Dunboyne are the new All-Ireland Junior Ladies football champions after overcoming the challenge from a young Bantry Blues side.
There was a seven point gap between the sides in the end, a margin that Dunboyne began building early in the first half. Storm Desmond did neither side any favours, but Dunboyne were the ones who made the most profit. The Meath side went in at half-time with 1-03 on the scoreboard, the goal coming from Vikki Wall just before the break. Meanwhile, their impenetrable defensive line contained Bantry to just a single score.
Shelly Melia could have snatched a second goal for Dunboyne, but her shot ricocheted off the crossbar. But with captain Julie Kavangh and Amy Coyne patrolling with ease in the middle of the park, Dunboyne were the dominant side throughout.
@RFC_JOE_NC_WEST @AndyyOC97 @LainDoyle @DunboyneLGFC @DunboyneGAA @bantryblues c u next year joe! ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ† pic.twitter.com/sTrRJLzHvD
— vikki wall (@vikki_wall) December 5, 2015
Bantry failed to capitalise on their advantage of playing with the wind in the opening half, and Aoife O'Driscoll was the only one on their score card at half-time having scored a point.
And Dunboyne refused to relinquish their lead in the second half. Melia added another score within a minute of the restart while Bantry's Libby Coppinger impressed at the other end to try and keep her side alive with a point of her own. Vikki Wall continued to send shots coasting over the bar and when the scoreline read 1-07 to 0-02, Dunboyne appeared to be assured of their victory.
But in similar fashion to her first half efforts, Aoife O'Driscoll emerged to rescue Bantry. Through an assist from Eve Murphy, O'Driscoll collected the ball in space before advancing to unleash a powerful shot that hit the Dunboyne net and, more crucially, brought the deficit back to five.
But the Bantry comeback was swiftly quenched with points from the boot of Vikki Wall to safely guide Dunboyne to a well earned victory.
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