Royal County ladies impress against Armagh

The road to redemption continued to be paved with scores on Sunday afternoon as Meath maintained their impressive start to the Ladies NFL Div 2 campaign with a whopping victory over Armagh at Ashbourne. Just two games into her reign, manager Paula Cunningham has watched her side inflict a 19-point defeat on Waterford and on Sunday they demolished Armagh with a clinical display that will make the rest of the country sit up and take notice. When these sides met last year, Meath prevailed with a narrow 1-7 to 0-8 victory. It was a difficult term last season as Meath struggled in the Leinster SFC and in the All-Ireland qualifiers, but a much sharper and more confident Royal outfit never looked in danger in this one as they led from start to finish. The return of key players such as Katie O'Brien, Grainne Nulty, Fiona Mahon (pictured) and Geraldine Doherty has given Meath's attack a serious punch. Their mere presence has sparked a revival for the outstanding Elaine Duffy and Jenny Rispin and with younger players like Kellie Allen also impressing there is a real purpose about Meath that was lacking last year. The inclusion of the St Ultan's contingent has added a spark and confidence. The SFC champions provided five of Sunday's starting 15 with three of them, O'Brien, Duffy and Doherty contributing 1-15 between them. Doherty rolled back the years with a sublime exhibition. A few years ago the former All Star forward suffered a career threatening leg injury, but after taking a year out from county action she was back to her brilliant best on Sunday with a superb contribution of 1-7. Duffy chipped in with six points, four frees, but it was her work rate and commitment that impressed most. Operating from a wing-forward role Duffy tracked back in search of possession and was as much a provider as she was a scorer. Another player who provided a vital link for many scores was Rispin. The Summerhill girl contributed two of Meath's goals, but it was her link and support play that impressed. That was the theme throughout. Meath defended well, had a superb launch pad through Nulty and the excellent Shauna Bennett and were unstoppable up front. It was almost the complete performance. If there was a flaw it was that they were caught out once or twice in the full-back line. Irene Munnelly was forced to make two good saves and Eileen Rahill and Aedin Murray also had to produce a number of vital tackles. Armagh were rarely a threat, but when Caroline O'Hanlon won possession she proved to be handful while Marian McGuinness and Mags McAlinden also caused problems intermittently. The opening quarter suggested that Armagh might cause Meath a few problems. The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession, but struggled to turn it into scores and with 10 minutes gone Meath only led by 0-2 to 0-1 with O'Hanlon cancelling out two early points from O'Brien and Duffy. A superb move which involved the ultra-fit Mahon, Doherty and Duffy concluded with Rispin popping the ball over the bar before successive frees from Mahon (two) and Duffy made it 0-6 to 0-1 after 24 minutes. Great work by Philomena Sheridan and Doherty set-up Rispin to blast a great finish to the net for Meath's first goal. Armagh's reply was to kick points from McAlinden (free) and McGuinness, but Meath were well in control and ensured a 1-8 to 0-3 interval lead with two superb scores from Doherty. The St Ultan's player continued the second-half where she left the first by adding another point. Allen almost found the net when released brilliantly by Nulty, but her half-blocked effort was easily saved by Nicola Cromie. Another McAlinden free gave Armagh forlorn hope to make it 0-4 to 1-9, but again Meath kicked on. Doherty's point was followed by four in-a-row from Duffy, then Doherty made it 1-15 to 0-4 before Munnelly was seriously tested by McAlinden's fierce drive. McAlinden ended an 11-minute barren spell for the visitors, but it was only a consolation score as Doherty showed her soccer skills to tap to the net from close range and after O'Brien added her second point Rispin bagged a second goal when she flicked Nulty's long ball to the net. Doherty added her sixth point of the afternoon after great work by Rispin before Armagh responded with a point from O'Hanlon and a late goal from Kiera Mallon. However, the last word fittingly went to the outstanding Doherty as she tapped over the final score to cap a convincing 18-point win and leave Meath sitting proudly on top of Div 2 ahead of next weekend's difficult trip to Kerry. Meath – I Munnelly; M Kealy, E Rahill, A Murray; O Sheridan, K O'Brien (0-2), A Leavy; G Nulty , S Bennett; E Duffy (0-6, four frees), K Allen, F Mahon (0-2 frees); J Rispin (2-1), M Sheridan, G Doherty (1-7). Subs – A Carolan for Kealy 42mins, L McKeever for Sheridan 45m, L Kelly for Allen 48m, C Murray for Leavy 55m, S Byrne for Bennett 55m, B Lynch for Duffy 57m, R Nulty for A Murray 57m. Armagh – N Cromie; S McCoy, A Donaldson, A Purdy; M Moriarty, C McCann, S McCleary; S Reel, C Malone; M McGuinness (0-1), L Browne, L Knox; M McAlinden (0-3, two frees), C O'Hanlon (0-2), S O'Hagan, Subs – M Lukie for Donaldson 11 mins, K Mallon (1-0) for Malone 43m. Referee - Tony Lennon (Dublin).