TG4 Leinster Ladies Senior Championship Semi Final

Half Time: Meath 0-04 v Laois 0-05
Full Time: Meath 2-05 v Laois 3-09

Hopes for Meath making their first appearance in a Leinster Final in three years were dashed on Sunday as the Mourne County sent the Royals packing into the All Ireland qualifier series. Meath were well in contention at half time only a point adrift 0-04
to 0-05 and indeed stayed with the Laois ladies for much of the second half, a point that manager Brendan Dardis will be happy with. Giving starting places to 5 championship debutants; Eileen Rahill, Orlaith Duff, Ashley Leavy, Deirdre Flynn and Bridgetta Lynch shows a huge step in developing the senior squad and naturally this will take time to pay dividends.

The first half showed Meath were not going to roll over and let Laois walk all over them, and points from captain Mena Sheridan, her sister Mary Sheridan, Jenny Rispin and Deirdre Flynn had them well in contention at the break. Meath may have even gone in ahead at the break as Mary Sheridan missed a goal chance in the opening exchanges, a chance the Royals would later rue.

Meath remained in contention for much of the second half, with Mary Sheridan and Orla Sheridan netting for the visiting team, but the defence were really up against it, with Áine Fagan showing outstanding form. Although conceding three, keeper Irene Munnelly was in brilliant form and made several saves to keep the Royals in with a shout. With seven points to spare, Laois march on to the Leinster Final where they will face Dublin, who were victorious over Kildare by 1-09 to 0-05 in the other semi final. Meath on the other hand have a nervous wait until they find out who they will face in the first round of the All Ireland Qualifiers. Meath’s next day out is yet to be confirmed, either the weekending the 25th or the 1st. Lessons will surely have been learned from today’s semi final, and Dardis will be hoping for a better outcome the next day.
Best for Meath today were Irene Munnelly, Áine Fagan, Mary Sheridan and Orla Sheridan.

Meath Team: I. Munnelly, C. Coffey, A. Murray, M. Kealy, C. Dempsey, E. Rahill, O. Duff, A. Leavy, J. Rispin (0-01), D. Flynn (0-01), B. Lynch, O. Sheridan (1-01), E. Duffy, P. Sheridan (capt, 0-01), M. Sheridan (1-01). Subs: A. Fagan for Duff, Vivienne
McCormack for Flynn, S. Byrne for Kealy, S. Martin for Duffy.