CORK CAPTAIN MARTINA O’Brien says she feels her side is closing in on four-in-a-row All-Ireland winners Dublin, as the sides prepare to face off in the Division 1 final.

The sides have already met in this year’s league campaign, serving up a thrilling spectacle which Dublin edged by 3-15 to 4-11. The decider on Saturday evening will see the old rivals battle it out for silverware once again, with Cork effectively going in as reigning champions from 2019 after last year’s final could not be played due to the pandemic.

Dublin are chasing just their second top tier crown in the league this weekend, but it is their recent record in the championship which puts them at the summit of Ladies football.

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They defeated Cork in the 2018 and 2020 All-Ireland finals, while also getting the better of Ephie Fitzgerald’s side in the 2019 semi-final. But O’Brien is confident that the gap is closing on the Leinster outfit.

“We’d like to think it is. We didn’t expect that game to be such a spectacle, it was end-to-end stuff. We hope it’s closing. We’re trying to win things, win leagues and championships. Dublin are standing in everyone’s way.

“We feel like we’ve progressed over the last couple of years and are hoping to bridge that gap this year but we won’t know if we’ve done it until we’ve beaten them… no team will know that until they’ve beaten Dublin.

“Since then we’ve done more training and worked on things. We just hope we can bring that extra little bit on Saturday that might get us over the line.”

Referring back to the era of Cork’s dominance which yielded 11 All-Ireland crowns in 12 years, O’Brien adds:

“We have lost to Dublin the last couple of years and it is obviously going to be one of those things where you are like, just to beat them could be a good thing. We have beaten them in the league. We have beaten them along the way, just not in the important matches.

“But look, you could flip it the other way, Dublin have experienced a couple of years ago against Cork what we are experiencing now. It is roles reversed. We are getting a bit used of that kind of treatment now.

“We are always thinking about ourselves and who are we playing next, it is never a looking forward thing to we are going to be playing this crowd in the All-Ireland final. We are just playing to the next game.”

O’Brien also explained that Cork are unlikely to have the services of key forward Doireann O’Sullivan for the game against Dublin as she is still recovering from a knee injury.

Remarking on the kind of game that might unfold on Saturday, O’Brien suspects it won’t be a repeat of the high-scoring battle they played out last month. 

“I can’t imagine it will be as loose as it was the last day – we’ll both want to have tightened up – and won’t want to be leaking goals again.

“It will be very measured. We’re looking to play a bit more…be a bit safer..but look we won’t know until Saturday.

“Hopefully it’s a cracker again, with spectators there now the next day it could make a great evening.

“We’re setting our sights on winning every game we play, it doesn’t matter if it’s Dublin or Mayo or Armagh. Saturday is a final. We want to take the cup home.”

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EVERYTHING IS ON the up, says Dublin star Carla Rowe.

Recent positive developments have ladies football in a good place, she believes.

In the past few weeks, major news has been announced with male and female inter-county players set for equal Government funding, while matchday travel expenses will be covered through the Lidl Ladies National Football League.

The recent GPA merger is another landmark move, with strides made off the pitch now starting to match those made on it.

It must be said that the standard of the game has risen a huge amount, with Mick Bohan’s Dublin front and centre to that rise, placing much more emphasis on basic skills, as ever-increasing physicality, speed and intensity make it it a much more attractive game to watch.

Media coverage and sponsorship has also increased ten-fold, resulting in higher interest and improving attendances. Everything certainly is on the up.

“The LGFA and Lidl coming in there is kind of hand-in-hand, the development has been unbelievable,” Rowe nods. “Between just exposure alone, and the WGPA, looking to increase the support around the sport for females.

“We’re looking to constantly raise the bar and as we raise the bar obviously, we hope that everything else follows — along with other teams raising the bar — and if we keep doing that, we keep developing our game which is fantastic.”

While Dublin open their Division 1 league campaign against Waterford at Parnell Park this weekend, they will grace the turf of Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first time on 29 May.

It’s the first time a Sky Blues ladies team will line out at the Leeside venue, and it’s an opportunity Rowe is relishing as they face arch-rivals Cork. — along with, pivotally, another step in the right direction.

