Meath U14 Fall Short Against Dublin

Leinster U14 Championship Rd1

Dublin 6-10

Meath 5-6

 

A first-half haul from the Dublin full forward line done the damage for the home side as they ran out seven point winners over their big rivals Meath in the opening round of the Leinster championship in Ballyboden St. Enda’s on Saturday afternoon. Despite outscoring Dublin by 2-3 to 0-5 in the second-half Meath couldn’t close the gap any further despite battling to the end in tough blustery conditions.

 

The Royals got the show on the road from the start and were 1-1 up inside the opening minutes with Orla McLoughlin pointing and Emma Duggan bagging her first goal of the game. The Dubs responded almost immediately and had levelled the match after the 10 minute mark with deadly duo Kate McNally finding the net and Roisin McGovern slotting over the bar. Straight after this Dublin won a 20m free which they took quickly to McGovern who bagged her first goal of the contest to put the Dubs in the lead. It was a lead the home side kept for the remainder of the match and they continued to add to their tally throughout. Both teams traded goals midway through the half with Katie O’Connor netting for the Dubs and Duggan getting her second goal of the half for the Royals.

 

Both teams managed to add points to their tally before the Dubs hit a purple patch scoring 2-1 in quick succession with McNally and McGovern notching the goals. Leah Reilly, Meath’s captain on the day, did grab a goal back for the green and gold outfit however it was the home side that finished the half stronger with McNally pointing and Eimear Griffen netting to leave a 12 point margin between the sides at the break.

 

Half-Time: Dublin 6-5 Meath 3-2

 

The second-half was a mammoth effort from the away side as they held Dublin to just five points and managed 2-3 for themselves. The royals piled on the pressure after the restart and pointed early from midfielder Sarah Wall. The defence put their bodies on the line with Sorcha Gough making a fantastic block to deny a certain goal for the home side. Dublin notched a point before Duggan wrapped up her third goal of the game to continue to edge Meath closer on the scoreboard. Both teams traded points again before substitute Lauren Geraghty grabbed Meath’s second goal of the half to leave five between the teams.  Meath added a point from Kathleen Yore however Dublin finished the game in strong form with O’Connor scoring three points without reply to leave Dublin with a seven point victory.

 

Meath Team:  Megan Peters;  Sorcha Gough, Orla Lally, Aoife Farrell; Mary McDonagh, Petra Reilly, Molly McNamara; Sarah Wall (0-1), Leah Devine; Leah Dennehy (0-1), Kate McCarthy, Leah Reilly (1-0); Orla McLoughlin (0-1), Aoife Lenehan, Emma Duggan (3-1). Subs – Lauren Geraghty (1-0) for Devine (20m), Aoife Toner for Lenehan (HT), Marie Heffernon for McNamara (36m), Maebh Hanrahan for McLoughlin (56m), Kathleen Yore (0-1) for Dennehy.

 

Dublin Team: Katie Flanagan; Aileen Fanning, Aoife Taafe, Hannah Murphy; Hannah Leddy, Grace Nash, Emma Dawson; Grainne O’Driscoll (0-1), Grace Kos (0-1); Emma McCormack, Eimear Griffin, Molly Brady; Kate O’Connor (1-3), Roisin McGovern (2-2), Kate McNally (2-1). Subs – Caitlin Guiden for Leddy (HT), Chloe Monahan (0-2) for McCormack (36m), Orla Flanagan for Brady (44m), Megan Benson for Kos (53m), Jodi Egen for McNally (58m), Orlagh O’Mally for Dawson (60m).

 

Referee: Des McEnery (Westmeath).