Duggan downs Donegal to secure another final spot for mighty Meath

Published: Sat 16 Jul 2022, 8:24 PM

Emma Duggan produced late heroics for the second weekend running as defending champions Meath advanced to another All-Ireland SFC final with a thrilling0-12 to 1-7 victory over Donegal at Croke Park, writes Daire Walsh.

Following her last-gasp point to earn the Royals victory at the expense of Galway last Saturday, the Dunboyne ace kicked three points inside the closing 10 minutes to propel her side towards a decider with Kerry on 31st July.

16 July 2022; Emma Duggan of Meath in action against Nicole McLaughlin of Donegal, right, during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Donegal and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE

A resolute Donegal - who dethroned Leinster champions Dublin in the last-eight - pushed the holders every inch of the way but their quest for a first senior final will continue into 2023.

All-Star Geraldine McLaughlin found the target either side of a Stacey Grimes free to give Donegal a slender advantage in a tentative opening.

16 July 2022; Shauna Ennis of Meath in action against Niamh Hegarty of Donegal during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Donegal and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE

Although Grimes went on to level matters with her second point, Donegal signalled their intent during the second-quarter of a tense affair. A fierce effort by Niamh McLaughlin rattled the woodwork on its way over the bar and the same player also scored a goal from a penalty after veteran attacker Yvonne Bonner was hauled down in the 19th minute.

16 July 2022; Niamh McLaughlin of Donegal scores her side's first goal, a penalty, past Meath manager Monica McGuirk during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Donegal and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Photo by Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

While Orlagh Lally split the uprights for Meath towards the end of the half, Donegal were three points to the good, 1-3 to 0-3, heading in at the half-time break.

Yet, this lead was whittled down to the bare minimum within 60 seconds of the restart as Vikki Wall and Niamh O’Sullivan posted quickfire scores. Despite losing Máire O’Shaughnessy to the sin-bin, Meath moved three points clear with unanswered efforts from Emma Duggan and Grimes (three).

16 July 2022; Vikki Wall of Meath in action against Geraldine McLaughlin of Donegal during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Donegal and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Photo by Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

Donegal finally opened their second-half account with a Yvonne Bonner point in the 43rd minute, however, and midfielder Katie Herron also chipped in with a fine score on the run to set-up a nerve-wracking conclusion.

The sides were back level as a result of Bonner’s second point of the half and with Wall being yellow-carded on the stroke of 50 minutes, all the momentum appeared to be with Donegal. Once again, though, Meath brushed off their numerical deficiency to push forward for another hard-earned victory.

After kicking an outstanding point from play, Duggan also knocked over a tricky free to edge them a step closer to another top-tier final. A Karen Guthrie free kept Donegal in touch, but Duggan’s fourth of the day, off a late breakaway move, ensured Meath are still in the hunt for back-to-back Brendan Martin Cups.

16 July 2022; Kelsey Nesbitt of Meath celebrates with her mother Caroline and sister Alexa after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Donegal and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Photo by Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

SCORERS

Meath - S Grimes 0-5 four frees; E Duggan 0-4 one free; O Lally, V Wall, N O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Donegal - N McLaughlin 1-1 1-0 penalty; Y Bonner, G McLaughlin 0-2 each; K Guthrie (free), K Herron 0-1 each.

TEAMS

Meath - M McGuirk; S Ennis, MK Lynch, K Newe; A Leahy, E Troy, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, O Lally; M Thynne, E Duggan, K Nesbitt; V Wall, S Grimes, N O’Sullivan. Subs - B Lynch for Nesbitt (47), O Byrne for O’Shaughnessy (53), E White for O’Sullivan (58), O Duff for Lynch (60).

Donegal - R McCafferty; E Gallagher, E McGinley, T Kennedy; S Twohig, Nicole McLaughlin, A Boyle Carr; K Herron, Niamh McLaughlin; Y Bonner, N Hegarty, R Rodgers; D Foley, T Hegarty, G McLaughlin. Subs - K Guthrie for T Hegarty (30), S White for Rodgers (56).

Referee - Shane Curley (Galway).