Meath set to take another step up in class

Meath camogie players will break new ground when they run out at Croke Park shortly before midday next Sunday for a historic All-Ireland Premier Junior final against Down, a team that was beaten in last year's decider by Waterford. The players, officials and supporters have every reason to travel to Croke Park with expectations of victory, but manager John Davis and his selectors Sharon Raleigh, Valerie Curtis and Tom Walsh will adopt a cautious approach. The reason for optimism is well-founded as Meath have already defeated the Ulster side twice this year, once in the National Camogie League Div 2 and also in the qualifying phase of the All-Ireland series where the Royal County remained unbeaten. However, 12 months ago at Clontibret, Meath faltered at the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland against Down and that setback will put everyone involved with the team on guard next Sunday. Based on Meath's performances this year alone, they have the ability to win one more game and make the leap to the intermediate grade. Buoyed by a fine debut season in the Div 2 league, Meath have thrived in the higher grade after coming through the ranks of Div 4 and Div 3 under the guidance of Davis. Meath opened their Div 2 campaign with the focus firmly on survival, but the quality and potential in the team was visible from the first round victory over a Cork side that was shocked to lose by seven points at Pairc Tailteann as the hosts won by 0-17 to 1-7. Solid at the back and slick in attack would be a good description of the Meath team where Emily Mangan is an excellent shot-stopper between the posts. Claire Coffey has stepped into the role of full-back and made it her own after injury kept Aoife Thompson out of the side and with Kristina Troy solid at centre-back the defence could be best described as uncompromising. Thompson has returned to action and that has posed some serious selection problems for the manager, but also reflects the strength-in-depth of the panel. Thompson lined out at centre-back and Troy joined Trim's Ann Marie Fagan at midfield for the 0-14 to 0-5 semi-final win over Kildare three weeks ago where Meath were always in control. Jane Dolan, one of Meath's top forwards had a quiet game by her standards and finished with five pointed frees to her credit. Six other players also hit the target which indicates that Meath can find scores throughout the team, something that could be crucial when the tight marking starts on Sunday. It's likely that Down will deploy a second marker on Dolan to curtail the threat of the Blackhall Gaels player who scored nine points against them in the league tie and added another 1-5 in the All-Ireland group game last July at Downpatrick. That represents a serious threat for Down and manager Alister McGilligan, in his first year in charge, will be anxious to curtail Dolan's opportunities. The Down manager will also be aware that if his team produces a display similar to their second-half performance in the 2-8 to 2-5 semi-final victory over Laois, that they will be heading for the runner-up position again. Down failed to score in the second--half against Laois and were ahead by 2-8 to 1-4 at the interval, but if they can get the best out of players like Catherine McGourty, Niamh Mallon, Catherine Rocks and Lisa McCrickard, then they will make life difficult for Meath. Meath will also be conscious that they conceded two late goals to Karen Gribben in the league clash and they will want to prevent that happening on Sunday. The final will be a tight contest, but with the experience of the last few years behind them and a good league campaign, Meath have the ability to take the silverware back to the Royal County. Meath (probable): Emily Mangan; Holly Geraghty, Claire Coffey, Fiona O'Neill; Aine Keogh, Aoife Thompson, Lisa Foley; Ann Marie Fagan, Kristina Troy; Edel Guy, Jane Dolan, Aileen Donnelly; Aoife Maguire, Sinead Hackett, Katie Hackett. To read the full 3-page preview of Sunday's game see this week's Meath Chronicle.