives the ‘Player of the Match’ award from Alan Esslemont following the Dubs’ All-Ireland Ladies SFC Semi-Final match against Cork.
Bohan was the Dublin manager back in 2003 when he brought Thomas Davis player Siobhan McGrath into the fold as a 15-year-old and she was instrumental in seeing his side into the final this year.
Picking up the ‘Player of the Match’ Award, McGrath ticked all of the boxes against Cork with her energy and work rate to see them to a 2-11 to 0-11 victory over Ephie Fitzgerald’s side.
Fitzgerald also subsequently stepped down as Rebel’s boss following the game.
Newcastle native Ciara Trant also had a strong presence in between the sticks for the Girls-in-Blue, as she stopped a Doireann O’Sullivan effort with her legs inside two-minutes.
The local contingent form an important part of Bohan’s defensive unit with McGrath powerful in the centre of the pitch while her Thomas Davis clubmate Olwyn Carey is a mainstay at half-back.
Last weekend brought about an air of uncertainty as typically the Jackies and Rebels would be contesting the final rather than the semi-final.
The two sides have split the last 14 Brendan Martin Cups between them, with Dublin now gearing up for their sixth decider on the bounce.
It is not quite the same for fellow finalists Galway however, who have not made it to the final of the All-Ireland since 2005.
On their quest for glory this year, the Tribeswomen have taken down some serious opposition with Tyrone and Donegal succumbing to them in the group stages before they took down Waterford in the quarter-finals.
Galway’s semi-final match-up with Mayo formed the first part of the double header last Sunday that saw them and the Blues reach the final.
The Jackies will be hoping that a repeat of the 2004 final is not on the cards, when Galway beat Dublin 3-8 to 0-11.
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