Royals claim win in another epic
In what turned out to be another epic encounter Meath emerged with the narrowest of victories from Parnell Park in the Ladies Leinster SFC.
These two teams don't do boring, mundane games. They go at each other hell for leather and it was that kind of a contest this time around with Meath emerging with a 1-8 to 0-10 victory.
It look like one stage in the second-half Eamonn Murray's team would win easily but Dublin came storming back to reduce the deficit to the minimum. Some heroic defending from Meath helped them hold out.
Emma Duggan scored Meath's goal in the second-half ( the sides were level 0-4 apiece at the break) and that proved so important to the final outcome.
Stacey Grimes was Meath's topscorer with four points from frees while Kate Sullivan showed the way for Dublin with three scores but Mick Bohan's team couldn't get enough to haul their rivals back.
Meath were brilliant at time, fast-paced and direct, while at other times they gave possession away easily.
The fact that Meath didn't score in the closing stages will cause the management some concern.
SCORERS
Meath - Stacey Grimes 0-4; Emma Duggan 1-0; Vikki Wall 0-2; Aoibhin Cleary 0-1; Niamh O'Sullivan 0-1.
Dublin - Kate Sullivan 0-3 one free; Sinead Goldrick 0-1; Martha Byrne 0-1; Jennifer Dunne 0-1; Nicole Owens 0-1; Sinead Wylde 0-1; Hannah Tyrell 0-1; Aoife Kane 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Monica McGuirk; Shauna Ennis, Mary Kate Lynch, Orlaith Duff; Aoibheann Leahy, Emma Troy, Aoibhin Cleary; Orla Byrne, Orlagh Lally; Megan Thynne, Emma White, Emma Duggan; Vikki Wall, Stacey Grimes, Niamh O'Sullivan. Subs - Niamh Gallogly for Leahy half-time; Bridgetta Lynch for White 35 mins, Ailbhe Leahy for I Byrne 41m, Meadhbh Byrne for O'Sullivan 47m, Ciara Smyth (Skryne) for Lally 54m.
Dublin - Abby Shiels; Jess Tobin, Leah Caffrey, Ellen Gribben; Sinead Goldrick, Martha Byrne, Orlagh Nolan; Jennifer Dunne, Kate McDaid; Nicole Owens, Sinead Wylde, Kate Sullivan; Coaimhe O'Connor, Niamh Hetherton, Lyndsey Davey. Subs - Lauren Magee for Wylde, Hannah Tyrrell for Hetherton, Aoife Kane for Nolan all half-time; Siobhan Killeen for O'Connor 49 mins, Natalia Hyland for Owens 54m.
Referee - Barry Redmond (Wexford)
SEE JOHN QUIRKE'S PHOTOGRAPHS AS WELL AS ANALYSIS AND QUOTES, MATCH REPORT FROM BIG GAME IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE