The old adage goals win games proved true as Kerry got back to winning ways when they defeated Meath in an entertaining contest in the Lidl NFL Division 1 game played at the Meath Hill GAA Grounds.
Síofra O’Shea was superb in the forward line scoring 1-6 (four frees).
Kerry made a great start to the game with a goal in the second minute through Leah McMahon in her first start for Kerry. Meath got their first score in the sixth minute, a point from Emma Duggan. They followed that up with another to cut the gap to one in the seventh minute.
A nice ball in from Anna Galvin found McMahon and she made no mistake grabbing her second goal. Kerry followed up with points from Dannielle O’Leary and O’Shea to put six between the sides after 12 minutes.
Meath responded from that Kerry spell with a pointed free from Duggan and a neat goal from Orla Finnegan. Twice in seven minutes Meath came to within one point of Kerry.
The excellent O’Shea kicked two points (one free) to put three between the sides in the 28th minute but Duggan and Ciara Smyth fired over points in stoppage time to leave Meath trailing by one at the break at 2-5 to 1-7.
Three minutes into the second half Kerry got their third goal with a lovely finish from O’Shea. Duggan was on target yet again firing over a free minutes later. Every time Meath came to within a point of the Kingdom the reigning league champions were able to hit back with a score.
With two in the game, Kerry got their fourth goal in the 53rd minute when Mary O’Connell fired a good shot to the net but Kerry were dealt a blow when Cáit Lynch had to go off injured in the 57th minute.
The lead was seven points in the 60th minute when O’Shea fired over another free. Meath got a second goal less than one minute later through midfielder Orlaith Sheehy. Duggan hit over another point before O’Shea finished the scoring with a point near the end.
Elsewhere, Galway’s full-forward line of Andrea Trill, Leanne Coen and Róisín Leonard struck 3-7 between them as they defeated Kildare by 3-12 to 1-7 in Tuam.
Galway led by 2-6 to 0-5 at the break and pushed on from there as they bounced back from their loss to Cork last time out.
In Division 2 on Sunday, Donegal, with two goals from Katie Dowds and one from Ciara McGarvey, won the top of the table clash with Tyrone to preserve their 100 per cent start with a 3-9 to 1-8 win.
Mayo maintained their unbeaten start with a 0-9 to 0-7 win over Tipperary, while Cavan secured their second win when a goal from Niamh Keenaghan heled them to a 1-11 to 2-6 win over Wexford.
An early goal from Éabha Sherry set Monaghan on their way to their first win when they defeated a Westmeath side 1-12 to 1-6 who were also searching for their first victory.
In Division 3, leaders Down continued their impressive form by seeing off Clare by 7-13 to 4-13. There were also wins for Laois and Louth, while Roscommon and Antrim drew.
S O’Shea 1-6 (4f), L McMahon 2-0, M O’Connell 1-1, N Ní Chonchuir, N Carmody, R Dwyer 0-1 each.
E Duggan 0-7 (4f), C Smyth 0-4, O Finnegan, O Sheehy 1-0 each, M Byrne 0-1.
C Butler; E Lynch, A Doherty, A Dillane; K Ryan, C Lynch, K Brosnan; M O’Connell, A Galvin; M O’Connor, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; S O’Shea, D O’Leary, L McMahon.
K McGrath for Ryan and N Carmody for O’Connor (ht), E Ní Laighin for Dillane (42), R Dwyer for McMahon and N Quinn for Lynch (44).
R Murray; Á Sheridan, M.K. Lynch, O Gore; C Lawlor, S Wall, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, N Gallogly; S Murphy, C Smyth, M Farrelly; E Duggan, O Finnegan, M Byrne.
L O’Neill for Murphy (26), K Kealy for Gore (38) and R Casserly for Byrne (40), O Smith for Lawlor (46), A Reilly for Bermingham and M Thynne for Finnegan (49).
Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).
