Storming second-half display sends Meath through
Conjuring a second-half performance that could be described as barnstorming or simply brilliant Meath achieved the win the needed to help them secure a place in the knock-out phase of the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship.
On Rathmolyon's carefully manicured pitch Meath defeated Kilkenny 3-13 to 0-11 to progress to the next phase.
Meath now face Kerry in the quarter-finals at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise next Saturday, 4pm.
Meath needed a six-point victory today and also hope that Derry would defeat Wexford. They achieved the first part of the equation with consummate ease while the news also came through that the Ulster side had indeed defeated the Model County.
The happy combination of circumstances ensured Meath players had reason to celebrate at the end of what was undoubtedly their best display of the season. If they had lost and other results went against them Meath could have found themselves in a relegation scrap.
With the help of a Jane Dolan goal Brendan Skehan's side were on level terms, 1-4 to 0-7, at the interval with the visitors looking strong and determined but Meath simply moved to a different level in the second-half.
Further goals from Amy Gaffney and Aoife Minogue ensured the Royals had this contest signed and sealed long before the end.
Dolan was finished with 1-6 with Gaffney and Minogue both clocking up 1-2 while the excellent Aedin Slattery and Niamh Daly also pointed.
This was a classic team display from Meath who played confident, swashbuckling camogie throughout. Fast, composed, coherent.
Emma Manogue kept Kilkenny in the game, at least in the opening half with her markswomanship, but all the six points she scored came from placed balls. This was Meath's day, especially the second-half.
SCORERS
Meath - Jane Dolan 1-6 frees; Amy Gaffney 1-2; Aoife Minogue 1-2; Aedin Slattery 0-2; Niamh Daly 0-1.
Kilkenny - Emma Manogue 0-6 four frees, two '45s'; Aoife Cantwell 0-1; Ciara O'Keeffe 0-1; Hannah Scott 0-1; Carlise Comerford 0-1; Aine Phelan 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Sonia Leonard; Aine Keogh, Maeve Clince, Ellen Burke; Grace Coleman, Leah Devine; Aoife Maguire, Amy Gaffney, Aoife Minogue; Olivia O'Halloran, Jane Dolan, Sinead Hackett. Subs - Tracy King for Keogh, Aedin Slattery for Maguire, Niamh Daly for Hackett all half-time; Aine McNerney for O'Halloran 56 mins.
Kilkenny - Sinead Farrell; Jane Cass, Ciara Murphy, Aideen O'Connor; Niamh Phelan, Sinead O'Keeffe, Niamh Leahy; Aisling Curtis, Rachel Brennan; Shauna Treacy, Aoife Cantwell, Ciara O'Keeffe; Emma Manogue, Hannah Scott, Carlise Comeford. Subs - Therese Donnelly for Cantwell 46 mins, Tara Ronan for Treacy 50m, Aine Phelan for Comerford 51m, Laura Hegarty for C O'Keeffe 54m, Niamh Sweeney for Curtis 56m.
Referee - Barry Nea (Westmeath).
SEE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ANALYSIS OF MATCH IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE.