A BALL HAD yet to be kicked, but the temperature was being raised between Dublin and Meath.
“I checked during the week and they’re favourites for the All-Ireland,” new Meath manager Davy Nelson pointed out in his pre-match interview with TG4.
“Even though Meath have won the last two, Dublin are still favourites for it. I know it’s early to be talking about All-Irelands, but best rivals, best team to play…”
Dublin boss Mick Bohan, meanwhile, took the opportunity to remind everyone that his side are the reigning Leinster champions, and hailed a “very healthy” rivalry.
Nelson, a highly-regarded GAA coach in Meath having enjoyed successful tenures with the county’s U21 and junior men’s teams, admitted that start to life as Eamonn Murray’s successor had been “challenging” — and was likely questioning everything after Dublin’s lightning start to the Division 1 league opener.
The game wasn’t yet two-minutes-old when Carla Rowe palmed home for a trademark Dublin goal. Hannah Tyrrell pounced on a Meath mistake, and played the conductor role as she combined intricately with Jodie Egan and Orlagh Nolan, before the captain had the final say.
A well-worked early goal for the @dublinladiesg- finished by Carla Rowe 👏👕
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) January 21, 2023
📺 Watch the game live now on @SportTG4! #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/esMn4ilcgW
There were no shortage of teething problems from both sides early on, as expected in January, but a decent match unfolded at DCU St Clare’s.
There had been controversy mid-week due to the venue choice there was plenty of noise on the night about rule changes, the ‘charging’ one in particular, a recurring theme in recent seasons.
The scoreboard read 1-11 to 0-8 at the finish, with Dublin’s bench key. Both fielded new-look teams – big-hitters Vikki Wall and Emma Duggan were on water duty for Meath – with no fewer than 11 newcomers among the Sky Blues substitutes.
Three of those — Chloe Darby, a key player for Bohemians in the Women’s National League who enjoyed an impressive 2022 club run with Parnells, Kerri Owens and Shannon Richardson — kicked scores in quick succession down the home straight.
“We probably have a lot more change than we’ve ever had with this group. A lot of our older soldiers have given serious service. It’s time to move on,” Bohan said afterwards.
“New kids on the block. While they’ve loads to learn, they brought an energy and they worked hard.”
There was mixed emotions for Nelson afterwards, his reign off to a losing start but knowing there is more to come from the league and championship holders.
“I thought the scoreline possibly flattered Dublin,” he said. “We’d three pretty good goal chances and didn’t take any of them. That’s a huge swing.”
Elsewhere in Division 1 over the weekend, there were opening wins for Galway, Kerry and Cork. The Tribe claimed at 0-11 to 0-6 victory over Donegal at Tuam Stadium, both sides far from at full strength and Kate Slevin the star turn for the Tribe.
Also a talented soccer player with Athlone Town and a Republic of Ireland underage international, the Claregalway forward kicked the last five scores to leave them in good stead ahead of next weekend’s meeting with Dublin.
Kingdom joint-boss Darragh Long made interesting comments after the 2022 All-Ireland finalists’ last-gasp win over Waterford at Piltown. Danielle O’Leary was the late scoring hero, but Long was far from impressed with his side’s showing.
“Today isn’t good enough, there’s no point sugar coating it. I’m extremely frustrated here. It feels like daylight robbery on Waterford. They did enough in that second half to at least deserve a point.”
And a new-look Cork team impressed as they enjoyed a five-point win away to Mayo, a swing on last year’s disappointing All-Ireland quarter-final exit. Manager Shane Ronayne shared his delight afterwards, explaining:
“There were only six of the starting team today that togged out against Mayo in the championship last year, so there’s been a big transition there. There were three of last year’s minor team starting.”
Trademark Aishling Moloney 💣
— Emma Duffy (@emmaduffy_) January 22, 2023
Great to see the Tipperary star back after a lengthy injury lay-off. Scored 0-7 today — including a few lovely frees — in Tipp’s Division 2 opener win against Westmeath.
🎥: @LadiesFootball, from highlights below👇🏼 https://t.co/sTUUy6AveU pic.twitter.com/6dv9ogJIFf
Among other highlights from down the divisions, Aishling Moloney made an impressive Tipperary return after a lengthy injury lay-off, while Kilkenny fielded an adult team for the first time in years.
The Cats suffered a heavy defeat to Limerick, but “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” as manager John Gorey said beforehand.
Lidl Ladies National Football League results
Division 1
- Galway 0-11 Donegal 0-6
- Dublin 1-11 Meath 0-8
- Mayo 0-12 Cork 2-11
- Waterford 1-8 Kerry 1-9
Division 2
- Cavan 0-5 Armagh 2-8
- Laois 3-14 Monaghan 1-6
- Tipperary 1-13 Westmeath 1-11
- Tyrone 1-15 Roscommon 1-12
Division 3
- Kildare 3-13 Down 0-6
- Louth 2-13 Longford 1-8
- Sligo 0-5 Clare 3-15
- Wexford 2-13 Offaly 2-4
Division 4B
- Leitrim 5-15 Derry 1-2
- Kilkenny 0-2 Limerick 4-13.
