Royals fall short as Kerry find another gear
Just like they did in the National Camogie League Div 2A group game at Trim in February, Meath and Kerry served up a right old humdinger of a contest in the divisional final at Croke Park today. Just like they did in that group clash in Trim, Kerry won, this time by 0-14 to 0-13.
They found that little bit extra in the closing furlongs to hold off a spirited Meath side who will look back on this game with a certain amount of regret.
Brendan Skehan's side had the chances in those tense final stages, they just couldn't translate enough of them into scores to make a difference; to save themselves from defeat.
What a game this turned out to be, a fitting spectacle for the sumptuous surroundings of Croke Park.
The stadium housed what appeared to be just a couple of hundred supporters who showed up to watch this contest on a warm, sultry day that hinted summer had arrived. Finally.
For much of this affair Meath looked like they were going to go home with the silverware. They led 0-5 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. They were in front, 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval. Kerry, as they did in Trim, gave a power-charged second-half display but they couldn't pull away from the Royals who stuck with them until the end.
The topsy, turvy nature of the closing stages mirrored how the afternoon unfolded. The teams were level six times with the balance shifting one way, then the other. Who could find the extra gear in the final straight, we wondered.
Those closing stages certainly held plenty of drama. The sides were level, 0-11 apiece, after 47 minutes. Then Kerry were able to produce a little magic in the form of two quality points from Laura Collins, and Patrice Diggin to put them two in front.
As the minutes ticked away Abbye Donnelly fired over for Meath, Jackie Horgan replied for Kerry to put them back two in front. Amy Gaffney raised a white flag for Meath in injury time to leave just one between the sides again. Despite heroic efforts Meath just couldn't muster another score. The Kingdom prevailed.
Meath might derive some consolation from the fact that they played very well for much of the afternoon; their gritty team display distinguished by a number of outstanding displays. Right up there was Aoife Minogue.
This was a stage made for her - the wide open spaces allowing her to embark on those surging runs that are an integral part of her game.
She finished with six points including a number of memorable scores from play. There was, for instance, the score she swept over from midfield after just 10 minutes from out near the sideline, underneath the Cusack Stand. Then there was another sensational point from play just before the interval and in the second-half the Dunderry player converted a monster free from half-way. Truly inspiring stuff.
Amy Gaffney was another Meath player who gave Kerry plenty to think about with her driving runs. She converted three quality points from play while Aoibhin Lally, Leah Devine, Olivia O'Halloran and Donnelly were others to contribute to Meath's tally, fine scores all. They just couldn't get a goal that would have given their cause such a huge boost.
There were other heroes for Meath including full-back Claire Coffey who made a series of important clearances plucking one ball out of the air in the second-half that was inspirational in the way she executed the catch and the clearance.
Sophia Payne and Rachel O'Neill were other members of a full-back line that allowed Kerry precious few goal chances. Cliodhna O'Riordan worked tigerishly in midfield, Tracy King, Maeve Clince, Ellen Burke were others rarely far from the action.
When Kerry did get through they found young Meath goalkeeper, Tara Murphy, unbeatable. With 34 minutes on the clock Kerry's Collins passed to Amy O'Sullivan. She was just a few metres out.
A goal looked a certainty. From point-blank range O'Sullivan pulled the trigger. Murphy somehow saved, instinctively shooting her stick out to her left to block the sliotar. It was a memorable moment for the Kilmessan netminder.
Near the end, as Meath pushed forward looking for redemption, they went close a number of times. They created a couple of opportunities that could have ended in a goal, although they were half-chances at best.
The choicest of them arrived just on the hour mark. A Minogue shot was deflected back into the path of Donnelly. Her low drive trickled inches wide.
Coleman and Gaffney also had chances but they just couldn't convert. Kerry survived to claim victory - just as they did in the group game last month in Trim.
SCORERS
Kerry - Jackie Horgan 0-8 three frees, one '45'; Patrice Diggin 0-3 two frees; Amy O'Sullivan 0-1; Aoife Behan 0-1; Norette Casey 0-1.
Meath - Aoife Minogue 0-6 one free, one '45'; Amy Gaffney 0-3; Aoibhin Lally 0-1; Leah Devine 0-1; Olivia O'Halloran 0-1; Abbye Donnelly 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Tara Murphy; Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Rachel O'Neill; Tracy King, Maeve Clince, Ellen Burke; Cliodhna O'Riordan, Aoife Minogue; Aoibhin Lally, Grace Coleman, Amy Gaffney; Leah Devine, Emma O'Connell, Olivia O'Halloran. Subs - Abbye Donnelly for O'Connell 50 mins, Sonia Leonard for O'Riordan 59m.
Kerry - Aoife Fitzgerald; Michelle Costello, Sara Murphy, Rachel McCarthy; Aoife Behan, Niamh Leen, Ellen O'Donoghue; Kate Lynch, Clodagh Walsh; Patrick Diggin, Jackie Horgan, Coaimhe Spillane; Anne Marie Leen, Laura Collins, Amy O'Sullivan. Subs - Norette Casey for Leen 42 mins.
Referee - Brian Kearney (Kildare).