“It’s brilliant. I suppose levelling the playing field probably jumps into my mind, the fact that we haven’t been there before, you’d scratch your head and wonder why, it’s so many years we’ve been around but for us to be here, it’s all about development and looking forward and taking positives.

“Very excited, can’t wait to get down and see it and I know it is a fantastic stadium so looking forward to playing there and, again, a closer step to having a level playing field.”

“That’s what we want,” she adds. “As ladies footballers, footballers, in those big stadiums, we want as many big games as we can in the Croke Parks, in the Páirc Uí Chaoimhs, Semple Stadium and to be starting the year in big venues is a standard bearer and that’s where we want to be.”

2020 Footballer of the Year nominee Rowe also offered an update on Sinéad Goldrick’s injury, as the seven-time All-Star currently rehabilitates in Australia.

The Melbourne FC Aussie Rules star underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in late March and missed the close of the AFLW season, but Dublin are “hopeful” of having her back in the fold at some stage soon.

Goldrick in action for Melbourne.

Source: AAP/PA Images

“A bit of an update that she’s doing her rehab so working away strongly at that and obviously 100% committed to it so not too much but that’s positive for now,” Rowe said.

“We’re not sure of a date, I’m not sure of a date myself of when she’s coming home because for now I’m just personally focusing on getting myself ready but for now, I think it’s positive enough that she’s rehabbing away and hopefully that gives her enough time.

“It is a tight timeframe but we’d be hopeful,” she added, with their other AFLW players Lauren Magee and Niamh McEvoy — who recently called time on her Melbourne stint — back in harness:

“We had Lauren and Niamh in there at the weekend so that’s two in which is brilliant and a huge addition to the team so, yeah, we’re looking forward to getting back training with them.”

Looking at the set-up elsewhere, Rowe hailed their “phenomenal” captain fantastic Sinéad Aherne, and also had some kind words for new vice-skipper Niamh Collins.

Foxrock-Cabinteely ace Collins is one of the best — but under-rated — defenders in the game, Rowe agrees.

“Yeah, 100%. Mick even said it this week, she brings that doggedness, that willingness to get down into the dirt and do the dirty work which you need in your team and if you have a leader that’s doing that then everyone else will follow.

“So fantastic for Niamh, I’m delighted for her because she’s put in an incredible number of years with Dublin and has always contributed so well to the team and her leadership is brilliant so definitely one that is completely underrated.

“But we know what she brings to us as a team and as a panel member so looking forward to hearing and being led by her and Sinéad.”

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GRAINNE EGAN ENJOYED quite the weekend on the field for the Offaly camogie and Ladies football sides.

Lining out for the county team on consecutive days, Egan was in sensational scoring form and racked up a tally of 4-13 between the two codes.

The Offaly dual star posted 3-5 during the camogie team’s victory over Dublin on Saturday before adding 1-8 with the Ladies football side in Sunday’s defeat of Carlow. 

Incredible goalscoring weekend for dual star Grainne Egan.. see her 3 goals for @OffalyCamogie yesterday and she added 1-9 today for @OffalyLGFA! @OfficialCamogie @JOEdotie @ballsdotie @RTEsport pic.twitter.com/7S8q9WXHz6

— Jerome Quinn (@JeromeQuinn) May 23, 2021

The Faithful enjoyed a 4-6 to 1-14 win over Dublin in their Division 1 Group 3 camogie meeting in what was former Galway All-Ireland winner Susan Earner’s first game in charge. 

The win sealed Offaly’s place in the knock-out stage of the league, with their upcoming meeting against Kilkenny deciding who tops the group.

The Ladies footballers ran out 3-16 to 1-16 victors against Carlow on the opening round of the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 4B.

What an outstanding weekend for this lady. Scoring 3-5 for us yesterday and 1-8 for the @OffalyLGFA today. Congratulations Grainne! pic.twitter.com/MEDofUFhQK

— Offaly Camogie (@OffalyCamogie) May 23, 2021

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ONE OF THE greatest rivalries in Irish sport is renewed this evening.

The greatest in ladies football, without a shadow of a doubt, anyway, as arch-rivals Cork and Dublin enter familiar territory; battling it out for silverware on the biggest stage.

