No doubting Thomas as Isles win classic

Lynn Devoy

The green and black Erin's Isles flags up on the bank. The Abbotstown Hill.

Louise O'Hara at number six. Peerless. The Player of the Match.

A tremendous 'We Are Dublin' Inter 1 Championship final on Sunday afternoon. Isles by a point - 1-14 to 2-10 against St Peregrine's.

As Peregrine's manager, Andy Kavanagh, reflected: "It was such a close game."

Everybody agreed. It was looking like it was going to creep into extra time. It was level as the match had gone into the first minute of added time.

Isles swept forward. One last time towards the road end. They got a free. Megan Thomas knocked it over the bar.

Megan had a super game. So too did the Finglas centre half-forward, Gillian McCluskey. Isles had craft in their attack. And two excellent corner-forwards in Lauren Goonan and Lynn Devoy.

Peregrine's had much to offer. The Heffernans at midfield - Niamh and Aoife. So much industry and skill.

And there's not many better full-forwards than Rachel Brennan. Rachel struck the first goal of the hour, a low drive on 13 minutes.

Isles led at the interval, 0-8 to 1-3. On 33 minutes, the impressive Aoife Deegan produced a goal for Peregrine's.

On it went. Nip and tuck. Thomas replied with a goal for Isles. Still not a sausage between. The excitement overflowing. Referee Conor Dodd is not a man to stop the traffic.

He took one last look at his watch. Isles by a whisker.