Our Minor team were beaten by Sars in the league final replay at Castle Road on Wednesday April 23. Defeat is always hard to take but we have no complaints. We were beaten by a better team on the night and congratulations to Sars on their performance. Our girls gave it everything. They fought for every ball right to the final whistle, kept their composure and discipline and to their credit were gracious in defeat.

Defeat is not the worst of failures, not to have tried is the true failure. Nobody who ever gave their best regetted it.

We are all very proud of this team, they continue to represent Dillons with pride.

As in the first match we played against a strong breeze in the first half, and were prepared for Sars to come at us with all guns blazing. Our defence again were magnificant. Niamh O Leary using her streght and experience is an outstanding full back who is inspirational to her team. Deirdre Keane is a revalation again this season. She covers every breaking ball and holds her hurley like a sawn-off shotgun which fires live cartridges. Caroline O Connor also put in a good shift at wing back. At H.T we were 1-5 to 0-2 down. Both our points came from Sinead Mills, one from a 45 and one from play. Again at H.T we were confident we could turn it around. We introduced Ruth Brosnan and Caoimhe Rodgers as subs and they worked really hard despite not having played so far this season.

We needed an early goal and thats what we got. Lauren Barry showed what she is capable of by scoring a rocket of a goal. Sinead then scored a point from play to put us within two points.

We had the initiative but couldn't capitalise. Sars went on to score five more points to close out the game. The replay perhaps came too soon for us. Some of our players had heavy legs following their efforts on Easter Monday.

Late on Shauna Walsh made a magnificent save to stop a certain goal. Final score was 1-10 to 1-03.

The performance of our captain Emma Sharpe once again must be noted. She gives it everything and I believe she would actually die for this team. In the last two years I have not seen a better centre back in the county. 

Reaching the league final was a great achievement and taking a team like Sars to a replay was courageous.

We have a great team, we will have all our players back after exams soon, getting them match fit is a priority and then winning the championship is our objective. We will have a big say in the championship........ thats for sure.

Something constructive comes from every defeat.