26 April 2006 Meath v Mayo match report Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Suzuki Ladies NFL Division 1 Semi-Final Meath v Mayo Sean Eiffe Park, Ratoath Sunday April 23rd 2006 Half time score Meath 0 – 07 Mayo 0 – 06 Full time score Meath 1 – 13 Mayo 2 – 09 Meath Ladies battled their into the Division 1 Final with the narrowest of victories. Mayo opened the scoring with a point from Cora Staunton in the first minute but this was to be the only time that Mayo would lead. Gillian Bennett got of the mark with a brace of points in the 4th and 6th minute. Meath were putting together some of their best football this year and put over four unanswered points before Mayo hit back with three of their own. Gillian Bennett, Ger Doherty and Katie O’Brien were leading the Meath charge and at times Mayo just didn’t have the answers. Meath went into the break with a 7 points to 6 lead. This game really took off in the second half. Manager Geraldine Sheridan obviously had some words of wisdom for her troops as they came out fired up and raring to go. Grainne Nulty hit the target in the first minute with a long range point. Mayos Staunton pointed from a free soon after and it was game on. Some fine combination from Mary Sheridan, Jenny Rispin and O’Brien had Meath 5 points in front mid way through the second half. Back row l to r: Philomena Sheridan, Shauna Bennett, Michelle Dunne, Lisa Keenan, Aoife Thompson, Jenny Rispin, Mary Sheridan, Caroline Griffin, Irene Munnelly, Grainne Nulty, Susan Sullivan, Michelle Doyle, Caitriona O’Shaughnessy, Jackie Shiels. Front row l to r: JulieAnne Scanlon, Charlene McAuley, Elaine Lynch, Suzanne McCormack, Katie O’Brien, Edel McGrane, Jane Burke, Elaine Duffy(capt), Louise McKeever, Geraldine Doherty, Gillian Bennett, Sinead Dooley. Mayos Cora Staunton was being tightly marked by Sinead Dooley and this was to be a contributing factor to the Meath victory. Another major factor was the superb display of goalkeeping by Meaths Irene Munnelly who made three point blank saves at crucial times. But true to form Mayo hit back with a vengeance. After a scrappy encounter in the square Mayo substitute Annette Gallagher put the ball past keeper Munnelly. This left just two point between the teams. Almost immediately Meath hit back with a goal of their own. Meath pushed the ball forward to Katie O’Brien who laid on a pin point pass to Charlene McAuley who made no mistake and slotted past Mayo keeper Linda Connolly. This restored Meath’s 5 point advantage. In the final quarter of the game Mayo turned up the heat once again and Meath’s backs found themselves under pressure. Louise McKeever, Rispin and Jane Burke were solid in defence and broke down a lot of the Mayo attacks. Well into injury time Mayo were awarded a free when Cora Staunton was fouled. There were just 4 points between the teams at this stage and once again Staunton stepped up to take the free. Meath packed the goals but she managed to put the ball into the back of the net. But it was too little too late and when referee Eugene O’Hare blew the final whistle Meath players, Mentors and supporters were ecstatic with delight. This is Meath’s first ever Division 1 final. They now go on to play Cork in the final. Cork have already beaten Meath this year but it will make for an exciting encounter. Meath team and scores: Irene Munnelly, Sinead Dooley, Jane Burke, Suzanne McCormack, Jenny Rispin, Louise McKeever, Edel McGrane, Elaine Lynch, Lisa Keenan, Mary Sheridan(1pt), Katie O’Brien(1pt), Grainne Nulty(3pts), Ger Doherty(2pts), Gillian Bennett(6pts), Elaine Duffy. Subs: Shauna Bennett for Keenan, Charlene McAuley(1 g) for Duffy, Michelle Dunne for McGrane, Aoife Thompson for O’Brien. Share this Article 0 0