Royals find their way past Derry's defensive walls

Four goals, plenty of end-to-end action, a tense finish, some fine scores.

They were all elements of a engrossing All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie quarter-final at Inniskeen today with Meath doing enough to secure a 2-13 to 2-11 victory - just about.

Ahead by 1-7 to 1-5 at the break Meath stayed in front throughout the second-half to secure a place in the last four - just like they did last year.

There was also the issue of a controversial point that wasn't a point with Derry thinking they had actually scored six points in the opening half ( as did a number of the reporters in the pressbox and Derry supporters) but the ball was deemed to have gone wide instead.

As it turned out Meath had more than just a single score to spare over their opponents after an umcompromising, full-on encounter.

Meath's first-half goal was scored by Maire Kirby and they added another just after the break when Aoife Minogue finished superbly.

Minogue finished with 1-2 while Amy Gaffney, Kristina Troy, Grace Coleman, and Sinead Hackett also contributed scores.

Jane Dolan made a big contribution with a fine display that included six points.

Meath led 2-8 to 1-6 early in the second-half but Derry reduced the deficit to a point, 2-11 to 2-10, with about eight minutes remaining. Meath, however, held firm to advance.

Aine McAllister punished Meath lapses with nine points, seven frees, while Dervla O'Kane and Aoife Shaw scored their goals but it still wasn't enough for the tenacious Ulster side.

SCORERS

Meath - Aoife Minogue 1-2 one free; Jane Dolan 0-6 three frees; Maire Kirby 1-0; Amy Gaffney 0-2; Grace Coleman 0-1; Kristina Troy 0-1 free; Sinead Hackett 0-1.

Derry - Aine McAllister 0-9 seven frees; Dervla O'Kane 1-0; Aoife Shaw 1-0; Shannon Graham 0-1; Shannon Graham 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Maggie Randle; Louise O'Donoghue, Ellen Burke, Sophia Payne; Claire Coffey, Maeve Clince, Tracy King; Aoife Minogue, Kristina Troy; Amy Gaffney, Grace Coleman, Jane Dolan; Maire Kirby, Sinead Hackett, Megan Thynne. Subs - Aedin Slattery for Hackett 50 mins, Leah Devine for Clince 57m.

Derry - Niamh Gribbin; Roisin Cassidy, Aoife Ni Chaiside, Sinead McGill; Coaimhe Glass, Louise Dougan, Orla McGuigan; Aine McAllister, Megan Kerr; Sinead Mellon, Shannon Graham, Eimear McGuigan; Therese Mellon, Aoife Shaw, Dervla O'Kane. Subs - Mairead McNicholl for S Mellon 23 mins, Claire Gunning for Dougan 43m, Maria Rafferty for McGuigan 47m, Jackie Donnelly for T Mellon 52m.

Referee - Barry Nea (Westmeath).