Third time lucky as Dominic’s deliver in style
Kaitlin Egan drives her side forward despite the close attention of St. Peter's Anna Kane. Picture: INPHO/Paul Barrett
St. Dominic’s progressed through to the All Ireland Junior Camogie final following a superb second half display.
They outscored their Meath foes by 2-11 to 0-3 after the break to ensure they avoided the fate that befell them in 2019 and 2022 when they fell at this stage.
John Haughey’s side only led 0-4 to 1-0 at half time but having played against the wind and created the lion’s share of the chances, they appeared to hold the edge.
Yet, few would have predicted them to cut loose in the manner they did as Aine O'Meara, who missed her side's narrow Connacht Intermediate final defeat, came up trumps, scoring 2-4.
St. Dominic’s were dealt an early blow as just two minutes into the game, Ellen Burke’s free from 45m out found the net to help St. Peter’s Dunboyne into an early three point lead.
But the Meath side didn’t score for just over three quarters of an hour as St. Dominic’s gradually played their way into the contest.
After not scoring from play in their Connacht final, St. Dominic’s looked much more menacing in the early stages as Aine O’Meara and Anna Campbell slotted over from Kaitlin Egan assists while a Lilly Murray free tied the contest.
St. Dominic’s were winning their fair share of rucks and collisions but seven opening half wides did little to aid their cause. The defence was stifling St. Peter’s but the next 23 minutes saw neither team find the target until Niamh Watson slotted over in first half injury time to ensure St. Dominic’s led 0-4 to 1-0 at half time.
The winners scored 1-3 without reply in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as O’Meara rifled home. But, St. Dominic’s, who shot 15 wides on the day, struggled initially to apply the finishing blows.
Sinead Hackett and Erin Mangan tested the nerves of the Dominic’s faithful but Niamh Fitzgerald knocked over two settling frees, to kickstart a run of 1-7 without reply.
The Roscommon side produced some high quality passage as five different players found the target during this salvo while O’Meara’s second goal rubber stamped their ticket to an All Ireland final.
**Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald**
