Plenty of drama as Meath LGFA championships continue
The Meath LGFA PRO Mark Byrne put together a compilation of games that have taken place in the county over the past week or so.
They include:
Junior A FC
Moynalvey 1-16
Moylagh0-7
Having lost out to Clann na nGael in the opening round this was a must win game for last years Junior A runners up.
Right from the off it was the home side who registered after just sixty seconds with a Jennifer McLoughlin free. A second free three minutes later, this time from Louise Donoghue left it 0-2 to 0-0.
Moylagh opened their account in the fifth minute, also from a free; and within sixty seconds the sides were level 0-2 apiece.
Moylagh had a golden opportunity to take the lead when awarded a penalty by referee Padraig Coyle, but the resulting spot kick was sent left and wide of the posts.
Following that mini-reprieve Moynalvey took a foothold on the game and never looked in trouble from here on. Following that missed penalty the home side hit 1-3 without reply to leave it 1-5 to 0-2 after twenty minutes.
The first of those scores coming from Jennifer McLoughlin when she intercepted a short kick out, ran through on goal and pointed, it could easily have been a goal as a point.
McLoughlin did find the net for the game’s only goal two minutes later with a brilliantly struck finish from to the top left corner from distance. Midfielder Cheyenne O’Brien pointed, before substitute Ashling McLoughlin combined with her namesake Jennifer for the third point of that 1-3.
Moylagh briefly broke the Moynalvey scoring with a point in the 21st minute. However, that combination of McLoughlin’s, Jennifer and Ashling combined for another brace of points, with the latter’s fielding setting up Jennifer for her fourth and fifth points of the evening, leaving it 1-7 to 0-3 with 25 minutes played.
A pair of Moylagh points rounded off the first half scoring to leave the score board read 1-7 to 0-5 in favour of the girls in maroon at half time.
Within thirty seconds of the restart top scorer Jennifer McLoughlin had another point to her tally, which was followed soon after by a point from Louise Donoghue, extending Moynalvey’s advantage to seven points, 1-9 to 0-5.
Ashling McLoughlin got off the mark with a brilliant point, before a trio of Jennifer McLoughlin points with a Moylagh free sandwiched in between left it 1-13 to 0-6 with 47 minutes played.
Further points from Louise Donoghue and Jennifer McLoughlin (2), with Moylagh tagging on their seventh and final point in the 61st minute meant the home side ran out comfortable 1-16 to 0-7 winners.
In a great all round team performance best for the winners were Fia O’Brien, Olivia O’Halloran, Aoife Weston, Clodagh Murphy, Cheyenne O’Brien, Louise Donoghue, Ashling McLoughlin and the excellent Jennifer McLoughlin who finished with a personal tally of 1-11.
Next up for Moynalvey is another home game in round 3 against Dunsany on Saturday 16th September at 6pm.
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JBFC Round 2 Paddy O’Brien Park
Navan O’Mahonys 3-5 Gaeil Colmcille 5-8
Colin O'Brien
A first half blitz by Gaeil Colmcille was enough to withstand the second half comeback from Navan O’Mahony’ in Round 2 of the Junior B FC. The first half was played in a downpour of rain, before the sun re-emerged from the clouds for the second.
The first score of the game came in the third minute in the form of a Gaeil Colmcille goal, followed shortly after by two points in quick succession. The visitors rally didn’t stop there however and by the eleventh minute, they were ahead by 3.04 to no score.
Muireann Nelson got Navan O’Mahonys first score of the game from a free in the fourteenth minute. Almost ten scoreless minutes passed before Milly Clarke Carolan pointed from play. Gaeil Colmcille, after their early barrage, were scoreless for twenty minutes and a Nelson point saw out the scoring for the half.
Half-time: Navan O’Mahonys 0-3 Gaeil Colmcille 3-4
Against the odds and the wind in the second half, it would have been easy for Navan O’Mahonys to give up. This was never an option for the Brews Hill side, who battled on. Within ninety seconds of the resumption, midfielder Isobel Thorpe found the net and reduced the gap between the sides to seven.
This was soon followed by a Nelson point, a kick that David Clifford would be proud of. Six points now separated the sides. Clarke Carolan added another goal in the fourth minute, leaving what had looked to be a write-off of a game an open contest again.
