MEATH LADIES

HALF TIME: Armagh 0-03 v 1-06 Meath
FULL TIME: Armagh 0-08 v 1-07 Meath

On a sun drenched Sunday afternoon, Meath plundered the Orchard and were lucky to come out with all three points in what was a tough and hard fought win. Although leading comfortably at half time, Armagh raised their game in the second half. This led to a tough and pulsating second half as Meath held out to win eventually by two points.

The game began brightly with the Royals dominating proceedings, and Elaine Duffy got Meath onto the scoreboard with a pointed free in the third minute. An intercepted pass by Mary Sheridan a moment later, led to good combination play with Geraldine Doherty, Duffy and Bridgetta Lynch, led to Lynch placing the ball between the upright, to double Meath’s advantage on four mins. Meath’s defence were solid with Shauna Bennett in particular in good form. It took Armagh until the thirteenth minute to get onto the scoreboard, courtesy of a well-taken point by Sharon O’Hagan. On the resumption however, Meath counter attacked quickly, and good work from Kellie Allen, Stephanie Byrne and Orla Sheridan allowed Duffy in for a well-taken goal. This was essentially to prove the difference in the sides. Lynch added to the Orchard’s misery with her second point of the afternoon as Meath’s performance continued to impress. Although Armagh were getting possession, they couldn’t find their way through Meath’s solid half back line of Ciara Dempsey, Jenny Rispin and Michelle O’Malley. Full back and Captain Philomena Sheridan was leading by example and made several clean catches to stop Armagh attacks in their tracks. Doherty added her first point of the afternoon on 18 mins, while Caroline O’Hanlon, Armagh’s long-serving midfielder added her team’s second point a minute later. Doherty cancelled this however as she once again but the ball between the white posts on 22 mins. O’Hagan added Armagh’s third point on 25 mins, but Meath once again cancelled out their effort through a Duffy pointed free on 26 mins. Despite threatening Meath’s defence once again, it ended with Meath having a clear six-point lead, Meath 1-06 to Armagh’s 0-03.

Knowing Armagh, Meath knew they would lift their game in the second half, and true enough Armagh outscored their Royal opponents by 5 points to one in the second half. Geraldine Doherty was the only player to get on the scoreboard with a well-taken point on 41 mins. Tempers fraying and several loose tackles on both sides, eventually led to Meath’s Kellie Allen being sin-binned for ten minutes. However, while Armagh should have capitalised on Meath’s reduced number, in fact the Royal girls pulled together and maintained a high level of possession. A timely interception from Shauna Bennett and a super save by goalkeeper Monica McGuirk was enough to keep the sides apart. Allen had only returned onto the pitch when Meath were reduced to 14 again, by what seemed like a harsh decision by the referee, when he dismissed substitute Ashley Leavy on a straight red card. Meath showed bottle and poise to see out the remainder of the game, however they were all relieved to hear the final whistle.
Meath’s next task takes them south to Tipperary next Saturday 13th, venue and time to be confirmed. This is unchartered territory for the Royals, as the two sides have never met in the league. It promises to be an enthralling game, where manager Brendan Dardis will need his charges well rested. Best for Meath today though were Claire Coffey, Mary Sheridan, Geraldine Doherty and Shauna Bennett.

Meath Team & Scorers: M, McGuirk, M. O’Malley, P. Sheridan (capt.), C. Coffey, C. Dempsey, J. Rispin, A. Murray, M. Sheridan, S. Byrne, S. Bennett, O. Sheridan, G. Doherty (0-03), E. Duffy (1-02), K. Allen, B. Lynch (0-02). Subs: V. McCormack for O’Malley, E. Wardick for Byrne, A. Leavy for O. Sheridan, T. Cosgrove for Coffey, R. Nulty for Lynch. Not used: I.Munnelly, D. Flynn, S. Martin, T. Ryan, S. Sheridan, S. Monaghan, A. McHugh.

Armagh: C. McAlinden, C. Morgan, D. Mallon, L. Brown, M. Moriarty, S. McClery, M. McGuinness, C. O’Hanlon, C. Malone, M. McAlinden, K. Mallon, A. Lennon, S. O’Hagan, A. Lennon, M. O’Donnell.

Referee: T. McSorley (Tyrone)

The under 16s weren’t as lucky as they took on Dublin in the Leinster Championship on Saturday. Losing by 6-05 to 1-05 at half time, the trademark comeback of this under 16 team was still alive and they ended the game only 6 points adrift, Dublin 6-09 to Meath’s 5-06. Star of the show was Captain Katie Callaghan, who led by example bagging a hat trick of goals. Laura Dempsey and Sinead Coyle also hit the back of the net. Best for Meath were Callaghan, Emma Troy, Cliona Murray and Sarah Powderly. However, the squad are nursing some injuries, so with a gap until the next game, Meath are sure to be back fighting and look forward to the challenge of Wicklow on the 20th March. Both games this weekend were marked by a moment of silence as a mark of respect on the passing of Nuala Callaghan. RIP.

Meath Team: S. Powderly, E. Troy, C. Murray, C. Dalton, D. Moroney, L. McCann, H. Cullen, K. Byrne, A. McCann, K. Callaghan (capt), L. Dempsey, S. Coyle, J. Kavanagh, L. Lynch, A. Bennett. Subs: H. O’Regan for Dalton, A. Weston for Moroney, L. McMurrow for Cullen.

Next week’s fixtures:
Meath Ladies under 19 Championship: Semi Finals:
Oldcastle v Royal Gaels on Monday 8th March at 7.30pm in Donore GAA pitch.
Clann na Gael v Na Fianna on Monday 8th March at 8pm in Ballinlough GAA pitch.

Leinster under 14 championship: round 1
Laois v Meath on Saturday 13th March at 2pm in Timahoe, Co. Laois.

Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League: round 5
Tipperary v Meath on Saturday 13th March. Game in Tipperary, but venue and time to be confirmed.