Stirring second-half display boosts Meath to victory

Meath u-16s on the march

Longford...5-5

Meath...4-10

Mark Byrne

A stirring second-half performance got Meath u-16s over the line and into the Leinster final after finding a way to get the better of a gutsy Longford team at Grangegodden, Kells.

Meath captain Ella McGlue won the toss and opted to play with the wind and went about trying to put a good score up. It started well and a point in the first two minutes by Jessica Briody followed up by a fortunate goal from a lofted free kick by Anna Donnelly on five minutes.

Longford had a lot of possession and it paid off when they scored their first goal a minute later by Shauna Madden, who duly followed up with a point from a free on 13 minutes.

The game ebbed and flowed with the wind having an influence on the game with missed frees for Longford and drifting shots from Meath. Anna Donnelly settled the team with a free on 19 minutes and kicked 3 more points from play and grabbed a goal on 26 minutes.

Longford attacked again and Meath conceded a penalty. It was cooly despatched to the net by Shauna Madden on 28 minutes. Donnelly finished off a fine move to point from play before the break but Longford worked the ball up the field, with a point from the boot of Madden just on half time.

At the break Meath led 2-6 to 2-2.

Meath faced the windy conditions in the second half and Longford took full advantage scoring a goal from Maria Hayden, quickly followed by a pointed free and Madden scored a goal from a free in the first fire minutes of the half.

Meath struck back with a point from Briody on 38 minutes. Longford piled on the pressure with good work being done down the wings, retaining possession and firing over two more points from Zara Drake and a free from Madden. This put Longford in the driving position with a four-point lead.

Meath dug deep to start their fight back after a period of scrappy play, a goal from Lucy O’Connell on 53 mins brought Meath roaring back. She pointed from play to draw the sides level and Meath started to dominate the exchanges.

With the introduction of Áine Downes, Meath seemed to start controlling the middle of the park and Longford could not clear their lines as Meath pressed for home. Grace Hanley finished off a fine move to find the net on 58 minutes and Anna Donnelly pointed a free to further extend the lead.

Longford did threaten the Meath goal only to be thwarted by Hannah Briody who marshalled her defence very well, each girl blocking and harassing Longford attackers and turning over possession.

With over five minutes added time played, Meath further extended the lead with a point from Isabel Delaney. Longford never gave up and substitute Emma Feeney scored a very late goal to bring the margin down to two points but the referee blew the final whistle to sheer delight from the Meath girls.

Longford should be proud of the effort and performance in pushing the Meath team all the way to the final whistle. Meath will be happy with the result, their performance got better as the game went on and will now look forward to a Leinster final date against Wexford.

Meath - Ava Fitzsimons; Ava O’Toole, Hannah Briody, Niamh Byrne; Sophie Foran, Niamh Summerville, Éabha Hanly; Aoife O’Donohue, Ashley Kosturik; Lucy O’Connell (1-1), Anna Donnelly (2-6, 1-2f); Ella McGlue (captain), Grace Hanley, Jessica Briody (0-2), Erin McNulty (0-1). Subs - Grace Moody for Summerville 40 mins, Abigail Gough for McGlue 45 mins, Áine Downes for McNulty 50mins, Isabel Delaney (0-1) for Jessica Briody 63mins, Ali Browne for G Hanley 67 mins

Longford - Sarah McDermott, Lauren Killian, Elizabeth Kearney, Eleanor O’Reilly, Lauren Maguire, Ally Tiernan (c ), Serafima Monaghan, Rachel Keenan, Mia Kiernan, Zara Drake (0-1), Orla McGann, Sarah Mollaghan, Maria Hayden (1-1), Aoibhinn O’Brien, Shauna Madden (3-3, 1pen,1-2 frees). Subs - Rachel McGann for Killian 45 mins, Caitlin Derwin for O’Reilly 48 mins, Ellen Finn for Mollaghan 50 mins, Emma Feeney (1-0) for O McGann 63 mins.

Referee - Brian Foley