Goals in either half from Emma Duggan and Ciara Smyth helped Meath to a comprehensive win over Dublin in their Lidl NFL Division 1 tie played at the St. Patrick’s GAA club grounds in Stamullen where a great crowd was in attendance to watch these two rivals in action. The Dubs had defeated Meath by 12 points in last year’s All-Ireland final.
Dublin had a chance to open the scoring first but hit a wide. Meath registered the first score of the game when Duggan pointed. Katie Bermingham followed with a neat point in the seventh minute.
The Royals created two goal opportunities in the space of a minute but both were hit wide. They controlled proceedings and Dublin struggled to gain possession.
Wayne Freeman’s side opened up a five point lead in the 17th minute when Duggan landed a free for her third point of the game. One minute later the lead was stretched to eight points when Duggan flicked the ball to the back of the net.
After 23 minutes of play Dublin got their first score on the board; a point from Kate Donaghy. Jodi Egan followed up with two points to cut the gap to five points. Just before the break Marion Farrelly hit an excellent point to leave the score 1-6 to 0-3 in favour of Meath.
Meath started the second half extremely well and were 11 points ahead after 35 minutes of play with Duggan, Smyth and Farrelly all kicking points. Dublin had a chance to get their opening point of the second half in the 37th minute but Meath keeper Robyn Murray was able to touch away Orla Nolan’s free.
Gallogly put 12 between the sides in the 40th minute but one minute later Rachel Harnett grabbed a goal for Dublin. Meath replied with a fine score from Smyth before Farrelly was sin binned in the 50th minute. Substitute Rachel Cassley fired over a nice point in the 52nd minute to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Meath.
Things got a lot better for Meath in the 58th minute when Smyth grabbed their second goal to put 14 points between the sides. Substitute Laura Grendon hit a late point for Dublin right at the end.
C Smyth 1-4, E Duggan 1-4 (2fs), N Gallogly, M Farrelly 0-2 each, K Bermingham, R Casserly 0-1 each.
R Harnett 1-0, J Egan 0-2, K Donaghy 0-1, L Grendon 0-1 (f)
R Murray; Á Sheridan, M.K. Lynch, A Gaffney; Ó Smith, S Wall, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, N Gallogly; M Thynne, C Smyth, M Farrelly; E Duggan, O Finnegan, M Byrne.
R Casserly for Finnegan (40), L Woods for C Lawlor for Smith (48), A Farrell for Thynne (60).
K Moran Tighe; N Crowley, A Nyhan, K Kenehan; G Connolly, H Leahy, E Gribben; R Hartnett, H McGinnis; S McIntyre, O Nolan, K Donaghy; A Timothy, J Egan, E Kearney.
N Byrne for Kearney and L Grendon for Connolly (ht), S Birnie for Kenehan (44), S Russell for Egan and C Murphy for K Donaghy (53), J Kane for Nolan and Hetherton for McIntrye (55), A Doyle for McGinnis (58) Almeida for Leahy (59), N Smith for Gribben (60+2), E Leddy Doyle for Harnett (60+3).
Shane Curley (Galway).
