Ní Mhuircheartaigh leads the way as champions Kerry score big win over Meath

Lidl National Football League

Kerry 1-15

Meath 0-5

By DENIESE O’FLAHERTY

Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh led the way with a haul of 0-8 as Kerry put in a clinical performance against Meath in Donaghmore-Ashbourne.

She kicked six of them from play and such was Kerry’s dominance, particularly in the second half, Meath were limited to just scoring two points after the break and managed just a single point from play throughout the contest.

This result moved reigning Division 1 Champions Kerry back up to second place in the table with just one game remaining.

Just 19 seconds had elapsed when Ní Mhuircheartaigh opened the scoring. One minute later she created a goal chance but her effort was saved by Monica McGuirk.

Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored her second point in the third minute. Meath kept in touch with Kerry in the opening 10 minutes with three frees from the boot of Emma Duggan.

Playing with the aid of a strong wind Kerry kept the scoreboard ticking over with six unanswered points. Meath couldn’t create many scoring opportunities.

Emma Dineen shot wide in the 16th minute as the visitors dominated proceedings. Hannah O’Donoghue kicked over two fine points while Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Niamh Carmody were also on the scoresheet as Kerry held a six point lead at the break at 0-9 to 0-3.

McGuirk was called into action in the first minute of the second half, saving a shot from sub Danielle O’Leary. Kerry got their first score from a placed ball in the 33rd minute when Ní Mhuircheartaigh hit over a free.

Kerry played some good football and Meath couldn’t contain them. The lead was nine points in the 38th minute when Dineen fisted over. Shelly Melia kicked over a terrific point for Meath in the 39th minute, their first in 30 minutes of play.

That score was cancelled out minutes later when Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored her seventh point of the game. Kerry extended their lead to 13 points in the 45th minute when Dineen blasted the ball to the net.

Meath woes were compounded in the 49th minute when Ciara Smtyth was sin-binned. Ní Mhuircheartaigh kicked over a free in the 51st minute to put 14 points between the sides. Meath scored a consolation point right at the end when Marion Farrelly pointed a free.

Scorers – Kerry: L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-8 (0-2f), E Dineen 1-2, H O’Donoghue 0-3, N Carmody 0-1, L Scanlon 0-1.

Meath: E Duggan 0-3f, S Melia 0-1, M Farrelly 0-1f.   

KERRY: C Butler; B O’Connor, E Lynch, C Murphy; A O’Connell, K Cronin, C McCarthy; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody (c), A Harrington, L Scanlon; H O’Donoghue, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Subs: D O’Leary for Harrington (ht), C Lynch for O’Connor (38), K Brosnan for McCarthy (50), J Lucey for Ní Mhuircheartaigh (56), R Smith for Galvin (56), J Gill for A O’Connell (60).

MEATH: M McGuirk (c); K Newe, A Sheridan, N Troy; N Gallogly, M.K. Lynch, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, S Melia; M Thynne, L Young, C Smyth; M Byrne, M Farrelly, E Duggan. Subs: E Moyles for Byrne (41), A McCabe for Melia (46), S Lynch for Smyth (49), O Gore for Cleary (51), A O’Leary for Duggan (58)

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway)