Knock banish finals past to land title
Following the heartbreak of final defeats in 2020 and 2021, Castleknock finally got their hands on the Go Ahead Dublin Intermediate Ladies Football Championship crown at Lawless Park on Saturday evening, writes Daire Walsh.
Powered by impressive displays from Aisling O’Neill and Aoife Whelan, ‘Knock held off Parnell’s to secure the silverware and book their place in the senior grade for 2023. Between them, corner-forwards O’Neill and Whelan combined for a grand tally of 0-10 to supplement a final-quarter goal by Caitlin Coffey.
Whereas ‘Knock had lost to Cuala and St Sylvester’s in the preceding deciders, Parnell’s had previously earned intermediate honours with a final victory over neighbours Clontarf in 2015. Rachel Kelly and Emma Lawlor did their utmost to get them back into the top-tier, but the Coolock women fell just short in the end.
This was the second meeting between these two teams in this year’s competition, following a thrilling Group A encounter at Somerton Park back on August 17. Parnell’s edged that contest on a final scoreline of 5-10 to 4-11 and went on to finish at the summit of the table with four straight wins.
Picture Lorraine O’Sullivan
Castleknock had shared the spoils with Naomh Maur in their first game of the campaign, before back-to-back successes at the expense of St Jude’s and Lucan Sarsfields helped them to claim the runners-up spot.
This meant an early trip out to Lawless Park for a semi-final showdown against Fingallians last Wednesday week, but Peter McKenna’s charges came through that penultimate phase clash with five points to spare (3-13 to 1-14).
Parnell’s played host to Clann Mhuire at St Anne’s Park on the same night and recorded an impressive 1-19 to 2-12 victory.
Despite featuring for Bohemians in the FAI Women’s Cup semi-final against Shelbourne at Tolka Park just under two hours earlier, Chloe Darby was named in the Parnell’s midfield, but Castleknock were not to be denied third time around as they won with five points to spare in the end sparking wild celebrations.
