Meath off to a perfect start

Meath off to a perfect start

TG4 Senior Ladies All Ireland Championship

Meath v Down Pairc Esler, Newry, Co. Down Sunday 22nd July 2007

Throw in 3.30pm

Half Time: Meath 0-08 Down 1-03

Full Time: Meath 2-16 Down 1-07

The Meath Senior Ladies got themselves off to the perfect start
in the All Ireland Senior Championship Series when they were victorious
against Down in Pairc Esler, Newry on Sunday. This is the first
time these teams have met competitively, so both teams were venturing
into unknown territory when the game began. A minutes silence was
respectfully observed before the match for Lucy Hodgins, sister
of Alma Hodgins, Chairperson of St Ultans Ladies, who had died during
the week.

The game began promptly thereafter. It was the Meath team who began
the brighter of the two teams with Karen Bowe opening the scoring
for the Royal County, with a well taken point in the opening minute
of the game. Jane Dolan, Fiona Mahon and Katie O Brien all pointed
in the opening ten minutes, keeping the Down girls scoreless. Down
took their first score on twelve minutes through Michaela Downey,
while Lisa Morgan scored twice in two minutes to bring Down into
Meath’s reach by mid-way through the first half. Meath however did
not panic and stepped up a gear with Elaine Duffy and Katie O Brien
both pointing to bring control back to the Royals. However, most
notably, it was Jenny Rispin’s two fine runs from the half back
line to the forwards to score two points in the 21st and 24th minutes
that made the first half memorable for the Meath team. These well
taken points from the right hand side of the pitch on the 21 yard
line sent a message of intent to Down. Down were given a glimmer
of hope just before half time when loose marking by Meath allowed
Down’s corner forward, Aileen Pyres to be free on the square and
the Down player made no mistake with the finish which just cut past
Meath’s goalkeeper, Irene Munnelly. Meath finished the first half
with their noses just in front, 0-08 to Down’s 1-03.

Meath Panel v Down; 22nd July in Pairc Esler, Newry. Back Row from L to R: Ciara Daly, Catherine McCormack, Maria Kealy, Katie O Brien, Jane Burke, Grainne Nulty, Louise Byrne, Irene Munnelly, Philomena Sheridan, Jackie Shiels, Vicky McGinn Front Row from L to R: Charlene McAuley, Karen Bowe, Jenny Rispin, Caitriona O Shaughnessy, Elaine Duffy, Fiona Mahon, Sinead Dooley, Jane Dolan, Suzanne McCormack, Avril Robinson.

On the resumption, it was the Down girls who began the brighter
with Emma Mulbern pointing, bringing Down within a point of Meath.
However, this is the closest they would come in the contest. A superbly
taken free from Elaine Duffy about 30 yards out on the right hand
side of the pitch seemed to lift the Royal County once more. Perhaps
justice was served in the 39th minute when Meath who had calls for
a penalty in the first half were denied, were awarded one after
Katie O Brien was fouled in the paralellogram. Elaine Duffy again
was to the fore when she scored from the penalty, kicking it low
and hard in the bottom left hand corner away from Down’s Emma Madine.
Minutes later, Grainne Nulty floated in a free from outside the
45′ into the box and it only took Jackie Shiels the lightest of
touches to send it past Madine for Meath’s second goal. The next
few minutes saw Meath go on a scoring spree, with Katie O Brien,
Elaine Duffy, Caitriona O Shaughnessy, and Grainne Nulty all pointing
to end the contest in all but the final whistle. To Down’s credit
they did not give up until the final whistle and scored points in
the 56th and 59th minutes. Meath substitute Avril Robinson, on the
pitch only five minutes, scored a point followed swiftly by Grainne
Nulty scoring once more. An injury to Katie O Brien saw her leave
the pitch early, with Karen Bowe replacing her for the final few
minutes. Jane Dolan scored a last minute point deep into injury
time to ensure the Royal County finished on a high with Down’s goal
scorer Pyres ending the scoring with a point just before the final
whistle.

All in all, Meath’s performance was a convincing and promising one.
Their next game is next Saturday 28th July when they take on Armagh
in Clones at 5pm, live on TG4. The Meath Juniors also play next
weekend when they take on Laois on Sunday

Meath Team and Scorers: Irene Munnelly, Sinead Dooley, Jane Burke,
Suzanne McCormack, Jenny Rispin (2pts), Vicky McGinn, Philomena
Sheridan, Grainne Nulty (2pts), Caitriona O Shaughnessy (1pt), Karen
Bowe (1pt), Jane Dolan (2pts), Fiona Mahon (1pt), Elaine Duffy (1-03),
Jackie Shiels (1-00), Katie O Brien (3pts). Subs: Charlene McAuley
for Bowe (42 mins), Avril Robinson for Shiels (54 mins), Karen Bowe
for O Brien (62 mins).

Down Team: Emma Madine, Aiobheann McEvoy, Niamh McGowan, Niamh Lennon,
Sinead Fegan, Aine Karey, Eilis McConville, Lyndsy Cunningham, Cora
McKibbem, Kyla Downey, Grainne McClean, Michaela Downey, Aileen
Pyres, Lisa Morgan, Emma Mulbern.