Cork captain Martina O’Brien and Dublin’s history-making skipper Sinéad Aherne.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

Croke Park hosts the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 final [throw-in 7.30pm, live on TG4], in a move away from its traditional Parnell Park stage. But  untraditional, or unconventional, has been the running theme of the last 15 months.

For the second weekend in-a-row, fans will be present at Gaelic games HQ once again, this double-header — the Division 2 final takes place beforehand — forming the basis of a Government-approved test event for spectators.

It’s a welcome change from last December’s All-Ireland final at the eery, empty venue, when Dublin came out on top of a typically ferocious battle to lift the Brendan Martin cup for the fourth year in-a-row.

It meant that for the 16th consecutive season, one of the two old enemies finished up as All-Ireland champions. 

There’s no question about it, these two great teams have dominated the ladies football landscape over the past decade and-a-half. Well, certainly when it comes to championship matters.

The late Eamonn Ryan’s legendary Rebels lifted the silver 11 times in 12 years between 2005 and 2016, with the Sky Blues winning their first in 2010 to break the chain. Dublin have, of course, since won four-in-a-row, after suffering three decider defeats on the bounce to them.

Their rivalry, and mutual respect, is one like no other in the game, the sides guaranteed to cross swords in the business end of competitions each and every year.

Managers Mick Bohan and Ephie Fitzgerald.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

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While there’s a perception out there that it’s been all Dublin of late, Cork have certainly been the league specialists through the years. 

Ephie Fitzgerald’s side are defending champions, hoping to retain the title they won in 2019 given last year’s league was not completed amidst the pandemic.

They’ve won 12 Division 1 league titles since ’05, and are appearing in the final for the 15th time since ’04. Dublin, on the other hand and to a lot of people’s surprise, are chasing just a second top-flight title, having beaten Mayo in the 2018 decider.

This is just their third final appearance, losing to Cork in the ’14 finale. 

In recent years, Mick Bohan has used the league to blood younger players and unearth new gems on the Dublin fringes. It’s often been said there may be a bit of a hangover from the previous year’s championship success, but the Jackies have certainly found a nice balance this season.

With four wins from four, they’ve used 29 players with some big names like Carla Rowe, Ciara Trant and Nicole Owens yet to take to the field (their bench for tonight is stacked.) Former Irish rugby star Hannah Tyrrell has been the headline find, her return to football a massive boost after Noelle Healy’s retirement and Sinéad Goldrick’s hamstring injury blow, though many others have put their hands up.

Cork, meanwhile, have been more consistent in finding that balance, and have the perfect blend of youth – Erika O’Shea and Sadhbh O’Leary to name just two – and experience, with the evergreen Ciara O’Sullivan leading the charge.

Every time these counties meet, they serve up a classic.

🏆The latest instalment of a gripping rivalry is coming your way tomorrow at @CrokePark, as @CorkLGFA and @dublinladiesg lock horns in the 2021 @lidl_ireland National League Division 1 Final!

🎫Buy your tickets now! 👉https://t.co/SkGHyMuYqF👈#SeriousSupport

📹 @JeromeQuinn pic.twitter.com/itXxn8WTv4

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) June 25, 2021

The most recent fixture was a seven-goal thriller in the group stages at the end of May in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which Dublin won by a single point. As Cork captain Martina O’Brien said during the week, though, this should be more “measured” with the sides likely to play more safely.

Both fond of playing free-flowing, attacking football, you’d hope that will still be the case on Jones’ Road this evening.

Last December, there was a fierce pace and intensity to the All-Ireland final. Cork came out and put the game to Dublin, leading to a very open – and error-ridden – first half, but the eventual winners’ conditioning, physicality, athleticism and big-match experience shone through in the latter stages as the Leedsiders tired.

Cork often go into their shell and change the way they play when they face Dublin, reverting to a more defensive game.

Though league specialists, you get the sense they are underdogs coming into this one, and they’ll need a more complete performance to get over the line.

A win over Dublin on the biggest stage would certainly come as a huge pre-championship boost for Fitzgerald’s side, though that certainly won’t come easy as the Sky Blues target an improvement of their record in the early-season competition.

Whatever happens, the next chapter in this remarkable rivalry is sure not to disappoint.

