Meath U-16s are Moo-ving on Up!

 

Full Time: Meath 7-17, Offaly 3-03

 

 

Meath under 16s rounded off a great weekend for the Royal County when they defeated Offaly in Rhode GAA on Easter Monday. The Royals led throughout and their progress since Round One of the competition is a credit to both players and management. The Royals had been boosted by victory over the Lilywhites in Round Three and took this new found confidence into their fourth round match up against the Faithful County.

 

Meath led from the off in difficult conditions despite the sunshine, with Donaghmore Ashbourne’s Becky Deery getting the scoring underway early on. Niamh Cassidy doubled the Royals advantage before Aoibhín Cleary pointed and converted a penalty after Kiah Geraghty was fouled. A brace of points from Simonstown’s Niamh Hand half way through the half kept the pressure on the Offaly defence. With the Meath forwards in full flight, the Royal defence stood firm, Martha Reidy, Laura Quinn and Mikaela Rao keeping out Offaly’s forwards. Teamwork and sheer dedication gave Meath their second goal on twenty minutes with Seneschalstown’s Kiah Geraghty the finisher. A third point from Hand, a brace of points from Anna Brannigan and a point from Lizzie Collins gave Meath a commanding 2-10 to 1-02 lead at half time.

 

On the resumption, the pressure on the Offaly’s rearguard was unrelenting. With the half backs Orlaith Moyles, Ellen Cassidy and Niamh Williams pressing up and overturning possession, the Royals added to their first half tally. The high score allowed the Meath management to use all of their substitutes. Becky Deery continued her scoring spree with a further 1-02 in the second half, while the work of fellow forwards Tess O’Neill and Niamh Cassidy was instrumental. Abbie Timmons added three fine points to the Royal score while Ailbhe Leahy nipped in for a brace of goals early in the second period. Lizzie Collins added to her point from the first half with a fine score in the second while Judy Bobbett found herself in strange territory when she too found the back of the Offaly net. Navan O’Mahonys Tara Fay sent over a point of her own while fellow club mate Ailbhe Leahy ended Meath’s scoring with her third goal, and incredibly her team’s seventh just on sixty minutes. While Offaly did sneak in two goals passed net minder Laurie McLean in the second half, these were little more than consolatory as the Royals took home all three points.

 

While having such a big score registered on the scoreboard is sure to please this team and their management, what will matter more is the manner in which the game was played. The team work and determination shown is what Meath will carry forward into their next fixture, a home game against Wexford in two weeks time on 19^th April.

 

Meath Team & Scorers: Laurie McClean, Martha Reidy, Laura Quinn, Mikaela Rao, Orlaith Moyles, Ellen Cassidy, Niamh Williams, Anna Brannigan (0-03), Aoibhín Cleary (1-01, pen), Tess O’Neill, Niamh Cassidy (0-01), Niamh Hand (0-03), Lizzie Collins (0-02), Kiah Geraghty (1-00), Becky Deery (1-03).

Subs: Judy Bobbett (1-00), Emily O’Connor, Laoise McDermott, Emma McCarney, Abbie Timmons (0-03), Lauren Collier, Tara Fay (0-01), Ailbhe Leahy (3-00), Hannah Tuite,

Subs not used; Niamh Donnelly, Emma Cassidy.

 

Referee: John Doherty (Dublin)

 

Leinster U-16 Championship – Round Four

Offaly v Meath

Monday 6^th April at 12pm

Venue: Rhode GAA

 

Half Time: Meath 2-10, Offaly 1-02