Gaffney's goal helps to knock semi-final hoodoo on the head
Meath dispel past disappointments to reach final
Meath1-11
Westmeath0-10
Finally, finally, finally, they did it. After three successive years of falling at the semi-final stage, Meath made it across the line at Semple Stadium, Thurles yesterday to set up an All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final with Derry who defeated Kilkenny in the curtain raiser.
That game went to extra-time before the Ulster side prevailed. It looked like the Meath, Westmeath match might also have to take to scenic route before a winner could be found.
The sides, after all, were neck-and-neck going into the final furlong. There was an hour played and only one point separated the teams. One precious point. Meath led but Westmeath looked like they could, at any stage, grab an equaliser.
Both teams attacked with abandon in those closing minutes and that was one of the factors that ensured this game could, without hesitation or fear of exaggeration, be termed a thriller. An engrossing contest that swayed this way and that - no more so than in those closing acts.
Then out of the gray, rain-filled sky something exceptional happened that killed the game off in one stroke. Westmeath launched an attack. It broke down in the face of stout, determined Meath defending. The ball was won in midfield by Aoife Minogue. The Dunderry player didn't hesitate.
She launched a long ball towards the Westmeath posts. A number of players went up for it. It looked like a Meath player, Emma O'Connell, was fouled. The referee Cathal McAlister, who had a good game, didn't indicate a foul. Maybe he was giving an advantage although he didn't indicate that either. A little ruck developed.
The upshot of the series of events was that the ball squirted out to Amy Gaffney about 30 metres out. She took some steps forward and took aim. Wham. She hit her shot with real venom - and direction. The sliotar flew into the Westmeath net giving goalkeeper Fiona Keating no chance.
We glanced at the giant stadium timepiece. It indicated that 60 minutes had been played. The small band of Meath supporters in the huge stands made a noise that sounded a hundred times their number. They knew Gaffney's goal secured the win Meath had worked so hard and long to achieve. They knew that semi-final hoodoo had been finally knocked on the head.
There was three added minutes played but no more scores. Meath won.
The players in green and gold celebrated with gusto - and who could blame them. Many of them were part of Meath teams that stumbled in previous semi-finals. Defeats that left nothing but regrets and a sense of missed opportunities.
Today all that pain from the past was dispelled as Brendan Skehan's side gave a performance that was built on toil and embellished with some wonderful pieces of hurling.
Meath started the game on the front foot. They led 0-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes, an indication they were in the zone. Really up for this one. Westmeath, however, hit back to lead 0-7 to 0-6 at the break with the richly talented Sheila McGrath slotting over a series of super scores. It was a deserved interval lead too; they were the better team in the second quarter.
Early in the second-half the Royals moved things up a few gears. This Meath team was stung by a defeat to Westmeath in Raharney a few weeks ago. They were eager to exact revenge and it showed in the level of their second-half display today. The ferocity of it; the nature of the whirlwind whipped up.
The Royal County conjured up four unanswered points from the start of the second-half to the 50th minute from the outstanding Aoife Minogue (free), Grace Coleman (45), Amy Gaffney and Abbye Donnelly. It was inspiring stuff, brilliant scores. Westmeath to their credit didn't fold completely, other teams might have such was the ferocity of the Meath display at that stage.
They finally mustered a point in response scored by their star performer McGrath.
O'Connell neatly slotted over another from play, her second of the game, as the drama intensified. McGrath struck again while Laura Doherty also pointed for the the Lake County to leave just a point between the sides in the heavy mist.
One point was a precarious lead. Could Meath hold out as the game hit the hour mark? They could do more than that. Then Gaffney struck. That goal seemed to suck the energy out of their opponents. Meath held on in added time.
It might be a cliche but this was a team effort. Sure there were some outstanding displays - Tracy King, Tara Murphy, Sophia Payne, Grace Coleman, official player of the match Minogue (who also scored three super points from play in the first-half), Gaffney, Leah Devine to name a few but this was a victory for graft and skill and a group of players who simply had the greater hunger for victory.
This time around it proved to be a winning cocktail. Meath had finally made had made it to a final. This was one of those occasions when all involved in this wonderful drama could take a bow.
SCORERS
Meath - Amy Gaffney 1-2; Aoife Minogue 0-4; Emma O'Connell 0-2; Grace Coleman 0-1 45; Ciara Foley 0-1; Abbye Donnelly 0-1.
Westmeath - Sheila McGrath 0-5; Megan Dowdall 0-3 frees; Caoimhe McCrossan 0-1; Laura Doherty 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Tara Murphy; Rachel O'Neill, Claire Coffey, Sophia Payne; Tracy King, Meave Clince, Leah Devine; Grace Coleman, Aoife Minogue; Amy Gaffney, Abbye Donnelly, Olivia O'Halloran; Ciara Foley, Ellen Burke, Emma O'Connell. Subs - Aoibhin Lally for O'Halloran half-time, Aoife Carey for Coleman 56m.
Westmeath - Fiona Keating; Karen Gaffney, Julie McLoughlin, Emiley McCabe; Aoife Doherty, Muireann Scally, Aoife O'Malley; Laura Doherty, Caoimhe McCrossan; Sheila McGrath, Megan Dowdall, Hannah Core; Maira Kelly, Elaine Finn, Denise McGrath. Subs - Shannon Daltonf or Kelly 49 mins, Aine Newman for D McGrath 51m, Olivia Glynn for McCabe 61m.
Referee - Cathal McAlister.