Dillons Intermediate team have reached the league final following victory over Tracton at the Tank Field on Wednesday May 28th. This was a big semi final for both teams and there was a lot of tension in the air before the game. We knew we had to be physically strong against Tracton and we weren't found wanting. Our work ethic once again was superb especially when you take in to account how warm it was on the night.

Tracton scored the first point from play after five minutes, we replied a minute later with a point from Claire Dooley. After ten minutes we were rewarded a penalty which Caoimhe Rodgers dispatched with power.  Following this we were dominant for the rest of the first half with a superb point from Caoimhe, two further points from Claire and Jane Dooley and two excellent points from Susan Kate Brosnan from play.  Shauna Walsh in goal was full of confidence and made some great saves and this was perhaps her best performance of the season.  H.T. score was 1-7 to 0-3.

We were fortunate to be seven points up as Tracton had four wides and if they had scored these it would have been a much tighter contest.  However we should have had a second penalty when Jane Dooley was clearly fouled when she looked certain to score.  Despite conceding more frees than usual our discipline was good particularly when it appeared that Caoimhe and Sinead Mills were targeted. The H.T. talk from Linda Mellerick emphasised that we needed to up the pace of the game, that we were a little lack lustre and that we could expect Tracton to come back hard at us in the second half. 

Tracton did in fact get the first two points of the second half.  We replied with three points from Caoimhe, one from play and two from frees.  We were conceeding too many frees to Tracton which they duly punished us for.  Then up stepped Claire Dooley again to score a fantastic goal and we appeared to be cruising to victory.  Tracton then scored a goal out of nothing to put them within five points of us.  The game was too close to call at this point so we made some changes.  Linda has stressed numerous times that its the panel that win matches not the team. Essie O'Connell and Therese Deane came on with fresh legs and made an impact.  Caroline Craughan had to be replaced after taking a hit for the team.  Emma Sharpe was struggling at wing back with an injury but continued to dominate. Just when we needed her most, Amanda Dorgan at centre back stepped up to the plate and showed her class.  Caoimhe scored two more frees to get us over the line on a final score of 2-12 to 1-10. Our forwards look very dangerous with Caoimhe scoring 1-6 and the Dooley's  in great form.  Our objective was to reach the final which we did however we didn't play to our full potential and maybe the conditions played a part in that.  Going into the last ten minutes when the game was in the balance we showed our character and our never say die attitude. Sars await in the final and this is yet another big day out in Castle Road for Dillons Camogie Club.