Na Dúnaibh edge Kilcock to make All-Ireland Club JFC decider 

Na Dúnaibh are through to the All-Ireland Club JFC final after a battling effort on home soil just about held off the challenge of Kilcock. 

In the end, it was captain Sinead McBride’s golden three-pointer at the midpoint of the first-half that ultimately settled matters.

And Barney Curran’s side also owe a real debt of gratitude to goalkeeper Charlie Shevlin who twice denied the Kildare outfit with stunning blocks. 

Matters were deadlocked at the break at 1-3 to 0-6 but with Kilcock only registering once after the restart, Na Dúnaibh’s extra guile and knowhow was enough to see them through. 

The visitors were off the mark first through the prolific Grace White (free) inside the opening seconds but the hosts hit back with interest as Lauren McBride notched a pair of frees to give Na Dúnaibh the lead for the first time on six minutes. 

The Kildare outfit then grabbed a brace of their own as White was again on the mark, one from a free and one from a play, as the pendulum continued to swing early on. 

On the quarter-hour mark, Barney Curran’s team stole a real march when captain Sinead McBride arrowed brilliantly to the corner of the net. 

Still, Kilcock recovered admirably to rattle off the next three scores through Aisling O’Connor, twice, and White as Kilcock went from two down to one in front at 0-6 to 1-2. 

In a tight contest, McBride grabbed her third to square it and, just before the break, a brilliant save from home stopper Charlie Shevlin denied White and Kilcock a green flag of their own. 

The second-half didn’t get going until the 36th minute but when the scoring action did  resume, it was Amy McLaughlin lamping over a brilliant set of points for Na Dúnaibh as they moved 1-5 to 0-6 clear. 

With the game moving into the last quarter, White again halved the deficit for the visitors as Joseph Kennedy’s side really started to turn the screw. And with O’Connor getting through the middle, it took another superb save from Shevlin to keep Na Dúnaibh’s lead in tact. 

Na Dúnaibh survived that spell and up the other side, Denise Doherty did so well to win a free that allowed McBride to once again nudge the hosts two clear. 

Moving into added time substitute Danni Shevlin relieved even more pressure as the gap widened to three. 

However, five minutes of injury time would be played and even though White gained sight of goal right at the death, it was Na Dúnaibh that deservingly held on. 

Na Dúnaibh scorers: Lauren McBride 0-4,3f; Sinead McBride 1-0; Amy McLaughlin 0-2; Danni Shevlin 0-1.  

Kilcock scorers: Grace White 0-5,4f; Aisling O’Connor 0-2. 

Na Dúnaibh: Charlie Shevlin; Jessica Roberts, Chloe Hay, Maggie Doherty; Aine O’Connell, Emer Trearty, Michelle Wilkin; Julie Trearty, Caoimhe McLaughlin; Amy McLaughlin, Mary T Boyce, Sinead McBride; Denise Doherty, Shannon McGroddy, Lauren McBride. 

Subs: Nadine Gallagher for A O’Connell (23), Danni Shevlin for M T Boyce (53), Aobha Pasoma for Doherty (60).

Kilcock: Eimear Kelly; Laura Gibbons, Andrea McGrath, Alannah Morrow; Rianna Cribbin, Emma Maguire, Teigan McGonagle; Sheena Byrne, Sarah O’Sullivan; Emma Robinson, Aisling O’Connor, Sarah Lavin; Eva Powderly, Grace White, Sophie Nolan. 

Subs: Jessica Dalton for Robinson (56).

Referee: Gerard Canny (Mayo)