*************************

Division 2 final captains Aislinn Desmond of Kerry, left, and Shauna Ennis of Meath.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

The Division 2 finale, should also be an enthralling battle between two teams on the rise in Meath and Kerry, with promotion to the top-flight the all-important reward [throw-in 5pm, TG4].

The Royals are reigning All-Ireland intermediate champions after making it third time lucky in the Croke Park decider last December. More silverware and another promotion would be a huge boost and represent another significant step as they prepare for senior championship, having secured promotion from Division 3 in 2019.

Kerry, meanwhile, will be hoping for a return to the top tier after relegation from Division 1 in 2018 and a turbulent time off the field. Under Declan Quill and Darragh Long, they’re motoring nicely, and beat Meath by six points in the group stages.

That means little today, though. Anything could happen, especially with two star-studded forward lines going head-to-head.

The Division 3 and 4 finals take place on Sunday, with neighbours Laois and Kildare doing battle in Baltinglass for the former title [4pm], and the latter on the line as Leitrim and Louth face off in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones [2pm].

Both games are live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube Page.

Updated May 10th 2021, 7:18 PM

SLIGO FOOTBALLER NEIL Ewing has announced his retirement from the senior inter-county game.

The 33-year-old defender started out in 2008 and featured in three Connacht finals. Success eluded him in those clashes against Roscommon in 2010 and twice against Mayo (2012 and 2015).

Ewing outlined how injury had been a reason behind his decision to bow out.

“Dodged injury for a long time but luck couldn’t last forever. At the minute the body is not willing to do what the heads is telling it. It was a childhood dream to pull on the Sligo jersey. An honour to have enjoyed the opportunity to do so.

“From 2008 it has been a privilege beyond words to get to play alongside some who were heroes growing up, some who will be future stars and some whose monumental, unseen, commitment to train/travel/prepare didn’t get them a regular run in the 1-15 jersey.”

Grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream. Time for the terrace. pic.twitter.com/jbATeJIfzy

— Neil Ewing (@Bob__Ewing) May 10, 2021

The Drumcliffe-Rosses Point club man admitted his regret at not landing that provincial honour.

“Hugely disappointing to not have a Connacht championship medal. Will forever regret a free I gave away in 2010. Did everything I could, in my limited capabilities, to make up for that moment.

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“In the absence of achieving ambitions I have to take solace in the great experiences shared, friends made and support received along the way.”

Confirmation also from @OfficialCorkGAA selector Sean Hayes that @carrigoon @Lockaldhino has called time on his inter-county career.
Best of luck to James who played some outstanding games in the red jersey.
Game v @KildareGAA live on @BigRedBench @C103Cork pic.twitter.com/cWPJMW0WVa

— Finbarr Mc Carthy (@FiFinnymac) May 10, 2021

Elsewhere this evening, it has been confirmed that Cork’s James Loughrey has called time on his inter-county career.

Local radio station 96fm reported the news this evening, days after The Echo first broke the Belfast-born defender’s retirement story.

Having played for Antrim before, Loughrey joined the Rebel set-up at the start of 2013 when he moved to live and work on Leeside.

The 34-year-old established himself as a mainstay in the Cork defence from there — though recently struggled with injury — while playing his club football with Mallow.  

– additional reporting from Emma Duffy.

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Mayo 2-15
Galway  2-14

Stephen Glennon reports at MacHale Park

AN UNANSWERED 1-4 in the closing five minutes saw Mayo claim the bragging rights over neighbours Galway in this pulsating Lidl National League Division 1 derby at MacHale Park.

Mayo’s second goal from a Rachel Kearns 55th minute penalty re-ignited her side’s challenge before Kearns and substitute Deirdre Doherty kicked two frees in the final minute to overturn an earlier six-point deficit and secure a dramatic victory for the home side.

It was Mayo, bolstered by the return of Fiona McHale and the Carnacon contingent to the squad, that made the better start in the contest, with Maria Reilly netting the opening goal on seven minutes. The score gave Mayo a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.

In the opening quarter, Kearns (free), Tamara O’Connor and Sinead Cafferkey were also on the scoresheet while a lethargic Galway kept in touch with points from Claregalway duo Andrea Trill and Megan Glynn.

