MEATH LADIES Update

Meath v Waterford
Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
Sunday January 25th 2009
Throw in 2p.m.
Ref: Tony Lennon – Dublin

Half time score: Meath 0 – 10 – Waterford 0 – 00
Full time score: Meath 0 – 15 – Waterford 1 – 00

Meath Ladies maintained their Senior Championship status with an emphatic win over Waterford in Newtownmountkennedy on Sunday despite the terrible weather conditions which, at times resembled Siberia. Hail sleet and snow was the order of the day for much of the game.

Meath began the game at high speed and a Grainne Nulty point in the 4th minute from about thirty metres signalled their intentions for the day. Meath had the bulk of the possession for the first half and the Royal half back line was virtually impenetrable. Aoife O’Rourke, Jane Burke and Ciara Daly provided a solid line of defence that gave the Deise girls only one shot at goal in the first half.

Meaths top scorer for the last two years, Elaine Duffy was again on form when she doubled the Royals advantage on eight minutes. Good team work from the Meath forwards set Mary Sheridan on her way and she pointed from an acute angle, thus giving the girls a three point advantage at the end of the first ten minutes.

Meath virtually set up camp in the Waterford half and with Grainne Nulty, Aedin Murray and Philomena Sheridan dominating the middle of the field Waterford just didn’t have any of the answers. Ciara Dempsey added her name to the scoreboard on fourteen minutes with a well taken point, Duffy once again compounded Waterford’s miserable day with another point soon afterwards. A free in the 23rd minute set up Gillian Bennett for Meaths seventh point and this was really the beginning of the end for Waterford as Meath rattled three more unanswered points in as many minutes sending them into the break with a deserved ten point to nil lead.

With weather conditions deteriorating rapidly and both teams suffering from the cold it was Waterford who started the brighter in the second half. Waterford’s first score of the game came in the fifth minute when Aoife McGovern latched on to a breaking ball and sent it to the back of the net. However, it was to be their one and only score of the game. Meath continued on their way and worked tirelessly chasing every ball to the end.

Duffy (2), Nulty and Mary Sheridan were on target once again with some well taken points. The last point of the game was left to Amy Bennett who made her return to Senior Championship after a long absence. This was well and truly a team effort.

Meath now head into the NFL in high spirits and with renewed enthusiasm. Meath will take on Longford on February 15th. Time and venue tbc.

Meath team and scorers: Irene Munnelly, Claire Coffey, Louise McKeever, Áine Fagan, Ciara Daly, Jane Burke (capt), Aoife O’Rourke, Grainne Nulty(3pts), Aedin Murray(1pt), Elaine Duffy(6pts), Philomena Sheridan, Ciara Dempsey(1pt), Shauna Bennett, Mary Sheridan(2pts), Gillian Bennett(1pt f).

Subs: Fiona O’Neill for S. Bennett, Amy Bennett(1pt) for P. Sheridan, Sinead McCormack for Daly, Eve Wardick for C. Dempsey.

Waterford team and scorers: Aimee Jordan, Laurissa Hogan, Eibhlis Cooney, Anne Dunphy, Aoife McGovern (1g) Louise Ryan, Nora Dunphy, Michelle Ryan, Linda Wall, Sinead Ryan, Elaine Power, Mairead Wall, Deirdre Fahy, Aisling O’Donnell, Margaret Foley.