Departure ticket for Meath
Two years without a win in the National Camogie League Div 1 ended today for Meath at Kilcormac when they were sent back to Div 2 by Offaly in a relegation play-off.
With the benefit of home advantage Offlay won convincingly by 3-17 to 1-7, they had eight different scorers compared to Meath’s four and the Royals also missed an early penalty.
Michaela Morkan, who was making her first appearance after a period out through injury, and Arlene Watkins were exceptional for the victors.
While Meath had no shortage of grit, they missed too many opportunities in the first half and were unable to cope with Offaly’s scoring capacity from play.
The first significant moment came in the ninth minute after the intelligent Linda O’Sullivan had got them off the mark.
Meath full-forward Jane Dolan made a brilliant catch from goalkeeper Emily Mangan’s long-distance free but was dragged down, leaving Liz Dempsey with no option but to award a penalty.
Dolan’s shot lacked sufficient power though and was a nice height for Ellie Clendennen to make a good stop.
Gráinne Egan scored the first of her two goals from the next attack, as Emily Mangan opted not to come off her line to intercept a long ball and there was never any doubt about what way this would go thereafter.
Dolan registered Meath’s first score from a 14th minute free and added two more from placed balls while Megan Thynne hit a lovely score from play but Patrice Delaney and Morkan were keeping the scoreboard ticking over at the other end.
Then Harding struck first-time off the sod for a 25th minute goal for a 2-8 to 0-4 interval lead for Offaly who completely dominated the second half. Orlagh Kirwan, Grace Teehan and Mairéad Jennings added to their side’s tally and Egan secured her second goal with a deft one-handed flick.
Harding was denied her second goal in the 35th minute, first by a block from Claire Coffey and then moments later, when Mangan put her body on the line to deflect the Birr attacker’s powerful shot over the bar.
Meath kept battling, which will please their long-serving manager John Davis, and with Dolan having left the fray, Aoife Maguire took over the free-taking duties to good effect, converting two for points before blasting to the net from another right at the end.
Meath - E Mangan, E Burke, C Coffey, M Clince, Á Keogh, A Maguire (1-2), L Donoghue, C O’Brien, A Slattery, A Gaffney, Á McInerney, M Thynne (0-1), K Hackett, J Dolan (0-3), C Quinn. Subs - S Hackett for K Hackett 28 mins, G Coleman (0-1) for McInerney 30m, F O’Brien for Dolan 43m, S Payne for Slattery 47m, M Randall for Gaffney 54m, A Smith for O’Brien 60m