It was a tentative opening from the visitors, but they began to find their feet in the second quarter and in the next 10 minutes they outscored Mayo five points to two. The experienced Mairéad Seoighe tallied four of those – three from frees – while Nicola Ward scored the other after Charlotte Cooney stole a Mayo kickout.

However, Mayo finished the first half stronger with centre-half forward Shauna Howley kicking their last three points, two from play, and Michael Moyles outfit led 1-8 to 0-7 at the break.

A blistering third quarter, in which Galway struck for 2-4 without reply, saw Gerry Fahy’s charges race into a 2-13 to 1-10 lead by the 46th minute, with Kate Slevin shooting the Tribeswomen’s two goals. The first was a superbly taken penalty on 39 minutes followed by a fisted effort from play seven minutes later.

Also to the fore was Seoighe, captaining the side on the evening. She kicked seven points in all and looked set to guide Galway to an opening day win.

⏱️ FULL TIME

🏆 @lidl_ireland NFL Division 1 A@Mayo_LGFA 2-15@GalwayLgfa 2-14

This was the key moment that triggered Mayo's comeback. No stopping Rachel Kearns🔥@SportTG4 @GAA_BEO @ConnachtLGFA#SeriousSupportpic.twitter.com/CyjJg0327r

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) May 22, 2021

However, Mayo, roused by the introduction of Grace Kelly, rallied in the final 10 minutes and, with Kearns leading the charge, secured new manager Michael Moyles his first victory.

Scorers for Mayo: S Howley 0-6 (2f), R Kearns 1-3 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), M Reilly 1-0, T O’Connor 0-1, M McHale 0-1, S Cafferkey 0-1, F McHale 0-1, G Kelly 0-1, D Doherty 0-1 (1f).

Scorers for Galway: M Seoighe 0-7 (3f), K Slevin 2-1 (1-0 penalty), A Trill 0-3 (1f), M Glynn 0-1, N Ward 0-1, E Noone 0-1.

Mayo: L Brennan; O Conlon, K Sullivan, T O’Connor; E Ronayne, C McManamon, E Brennan; F McHale, M McHale; N Kelly, S Howley S Cafferkey; M Reilly, R Kearns, L Cafferkey.

Subs: C Needham for Reilly (37), D Doherty for M McHale (43), G Kelly for S Cafferkey (44), C Whyte for O’Connor (51), A Lambert for Howley (57).

Galway: D Gower; S Brennan, S Lynch, S Molloy; K Geraghty, N Ward, C Cooney; A Davoren, M Glynn; O Divilly, M Seoighe, L Coen; E Noone, A Trill, K Slevin.

Subs: S. Divilly for Davoren (h-t), J Burke for Molloy (37), A Morrissey for Coen (45), A McDonagh for Noone (46), C Crowe for Burke (57).

Referee – Siobhan Coyle (Donegal).

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LIMERICK HAVE CALLED up four players to their squad for the 2021 season while All-Ireland winning defender Paddy O’Loughlin has dropped out of the setup ‘for personal reasons for a while.’

John Kiely’s team commence their campaign next Saturday in the Gaelic Grounds against Tipperary after a terrific 2020 season that yielded All-Ireland, Munster and league triumphs.

They are currently operating with a 38-player squad, youngsters Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) and Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister) both joining for the first time. The pair are Leaving Cert students who won Munster minor medals in 2019.

O’Neill is a highly-rated attacker who scored 0-9 in that provincial final win over Clare while Coughlan is a wing-back. They both lined out last December when Limerick lost to Cork in the Munster U20 semi-final.

The Doon pair of Tommy Hayes and Barry Murphy have also been drafted in. They both featured when their club reached last year’s Limerick senior hurling final, losing heavily to champions Na Piarsaigh. 

Barry Murphy (left) in action for Limerick against Cork in 2018.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Murphy was captain of that side and is recalled after previously being involved in the 2018 All-Ireland winning summer. In the opening game in Munster that year, he came off the bench to score a goal against Tipperary.

Kilmallock defender O’Loughlin was part of last year’s victories while the UCC Fitzgibbon Cup winner had started three times in the 2019 championship against Waterford, Clare and Tipperary.

In another loss to the defensive ranks, Tom Condon retired in January after being involved for 12 seasons but Limerick will be able to call upon Richie English and Mike Casey during this season after their recovery from cruciate injuries.

