Meath make it at the third attempt
The all-Leinster pairing saw Meath get the better of Westmeath by 2-17 to 4-5 in a thrilling Ladies All-Ireland IFC decider for the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.
Westmeath won the IFC title in 2011, but were relegated from the senior grade last year.
Meath were contesting a third successive Intermediate final after losing to Tyrone in 2018, and Tipperary last year.
It was back in 1994 that Meath last won an All-Ireland adult title when the Royal County claimed the Junior crown.
It started well, but there were loads of twists in the script today.
Stacey Grimes pointed Meath in front from a first minute free, but the Royals were blitzed by a three-goal Westmeath salvo in as many minutes to trail by 1-2 to 3-0.
Two Lucy McCartan goals, one that was subject to a discussion between the referee and his umpires before the green flag was waved, and one from Anna Jones boosted Westmeath to that four-point advantage with Bridgetta Lynch netting for Meath and Niamh O'Sullivan adding the second point.
Meath lost full-back Sarah Wall through injury after 12 minutes and she was replaced by Aoibheann Leahy as the Royals recovered sufficiently to lead by 2-8 to 3-3 at the interval.
Jones pointed three Westmeath frees, but Meath were excellent as they kept their composure and had a Vikki Wall goal on 14 minutes.
The Meath points flowed from Stacey Grimes, Emma Duggan, Aoibheann Leahy, Maire O'Shaughnessy, Wall and Emma Duggan for that hard-earned two-point interval advantage.
Westmeath made the perfect start to the second-half when awarded what looked like a fortunate penalty that Leona Archibold converted.
Meath rallied again and were on terms when Duggan converted a free with Grimes on the mark from a placed ball soon after.
Meath were ahead by 2-13 to 4-5 by the second waterbreak with points from Duggan (two), Grimes and Emma Troy with Westmeath down to 14 after Johanna Maher picked up a yellow card.
Meath took control when play resumed, Wall added two points from play, Duggan also sent over two points.
Maher returned briefly before she picked up a second yellow card after a tussle with Wall who was harshly yellow-carded from the same incident.
The Dunboyne woman then collected the player-of-the-match award.
SCORERS
Meath - Emma Duggan 0-7 five frees; Vikki Wall 1-3; Bridgetta Lynch 1-0; Stacey Grimes 0-3 frees; Maire O'Shaughnessy 0-1; Niamh O'Sullivan 0-1; Aoibheann Leahy 0-1; Emma Troy 0-1;
Westmeath - Anna Jones 1-5 five frees; Lucy McCartan 2-0; Leona Archibold 1-0 penalty.
TEAMS
Meath - M McGuirk; K Newe, S Wall, E Troy; N Gallogly, S Ennis, M Thynne; A Cleary, M O’Shaughnessy; E Duggan, V Wall, O Lally; N O’Sullivan, B Lynch, S Grimes. Subs - A Leahy for S Wall 12 mins, O Byrne for Gallogly 38m, K Nesbitt for Lynch 52m, MK Lynch for Newe 57m.
Westmeath - L McCormack; R Dillon, L Power, J Rogers; L Duncan, F Claffey, A Roche; J Maher, T Dillon; A Jones, L Archibold, V Carr; L McCartan, T Fagan, C Blundell. Subs - S Dolan for Dillon 44 mins, N Spellman for Claffey 46m, K Hegarty for Archibold 52m, S McCormack for McCartan, 56m,
E White for O'Sullivan 56m.