The eighth and tenth minutes saw Gaeil Colmcille add a goal and a point to put some distance between the sides again. Just when it was needed, Navan O’Mahonys were awarded a twenty-one yard free and Nelson picked her spot in the net.
Gaeil Colmcille kept the scoreboard ticking over for the next ten minutes and added three points in this time. Nelson pointed again in the 25th minute but a Gaeil Colmcille goal in the twenty-seventh minute put an end to the slim chance that Navan O’Mahonys had of gaining anything at this stage.
Navan O’Mahonys squad - Órlaith Devlin, Mia McDonald, Aileen Falahee, Alannah Brady, Róisín Tobin, Deirdre Forde, Aoife Devlin, Caoimhe Cullen, Isobel Thorpe (1-0), Jorja Keogh, Muireann Nelson (1-4), Tara Gleeson, Milly Clarke Carolan (1-1), Cara Ratty, Alison O’Toole Anna Murphy, Abbie McCullagh, Grace Cahill, Chloe Duffy, Caitlin Ball.
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St Colmcille's vs St Mary’s GFC. Meath Ladies Junior B Championship Roinn 2.
After a one-point loss to Na Fianna in the first round, this was simply a must win game for St Mary's. The game took place on the eve of Electric Picnic young people’s Ploughing Championships, so the question was, who’d be the happier heading to Stradbally?
Colmcille's were the first to strike with a fine point from play, however Louise Craven levelled matters with a well taken free.
St Mary's found themselves under some pressure in the mid-way point in the first half but were defending resolutely and were getting forward but were struggling to get a shot away against a well organised Cilles defence.
The Cilles pressure began to pay off when they found themselves 0-3 to 0-1 up with eight to go in the first half. Fearing the game could slip away from them St Mary's increased their intensity and were back on level terms following a brace from the impressive Saoirse Dixon, the first a fine point from play followed by a close range free. But ultimately Cilles when in at the break with a one point lead scoring in the final moments of the half.
Half-time - St Colmcille's 0-4 - St Mary's 0-3
Ahead of the resumption, St Marys management may have been a little concerned having had the advantage of the slight breeze in the opening half, however they needn’t have worried.
They started the half strongly and were winning the majority of the duals around the field. That said they were unable to convert the early second half possession into a score. But alas after numerous fruitless attacks an excellent equalising score came from Katie Greene.
St Mary's continued to push on and began to put the Cilles kickout under pressure and as a result the Seasiders struggled to clear their lines.
The crucial score after 12 minutes of the second half when the Cilles defence failed to clear a long ball and the ever-sharp Ciara Moonan pounced to raise the green flag.
St Mary's then added 2 additional points from the always industrious and St Mary’s captain Katie Fogarty and permanent threat Katie Greene.
Cilles did lead in charge in the final 6-7 minutes of the second half however St Mary's defended brilliantly, the last score did go to the Cilles, however St Mary's must have been please to hold this quality side to 1 point in the second half and five points in total.
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Kepak Senior Championship 2023 G1
Skryne 3 - 7
St Peter's Dunboyne 4-11
In a cagey opening, Dunboyne got their nose in front with a Rachel Norman goal. Skryne then had a dominant period scoring a goal of their own brining it level at 1-3 each. Scores were shared until half time leaving it 1-5 each at the break.
A hectic five minutes in the second half saw first a goal from Dunboyne followed by a fisted goal for Skyrne only to be followed by a quick response goal from Dunboyne.
Dunboyne now had their noses in front and even though evenly fought for the rest of the game Dunboyne stretched their lead and secured their second win in the fading light.
Dunshaughlin & Royal Gaels 1 - 13 v 0 - 8 Simonstown Gaels
Oldcastle 3 - 8
Seneschalstown 1-17
Seneschalstown left it late for the second round in a row as a goal in injury time saw them take the lead. As Oldcastle looked for a reply, the ladies from Seneschalstown pulled away in the end.
