Another win will boost chances

After the long trip to Wexford, along a congested car-clogged M11, the Meath players will return to the familiar surroundings of Pairc Tailteann next Sunday for their third round Ladies NFL Div 2A clash against Clare.

They will do so with the resounding victory over Wexford behind them - a win that is sure to boost morale because of the quality of the football produced in that encounter.

Meeting Clare may bring back some happy memories of last year for some of the Meath players.

They faced the Munster side in the semi-final of the All-Ireland IFC towards the end of last year and marched to a resounding 4-13 to 0-4 victory.

That was a game (just like last Sunday) when the fearsome Meath attack really cut loose, with Stacey Grimes scoring 2-6.

Manager Eamonn Murray termed her display against Wexford as "pure class" and it would be impossible to disagree with that assessment but then, as he also pointed out, many of the other Meath players exuded class and quality on a hot afternoon when the team blazed into life.

The big tally chalked up on Sunday against the Model County certainly augurs well for Meath as they prepare to host Clare who lost to Kerry by five points (3-11 to 4-13) in Tralee on Sunday, a week after narrowly defeating Wexford, 0-12 to 1-8.

To get 3-11 against a forbidding Kingdom defence is no mean feat and it's an indication that despite the meagre four points Clare scored in that All-Ireland semi-final last year, the Meath defence will have to be on full alert this time around.

Caoimhe Harvey, Ellie O'Gorman, Roisin Looney and Aisling Reidy are some of the talented players Clare have at their disposal.

However, it's difficult to avoid the conclusion that if Meath can get an ample supply of ball to players such as Grimes, Vikki Wall and Niamh O'Sullivan there will be adverse consequences for the visitors.

Manager Murray talked last Sunday about the incentive of getting to a league semi-final and no doubt that will be one of the motivating factors for his team when they take to the Pairc Tailteann pitch.

That, and the reality that they are tapping into their best form, suggests they are well capable of lowering the Banner.