St Jude’s 9-18
Tír na nÓg 0-5
St Judes’ record-breaking season continues as they booked their spot in the All-Ireland Junior Chanpionship with a commanding nine-goal win over Tír na nÓg, Newcastle.
The Templeogue side racked up a total of 9-18, the majority of it after the break, as they put the side based in the north-east of England to the sword at St Margaret’s GAA this afternoon.
Captain Aoife Keyes, corner forward Cliodhna Nicoletti and sub Laura Martina each hit the net twice, while Ellie Young netted an individual tally of 1-6 in a dominant performance.
Tymon Park-based Jude’s will now face Carrickmacross of Monaghan in two weeks’ time as the Leinster champs look to reach a first-ever All-Ireland final.
The Newcastle side struck first on a balmy afternoon out by Dublin Airport, Niamh Barrett bringing up the game’s maiden point.
It didn’t take long for Jude’s to level through Lisa Morris, her first point of a haul of 1-3, and the Dublin side wouldn’t trail again in the game.
Aisling Gannon and Young added scores in quick success before Keyes found the net for the game’s first goal just before the water break.
Nicoletti added a second goal ten minutes from the break and further points from Young and Morris saw Jude’s lead 2-7 to 0-4 at the break.
If the first half was one-sided, the second half was even more so as Jude’s racked up a further 7-11 to just a single point from Tír na nÓg.
Keyes added her second with her fist early in the second half, and Young and Morris each found the net as Jude’s began to run away with the game.
Sub Laura Martina made an immediate impact as she added goals number six and seven either side of two individual points.
Tír na nÓg registered their first point of the half through Barrett on the stroke of the end of normal time.
They had been run ragged by this point, however, and injury-time goals from Caoimhe O’Brien and Nicoletti, her second, ensured Jude’s finished stronger.
