After a spirited showing midweek against Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin University Football Club (DUFC) women’s team, which was without coach Joe Horan, claimed its first win of the season over Clontarf, despite falling 10-0 behind early in the second half.
The opening stages of the game proved to be a scrappy affair as both sides sought to gain an early foothold in the match, with the Trinity defence showing steely resolve to contain an exciting Clontarf attack. Penalties proved to be the tale of the first half, with both sides guilty of ill-discipline at the breakdown. Clontarf was the master of their own demise at times, as persistent fouling led to a number of wasted chances. The team finished the game having conceded an extraordinary 23 penalties.
Despite their ill-discipline, it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock when they touched down midway through the first half. However, Clontarf failed to add on the additional points when their conversion attempt dropped short. Not dispirited, Trinity rallied and held Clontarf in their own 22 for much of the remainder of the half. Only a fantastic tackle on the line prevented outhalf Niamh O’Kelly-Lynch from pulling Trinity level following a fantastic break, leaving Trinity trailing by five points at halftime.
A frantic second half saw the game really come to life, with early Clontarf pressure calling on stern defence from DUFC Captain Molly Boyne. Despite Trinity’s best efforts, Clontarf doubled its lead early in the second half when it capitalised on space out wide, but failed to convert a difficult kick.
Trinity redoubled its efforts, and replied almost immediately. Niamh O’Kelly-Lynch collected the ball from a ruck and showed a tremendous turn of pace to break through the Clontarf line and touch the ball down beneath the posts. Molly Boyne achieved the additional to bring Trinity to within just three points.
DUFC soon took control of the game as it sensed a chance to claim a valuable victory, with O’Kelly-Lynch looking increasingly dangerous as she controlled the game from midfield. Boyne and outside-centre Lindsey Ponsonby both tested the visitors as the Clontarf rearguard began to tire.
When the Clontarf penalty count began to grow, the frustrated visiting fans directed their fury at the referee for a perceived failure to penalise DUFC knock-ons. With just over five minutes remaining, O’Kelly-Lynch showed tremendous skill when she picked the ball up just outside the Clontarf 22 and skillfully evaded the tackle to touch down beneath the posts. Boyne again slotted the conversion between the posts to give Trinity a narrow 14-10 lead heading down the home straight.
A tense finale saw the desperate Clontarf attack batter the Trinity line in search of a winning score, but to no avail. Fantastic defensive work by Annick Jana and Elvira Guiomard helped to hold the visitors up on the line. The referee’s whistle eventually came as a welcome relief to the besieged Trinity side, who held on for a well deserved win.
Despite some disappointing early season defeats, Trinity got good value for its win, looking noticeably sharper in attack. The victory will undoubtedly give the side some much needed momentum ahead of this week’s Kay Bowen Cup in Galway.