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IT’S 22 MONTHS since Kerry mounted the second-half fightback that took down Tyrone by three points in an All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

It’s 16 months since Tyrone held off Kerry by a point to win a league encounter in Edendork.

A pair of tight contests. A success for each side. The background as they approached yesterday’s meeting in Killarney.

How then to explain the 16-point hammering that Kerry handed out in the latest clash? How do you account for the six goals that Kerry posted? How much value can be placed on it, with the summer examinations in mind?

Kerry knew that winning this league semi-final would not propel them towards a final, a strange quirk of the 2021 GAA schedule. But you wouldn’t have known that by the manner in which they started the game, sharp and enthusiastic, rampaging forward at will as they sliced apart the Tyrone defence.

Three goals registered by the first water break, five on the board by half-time and a sixth added for good measure towards the end by substitute Jack Barry. The identity of the goalscorers – Clifford, White, Moynihan and Geaney – reaffirmed again the attacking riches at Kerry’s disposal, while Sean O’Shea was outstanding in directing the forward line traffic.

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Further back, it was hard to digest much from Kerry’s performance. Beaufort’s Mike Breen does look another bright prospect off their All-Ireland minor winning productions. Kieran Fitzgibbon is in command of the number one jersey after another solid outing. Jason Foley took the man-of-the-match award for his full-back performance.

Kerry’s league campaign ends with them handing out another hammering on home soil. That speaks of a team playing with a temper and frustration, generated from the long and painful inquest they endured after their exit last winter.

Their brilliant scoring capacity up front, the element of uncertainty in defence, the question marks over where to fit all their pieces into the starting team, those areas of debate all remain around Kerry.

Kerry’s Mike Breen and Tyrone’s Conor Meyler.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

But yesterday they looked like a team who are stepping it up, two weeks out from their Munster quarter-final. They may be strong favourites for that game yet Clare are one of the most progressive sides in the country.

And if 2020 taught Kerry anything, it is the danger of not hitting full speed from the off in a knockout championship. Yesterday’s display reflected a necessary sharpness for their last run-out a fortnight before they take on Clare.

In contrast Tyrone have more time. It’s four weeks until they have their Ulster championship opener, playing in Omagh against the kingpins Cavan. The news of their relegation to Division 4 had filtered through before throw-in at Fitzgerald Stadium, Tyrone joint manager Brian Dooher dimissed the thought afterwards that Cavan will be damaged by that loss.

The lack of defensive resistance in this game was striking and begged the question as to where their interest levels truly lay. Leaking five goals in the first half was a glaring statistic but it was also instructive to reflect on the first-half openings Kerry did not convert. David Clifford fisted an early chance wide, O’Shea had to settle for a point on another occasion, Paudie Clifford was crowded out after a strong run and Stephen O’Brien saw a handpass close to goal just elude the intended target. Tyrone’s defending was surprisingly passive, which permitted Kerry to pour forward with such frequency.

They did pick off some nice scores, Kieran McGeary’s point-taking was excellent. But the costliest aspect of their long away trip, could be the extended loss of Darragh Canavan. The highly-promising forward was wheeled off with an ankle problem after ten minutes and he limped out of the stadium afterwards on crutches, his left footed covered in a protective boot. On a day where form was difficult to read, that may be the key outcome with the wider season picture in mind.

League done, get set for championship. The bigger tests and more significant days of judgement await. Kerry back out in two weeks, Tyrone return in four. We will see how they fare.

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CORA STAUNTON HAS been included in the 2021 AFLW Team of the year after another impressive campaign with the Greater Western Sydney [GWS] Giants.

The four-time All-Ireland winner is named among the forwards who made the shortlist, averaging 10.3 disposals, and kicking 10 goals for her club this year.

Staunton, 39, who first joined the Giants in 2017, has consistently been a standout performer since her move Down Under. She capped off her debut season by picking up the Giants’ Goal of the Year award.

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She then suffered a career-threatening triple-leg-break injury in 2019 but managed to make a full recovery the following season and has continued to make a vital contribution for the Giants.

