Meath leave it late before conquering the Cats
It's never over until it's over. How often have we heard that line in the context of sport?
The truth of that saying was underlined again today when in the most dramatic circumstances Meath snatched victory from the gaping jaws of defeat against Kilkenny in the National Camogie League Div 2 quarter-final to win 3-7 to 1-12.
Trailing by two points and five minutes into injury time Meath struck with a goal scored by substitute Maire Kirby.
In the final play of the afternoon the ball was sent into the Kilkenny goalmouth and in a mother and father of a scramble Kirby fired to the net.
There was hardly time for Kilkenny to puck the ball out before referee Gavin Donegan blew the final whistle.
It was heartbeak for Kilkenny who led 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval with Ciara Phelan getting their goal. They also produced spells of excellent play.
Early in the second-half Megan Thynne and Jane Dolan fired to the net to give Meath hope but Kilkenny were still ahead at the end of normal time and deep into injury time.
Then the ball was played into the Kilkenny goalmouth and Kirby struck to snatch the dramatic winner.
SCORERS
Meath - Jane Dolan 1-3 two frees, '45'; Megan Thynne 1-1; Amy Gaffney 0-1; Kristina Troy 0-1 free; Grace Coleman 0-1; Maire Kirby 1-0;
Kilkenny - Sophie O'Dwyer 0-6 five frees; Ciara Phelan 1-0; Ciara O'Keeffe 0-2; Aine Phelan 0-2; Danielle Quigley 0-1; Hannah Scott 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Maggie Randle; Louise O'Donoghue, Ellen Burke, Sophia Payne; Leah Devine, Maeve Clince, Tracy King; Kristina Troy, Aedin Slattery; Grace Coleman, Aoife Minogue, Jane Dolan; Amy Gaffney, Sinead Hackett, Megan Thynne. Subs - Maire Kirby for Hackett 46 mins , Sophie Healy for Payne 65m.
Kilkenny - Sinead Farrell; Naimh Leahy, Roisin Phelan, Ciara Murphy; Tiffany Fitzgerald, Leann Fennelly, Laura Hegarty; Aisling Curtis, Laura Green; Hannah Scott, Ciara Phelan, Ciara O'Keeffe; Sophie O'Dwyer, Aine Phelan, Danielle Quigley. Subs - Eva Hynes for Green 54 mins.
Referee - Gavin Donegan (Dublin).
See match report, analysis, quotes and photographs from game in the next issue of the Meath Chronicle.