Tough start for Meath Ladies

Life in Ladies NFL Div 3 begins in Ballykinlar Down on Sunday for Meath as they look to rebuild after a few very disappointing years that has seen them drop down the divisions and also be regraded to Intermediate status.

Manager Eoin Hennessy, who took over from interim boss Jenny Rispin after the first round win over Sligo last year, has yet to enjoy a competitive win as Royals coach, but the signs are encouraging following a championship draw with Laois in 2016 and a couple of impressive displays in preseason.

Final preparations for Sunday's trip north to take on Down saw Meath comfortably beat Louth in a challenge in Dunganny last weekend and backboned by two very successful minor sides Hennessy will look to build on plenty of potential.

Amongst the players expected to play significant roles in Meath's bid to climb back up through the ranks are Vikki Wall, Karley Leavy and Megan Thynne all of whom won All-Ireland MFC titles with Meath last year, while others like Paula Dunne, Niamh O'Sullivan, Niamh Gallogly and Orlagh McLoughlin bring valuable experience to the set up.

Meath Ladies have not been in NFL Div 3 since the 1990s and will be hoping for a swift return to Div 2. Indeed it was 1993 since they were in Div 3 and in that year they went on to win promotion and a Leinster JFC title before losing out to Donegal in the all-Ireland semi-final.

Meath last faced Down in 2015 and lost by a point, but such has been the dramatic turnover of some high quality players that it is unlikely that any of the Royal players who featured in that game will be in action on Sunday.

This year’s NFL Div 3 campaign will prove to be particularly difficult with four of the seven games away from home. Long trips to Limerick in round two, Tipperary in round four and Leitrim in round seven are sure to test Meath, their new captain Niamh O'Sullivan and manager Hennessy.