The https://t.co/FJ7UMYhaFF Team of the Year has been settled 👏#AFLW

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 6, 2021

Dublin 6-15
Waterford 2-12

HANNAH TYRRELL MARKED her return to inter-county football in style this afternoon as the Irish rugby international hit 1-5, as reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin convincingly defeated Waterford in Parnell Park.

In a game that was dubbed a dress rehearsal for the championship, Dublin welcomed back Olwen Carey, Siobhan Killeen, and fresh from their endeavours in Australia, Lauren Magee and Niamh McEvoy.

Waterford did get off to a quicker start and dominated early possession, Maria Delahunty hit one from play and converted a free. Early Dublin efforts skimmed wide of the post but they opened their account for 2021 with a Sinead Aherne free after Niamh Hetherton was fouled. 

As Dublin upped the intensity, Tyrrell proved her worth hitting four first-half points. The first was a beautiful effort after a long range exchange with Niamh Hetherton, and Tyrrell was again on the scoresheet twice more minutes later.

Aherne converted her second free from 30 yards before Lyndsey Davey opened up a six-point gap when she found the net after a sweeping team move involved Hetherton and Siobhan Killeen.

Hetherton’s first-half efforts were rewarded with with a point of her own, while returning Killeen and Tyrrell also pointed leaving nine points between the teams at the water break, 1-8 to 0-2. 

Michelle Davoren of Dublin in action against Laura Mulcahy, left, and Rebecca Casey of Waterford.

Making her senior debut, Abby Shiels was comfortable in goals while Orlagh Nolan and Leah Caffrey bolstered a Dublin defence that proved difficult to break. 

Dublin’s second goal began as a sweeping team move down field and with Aherne in an inch of space, the captain offloaded to Hetherton, the Clontarf player made no mistake finishing to the net to open up a 12-point lead. 

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Waterford steadied their ship and Eimear Fennell (2) and Delahunty brought the Munster side back into contention. The teams traded scores before the break, with Aileen Wall finding space and Delahunty firing over from short range. However, a brace of Aherne frees ensured Dublin took a nine-point lead into half time, 2-10 to 0-7.

The third quarter was a tighter affair, although Dublin did have to cope with two separate yellow cards, Aoife Kane just before half-time and Caoimhe O’Connor before the second water break but it had little impact on the champions.

Aherne raised a green flag of her own when Hetherton found her in space and as the substitutions rolled in, the scoreboard continued to tick over. Aherne (3) and Tyrrell raised white flags while Delahunty and Kellyann Hogan converted for Waterford.

The game finished in a goal frenzy with five goals inside eight minutes. Orlagh Nolan and Tyrrell found the net for Dublin inside a minute, Aileen Wall and substitute Kate McGrath raised green flags for the visitors. Caoimhe O’Connor signed off on the win for Dublin when she converted from the penalty spot.

Scorers for Dublin: S Aherne 1-7 (0-5f), H Tyrrell 1-5, N Hetherton 1-1, O Nolan 1-0, L Davey 1-0, C O’Connor 1-0 (1-0 pen), L Collins 0-1, S Killeen 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: M Delahunty 0-7 (0-4f), A Wall 1-1, K McGrath 1-0, E Fennell 0-2, C Fennell 0-1, K Hogan 0-1.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; O Nolan, L Caffrey, O Carey; M Byrne, A Kane, L Collins; L McGinley, H Tyrrell; C O’Connor, S McGrath, L Davey; N Hetherton, S Killeen, S Aherne (captain).

Subs: H Leahy for M Byrne (28), M Davoren for N Hetherton (42), L Magee for S McGrath (45), H O’Neill for S Killeen (45), J Egan for S Aherne (48), N McEvoy for H Tyrell (52), L Kane for O Nolan (55), C McGuigan for L McGinley (55), S Loughran for L Davey (55).

WATERFORD: M Foran; A Mullaney, L Mulcahy, R Casey; C Fennell, K McGrath, M Wall (captain); C McGrath, M Dunford; R Tobin, A Wall, K Hogan; E Fennell, M Delahunty, K Murray.

Subs: K McGrath for R Tobin (39), A Murray for E Fennell (46), L Cusack for A Mullaney (49), B McMaugh for K Hogan (49), N Power for M Wall (56), C McCarthy for C Fennell (56), R Dunphy for A Wall (56). 

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois) 

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