Dublin warm up in fine style for League final showdown with Wexford

Their bus parked right outside the gate. The tight entrance would have tested Max Verstappen.

The famous old venue has seen some memorable days. One of the best of all was Crumlin winning the All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship.

Jimmy Boggan’s soft foot-steps will forever be felt on these streets.

The cosy stadium always held the warmest of welcomes. From Paddy Brien, and the Gibbons family.

From Matt Palmer on the turnstile and Paddy O’Toole on the gate, the pride of Bohernabreena. They’d brighten the greyest day.

Denis Murphy was on the Crumlin team that brought the first Leinster Senior Hurling Championship title to the capital.

He would manage the Dublin senior camogie team. And his encouraging voice tumbled down from the terraces on Saturday.

Another of the city’s camogie pillars, Gretta Gray, was also among the congregation.

The Old County Pitch and Putt course surrounds the ground. Over the garden wall where the Shamrock Rovers’ legend, Ronnie Nolan, used to live.

The pitch and putt players arrived with their hand-towels. The greens were in a welcoming mood.

The Dubs warmed up at the manual score-board end. Mags D’Arcy worked with the goalkeepers.

The Wexford All-Ireland winning All-Star was one of the most accomplished custodians of all.

Her pre-match drills paid off. The distribution of the home ‘keeper, Amy Gorman, was precision itself.

Amy regularly put the hosts on the front foot. One of her clearances led to a fine point from Aisling O’Neill. A simple, sharp pitch-length move in the first half.

The Antrim players did their stretches down at the road end. Wearing the iconic Sambo Saffron.

A rainbow appeared behind them. On a day of sunshine and heavy showers.

The spectators had checked their weather apps. They had a collection of umbrellas that contained all colours of the rainbow.

The match programme contained a message from the Dublin Camogie Chairperson, Karl O’Brien.

Karl’s words were about the Dublin public getting behind the team.

“Come out and support them on the national stage.”

The perfect opportunity to do that will be on Saturday week, April 13th, when Dublin will play Wexford in the Very National Camogie League Division 1B final.

Both Dublin and Antrim had nine points before throw-in. Dublin secured their ticket to the final with a 0-16 to 0-9 result.

“It was a good performance,” noted Dubs’ coach Bill McCormack. “The conditions were difficult. It was a heavy pitch.

“It was about trying to out-work the opposition. I felt we brought energy, effort and drive.

“That’s ultimately what got us over the line. At the start of the competition, the aim is always to reach the final, and the players have done that.

“It’s now all about producing a performance against Wexford. They will be a stern test, for sure.

“We played them in our opening game. They were better than us on the day.

“We didn’t match what they brought on that occasion. We’ll need to show improvement.”

Dublin have a neat and settled look. And there’s keen competition for places. 35 names were listed on the match programme.

It was a home from home fixture for defender Abby Ryan. She plays for Crumlin. And she played splendidly.

Emma O’Byrne is only a Mags D’Arcy puck away from the locality too. With Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels. She was so assured at full-back.

Dublin possess two superb corner-forwards, Aisling O’Neill, who sent over five points from play, and Grace O’Shea, who scored the first three points of the second half.

Grace’s three points put Dublin five points ahead. Playing at full-forward was Emma Flanagan. Her vision and selfless play opened so many windows.

Emma extended Dublin’s lead to six points. Seconds after Aisling Gannon had come so close to a goal.

She raced in on the right at the score-board end and struck a blistering strike that rocked the bar. The echo of the shot could be heard down at the KCR.

Dublin led by 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time. Antrim showed pluck. They kept in the race.

Their centre half-forward, Róisín McCormick, is a wonderful artist. She produced a couple of delicious sidelines, and a basket of Easter treats.

She was the visitors’ top-teller. Seven points, all from the placed ball.

They created some moments of menace in attack, but the Dublin back-door remained well bolted.

Dublin’s full-forward line contributed ten points from play. And that was pivotal.

They also had captain Aisling Maher converting six frees, as well as excelling in the centre half-back’s control tower.

Her switch from the forward line to the number six jersey resembles the move of a chess master.

The sticky surface saw many an eager tussle for possession.

When it was all over, the teams went upstairs for the grub. And after contesting every crumb in the wet and the mud, they certainly deserved their supper.