Kepak Intermediate Championship 2023 G1
Ratoath 3 - 8
St Ultan's 1-10
Summerhill 1 - 9 v 1 - 9 Na Fianna
Kepak Intermediate Championship 2023 G2
Boardsmill 3 - 7 v 6 - 14 Dee Rangers
St Michael's 0 - 11 v 1 - 6 St Colmcille's
Kepak Junior A Championship 2023 G1
Dunsany 1 - 7 v 7 - 14 Clann na nGael
Moynalvey 1 - 15 v 0 - 7 Moylagh
Kepak Junior B Championship 2023 G1
Navan O’Mahonys B 3 - 5 v 5 - 8 Gaeil Colmcille
Kepak Junior C Championship 2023 G1
Seneschalstown B 2 - 7 v 2 - 7 Drumbaragh Emmets
Kepak Junior C Championship 2023 G2
St Colmcilles B 0 - 5 v 1 - 6 St Marys
Kepak Junior D Championship 2023 G1
Donaghmore/Ashbourne B 4 - 9 v 0 - 3 Ratoath B
Dunderry 2 - 7 v 3 - 5 Bective
Kepak Junior E Championship 2023 G2
Castletown 1 - 1 v 8 - 18 Oldcastle B.
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SFC Round 2 Paddy O’Brien Park
Navan O’Mahony’s 4-13 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 4-11
Colin O'Brien
A goal-fest in Paddy O’Brien Park saw Navan O’Mahony’s come out on top on a sunny Saturday evening in a very entertaining game for spectators. With four goals scored by four different players for Navan O’Mahony’s, it was an eventful game, with the lead changing sides eight times.
It was Donaghmore/Ashbourne that got off to the dream start, leading by a goal and a point to no score after five minutes. On the nine minute mark, Ortlaith Mallon opened the scoring for her side with a point from play, but the visitors responded with a similar effort within sixty seconds.
Centre-forward Ailbhe Leahy made a good run through the defence in the 10th minute, but was denied a goal by some great goalkeeping from the netminder who narrowed the angle completely and the ball went wide.
Mallon tacked on another point before Lily Dwyer found the net, leaving it a one point game midway through the half. A Mallon point from play and a free from Olivia Callan left Navan O’Mahony’s with the lead for the first time in the seventeenth minute.
Five minutes later, this had reversed with two Donaghmore/Ashbourne points swinging the advantage back in their favour, added to by another in the 24th minute. The sides exchanged points again in the final five minutes, with Mallon and Callan scoring for the Brews Hill outfit.
An injury time goal for Leahy left her side two points up approaching half time but a late Donaghmore/Ashbourne free left the bare minimum between the sides at the interval
Navan O’Mahony’s 2-06 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-08
Again, it was Donaghmore/Ashbourne who got off to a flying start in the second half. Through on goal within thirty seconds, a foul in the square resulted in a penalty which was duly converted. This left the visitors with a two point advantage again.
Navan O’Mahony’s had to ensure that Donaghmore/Ashbourne didn’t build momentum on this goal and they succeeded in doing so, with four points in the following three minutes to regain the lead. Mallon added three of these with one for full forward Megan Collins.
The lead changed hands yet again in the ninth minute when Donaghmore/Ashbourne found the net. Quick to respond, Collins, after a pass from Mallon, burst through the visiting defence and responded in kind within sixty seconds to restore the advantage to the hosts.
By the seventeenth minute, Donaghmore/Ashbourne had edged ahead again courtesy of three points from play. A point from Callan left the sides level before she added to this with a goal to give Navan O’Mahony’s a three point advantage with twelve minutes on the clock.
As was the pattern of the game, Donaghmore/Ashbourne equalised once again with a goal leaving a huge battle for the final ten minutes. Two points from Callan and Mallon in the 21st minute proved to be crucial to put Phil Fay’s side again.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne battled hard to secure a goal and were denied on a number of occasions by impressive interceptions and defence from Sarah Maguire, Hannah Heskin, Aoibhín McKenny and Sophia Fitzherbert as well as good clearances from Robyn Murray and Tara Fay.
Keeping the crowd nervous to the end, no scores came in the final ten minutes and the home crowd were left the happier at the final whistle.
Navan O’Mahonys - Ciara Blake, Aoibhín McKenny, Kate Falahee, Sophia Fitzherbert, Sarah Maguire, Hannah Heskin, Robyn Murray, Eimear Fay, Rebecca Reilly, Tara Fay, Ailbhe Leahy (1-0), Lily Dwyer (1-0), Orlaith Mallon (0-8), Megan Collins (1-1), Olivia Callan (1-4). Sub - Lauren Woods for Falahee.