Dundalk IT clinch Division 3 league final with a goal for the ages

DKIT 1-11 

ATU Sligo 2-6

An absorbing contest from start to finish was ultimately settled with a goal for the ages from DKIT’s Rachel Casserly to clinch the Higher Education Division 3 league final for the Dundalk college, with the St Ultan’s player’s late intervention crucial to the Dundalk side’s subsequent triumph.

Casserly’s strike almost ripped a hole in the net such was the venom behind it, as it rescued DKIT, who appeared to run out of ideas late on, trailing ATU Sligo by two points with time almost up, and appearing to pay the price for their profligacy in attack, which saw them kick 10 wides in the first half for instance, and 1-11 from 32 shots over the hour.

An early brace of strikes from Louth’s Mia Duffy gave DKIT a 0-2 to 0-1 lead, but a combination of poor shooting, and some sloppy passing coming out of defence, left their opponents in contention.

However, that could be harsh on ATU Sligo, whose side boasted several high-quality county stars, including Donegal pair Roisin Rodgers, and Niamh Boyle, as well as Laois’ Orla Hennessey, Cavan’s Dearbhaile Lynch and Mia McDonald of Westmeath.

In fact, Orla Hennessey played a starring role for the Laois minors who dismantled Louth in the Leinster B final in 2021, a Louth side which included DKIT starters Rebecca Lambe Fagan, Mia Duffy, Caitlin O’Reilly, Abi Keenan and twins Louise and Emily Johnson.

Roisin Rodgers was first to a Fagan kickout, before droving at the DKIT defence to tee up Ella McNamara who fired to the net to put Gavin Cawley’s side ahead at 1-1 to 0-2 after 9 minutes.

A common trait which has been noticed in DKIT’s run to this league final is responding to a crisis, and this proved to be the case, as the hardworking Abbie Sheridan and Megan Benson combined to set up Gemma Grimes to close the gap to a point, before Rachel Casserly restored parity, moments later after Caitlin O’Reilly won a Sligo kickout.

Orla Hennessey’s battle with familiar foe Caitlin O’Reilly was one of many intriguing match ups throughout, and the Laois star kicked a marvellous point to put her side back ahead at 1-2 to 0-4 after 20 minutes, with DKIT having racked up 7 wides and 2 short at that point.

Megan Benson drew DKIT level, following a lung bursting run, before a fine turnover from Mia Duffy, saw Rachel Casserly restore their lead. 

Another turnover from tigerish corner back Emily Johnson saw Megan Benson set up Rachel McCabe for a fine point to put two between the sides. Emily Johnson’s turnover was typical of the battling, gritty performance from the O’Raghallaighs/Plunketts player, who was part of a full back line who produced key leadership, with Crossmaglen’s Caoimhe Dooley not giving her marker a moment’s rest, while fullback Holly Lambe Sally’s performances giving her inter-county prospects a real tonic. 

Sligo’s Dearbhaile Lynch had the final say of the half with a free to leave it at 0-7 to 1-3 in DKIT’s favour at the break.

Despite DKIT’s wastefulness, they were fortunate not to heading into the break behind, after ATU Sligo’s Rebecca Higgins fired wide with the goal at her mercy. 

Second Half:

The second period saw DKIT come out of the traps, to grab the opening two scores thanks to Rachel Casserly, with the first coming in a move involving team captain Gemma Grimes, who finished with 25 possession over the hour, second to Ciara Gilsenan who was very much in the thick of it with 29 touches of the ball.

Casserly’s second effort came on the swivel, after collecting a pass from the hardworking Abi Keenan, and DKIT were three ahead, and in a false sense of security.

These two colleges have faced off five times since last year, with the margin never being more than a kick of the ball every time, and so this proved when ATU Sligo came roaring back into this contest, when Dearbhaile Lynch converted a penalty following a foul on Ella McNamara to blow DKIT’s lead apart.

Lynch placed the penalty passed Rebecca Lambe Fagan, who had earlier been at full stretch to claw a Lynch free onto the bar, as DKIT were forced to weather a storm. 

With the influence of Roisin Rodgers, and Niamh Boyle beginning to grow, ATU Sligo crept into a two-point lead with scores from Ella McNamara and Dearbhaile Rooney edging them into a 2-5 to 0-9 lead, heading into the last quarter, with DKIT continuing to shoot erratically. 

Another Mia Duffy free did close the gap again, as DKIT tried desperately to seek a way back into this game, as several of their attacks starting to get turned over, with full back Grace Esler’s battle with Casserly another eye-catching matchup.

Mia McDonnald stretched out ATU’s lead two points again in the 51st minute, and it appeared that all momentum was with the Sligo college, who were keen to avenge their Moynihan Cup final defeat to the same opponents in Mayo’s GAA Dome back in March.

DKIT appeared to lose their way, with attacks breaking down, and their wide tally continuing to add up, while Gemma Grimes saw her fizzing strike cannon back off the crossbar with 5 minutes remaining.

However, out of nothing DKIT managed to regain the lead in a dramatic conclusion to this final, thanks to that incredible strike from that 21metre line by Rachel Casserly for the match-winning major, a goal worthy of winning any final at any level.

The same player kicked the insurance point moments later to seal Division 3 league success for the Dundalk college. 

DKIT: Rebecca Lambe Fagan (St Patricks, Louth); Caoimhe Dooley (Crossmaglen Rangers), Holly Lambe Sally (Geraldines), Emily Johnson (O’Raghallaighs/Plunketts); Abbie Sheridan (Hunterstown Rovers), Caitlin O’Reilly (O’Raghallaighs/Plunketts), Louise Johnson (O’Raghallaighs/Plunketts); Ciara Gilsenan (Oldcastle) , Megan Benson (St Maurs) (0-1); Abi Keenan (Roche Emmets), Mia Duffy (St Kevins) (0-3) (2f), Erin O’Reilly (St Patricks, Cullyhanna); Rachel McCabe (Shane O’Neills GAC) (0-1), Rachel Casserly (St Ultans) (1-5), Gemma Grimes (Killanny) (0-1). 

Subs: Stephanie Cunningham (Dreadnots) for McCabe (34), Eimear Finnegan (Crosserlough GFC)) for Keenan (43) 

ATU Sligo: Lily Vickers; Ella O’Neill, Grace Esler, Niamh Beggan; Sarah Caulfield, Roisin Rodgers, Megan Clarke; Niamh Boyle. Lauren Conway; Dearbhla Rooney (0-1), Orla Hennessey (0-1), Dearbhaile Lynch (1-1) (1 pen) (1f); Mia McDonald (0-1), Ella McNamara (1-2), Rebecca Higgins. 

Subs:  Éilis Keane for Conway (41), Heather Kierans for Clarke (55).

Referee: Shane Curley (Co. Galway).