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James Ryan is a natural choice but the WC is coming a bit soon for it. I wouldn’t like Sexton as captain as I think he plays and leads better without. POM if he was in better form you would think.
@Brian O’Driscoll: cian healy or keith earls wouldn’t be bad candidates. Never let ireland diwn even when the rest of the team usually do
@Brian O’Driscoll: don’t think it’s too soon at all. Could be refreshing to have young leadership. Warbburton was a similar age in 2011 and they should have made the final.
@Brian O’Driscoll: James Ryan would a really interesting option
@Brian O’Driscoll: Ryan definitely has the pedigree. It would be unusual for JS to award captaincy to someone so young and relatively inexperienced. He’s usually cautious like that. Rob Kearney is a potential captain. I agree, at any other time it would be a no brainer, give it to POM but unless he has a big game in one of the next two tests his starting position could be under threat. Personally I’d like to see Ryan get it. As long as its not Johnny. He’s just too mouthy.
@Ger: Ryan seems the natural choice at the moment. Jonny and POM would probably still make all the decisions, but what a standard bearer!! and BOD, you’ve got a point about Jonny being too mouthy. My favourite moment was him telling gauzere, ‘i know you don’t like me, but you’ve still got to talk to me’
The only guaranteed starters who have actually played well in 2019 are Cian Healy and James Ryan. With all due respect to Cian, there’s only one option to be the captain.
@sup: it is reallt strange to have our captain effectively already retired but there are no outstanding candidates other than sexton and he does that anyhow with or without title. I don’t get impression Ryan is a very vocal guy. Leads by actions which is fine. I cant imagine him giving a “fear of god” type pre match speech. Maybe he will grow into that but def too early now.
@Kevin McCarthy: BOD never struck me as the type to give that chat either. There’s many different types of leadership, and actions often speak louder than words. Ryan would also be better at working the ref than someone like Sexton, that’s for sure.
@Kevin McCarthy: Can’t imagine Best lisping out a fear of God speech either so that shouldn’t be a factor . In any case those speeches can have more impact on tv viewers than on players in the dressing room .
In my opinion i’d love to see Garry Ringrose as captain. He has everybodies respect. Word on the grapevine is he works super hard in training be it with Leinster or Ireland.
James Ryan would be an interesting captain.
Would be interesting to see who Joe would pick as captain at the world cup instead of Best. (If he had to)
@Donal Peoples: Yea Sexton certain to start but has his issues as captain. O’Mahoney probably best choice but not a cert to start anymore
@Luke walkee: Ruddock, if he can get in the team ahead of PO’M, would be perfect. Big argument as to whether you’d drop PO’M.
@Cian Nolan: he’s a good captain but he might struggle to make the squad. I think if JS brings Klein it will be at the expense of a backrow. Beirne will be brought as a 2nd row/back row hybrid and Ruddock would be the most likely casualty. Personally I didn’t see anything from Klein against England or Italy that merits his place in the squad but JS seems to like him.
The main thing is Best should be left at home. No matter what his friends in the media say
If Rory isn’t captain there’s no need for him to travel.
Captain is a PR position who primary role is dealing with the media. Best is captain of the team but there are plenty of players who are leaders within the squad already. Dumping Best as captain would just create a media storm. Keep him in the position and if needs be he doesn’t have to start the big games.
@Eddie Hekenui: Have your (uninjured) captain on the bench for the World Cup? Sure then you have to make someone else who’s actually on the pitch captain anyway, so now you’ve two lads with their authority undermined. Plus you’re reinforcing a belief that some people are undroppable no matter what.
@Pseud O’Nym: Too much stock is placed in the idea of a captain as this leader and tone setter when it’s largely a symbolic role just dealing with the referee on the pitch, the media off the pitch and representing the players in the management group.
When BOD was captain it was often POC who would take the final team talk and be the vocal leader on the pitch. When there were fractures in the squad in 2009 it was Rob Kearney who stepped up and forced a honest discussion on the squad dynamic. Peter O’Mahony regularly takes a vocal role in the build up to games as does Sexton. Ireland have a team packed with leaders and having Best as squad captain but not in the starting team would have very little impact on that.
Just sit back and watch him answer his critics.
None of the other hookers come close and couldn’t lace his boots.
For me we need to be looking at the new breed of young hookers coming through
Ruddock would be my choice at this stage. Nothing special as a player but at least you realise he’s playing as opposed to POM and Best. Sexton is too much of a spoilt brat.
Jim Ryan