Meath women weather the storm at Lixnaw

Meath made a rewarding trip to Lixnaw today to tackle Kerry where they recorded a 1-12 to 1-5 first round All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship victory to set up a tie against Antrim next Saturday.

Meath went into this tie with three wins in the League Div 2 to their credit before the competition was cancelled in March. Meath beat Westmeath, Kildare and Kilkenny while the Kerry women, who were also in Div 2, lost to Galway, Down and Wexford.

Today at Lixnaw an early goal by Amy Gaffney gave Meath a platform to build a solid first-half advantage as points followed from Leah Dennehy, Megan Thynne and Jane Dolan to give the Royal County a 1-3 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

Three Patrice Diggin points sustained hosts Kerry, but Meath finished the half with a flourish and added points from Dolan (free), Gaffney and Sinead Hackett before Jackie Horgan sent over for Kerry.

Meath took a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage into the interval.

Kerry rallied after the resumption and got back into contention with a goal, but Meath weathered the storm and added points from Aoife Minogue and Hackett (two each), Gaffney and Thynne.

Meath - Maggie Randle; Louise Donoghue, Claire Coffey, Sophia Payne; Cheyenne O’Brien, Meave Clince, Tracy King; Megan Thynne (0-2), Kristina Troy; Jane Dolan (0-2), Aoife Maguire, Aoife Minogue (0-2); Leah Dennehy (0-1), Sinead Hackett (0-3), Amy Gaffney (1-2). Subs - Ellen Burke for Tracy King, Grace Coleman for Aoife Maguire, Megan Collins for Leah Dennehy, Erin Leddy for Kristina Troy

Kerry - Aoife Fitzgerald, Norette Casey, Sara Murphy, Michelle Costello, Rachel McCarthy, Niamh Leen, Kate Lynch, Ann Marie Leen, Patrice Diggin (0-4) Aoife Behan, Laura Collins, Jessica Fitzell (1-0), Saidhbhe Horgan, Jackie Horgan (0-1), Caoimhe Spillane Subs - Liz Houlihan for Ann Marie Leen, Brid Horan for Saidhbhe Horgan, Edel Slattery for Jessica Fitzell, Brid Horan for Saidhbhe Horgan

FACTFILE

First round - Laois 4-14, Kildare 1-7; Down 1-15, Derry 0-9; Antrim 5-10, Carlow 4-9; Meath 1-12, Kerry 1-5.

NEXT UP

SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER

Second round - Antrim v Meath; Down v Laois; Carlow v Kerry; Derry v Kildare.