Meath go Offaly close to chalking up surprise victory
Offaly...0-16
Meath...1-10
After after shipping a defeat to Kerry in their previous outing Meath needed an encouraging display from this National Camogie League Div 2A encounter at Tullamore today if only to prevent morale from dropping down a notch or two.
The got that and more - the encouraging display that is. In fact with a little more composure, a little more guile, a touch more ruthlessness they might have won this game and chalked up a confidence- enhancing victory - and add it to the win already achieved over Armagh.
Offaly, after all, came into this game on the back of two pretty comprehensive victories over Kerry and Derry.
Until recently the Faithful County were operating in the senior ranks in the championship pitting their skills with the best in the country, the elite. So to run them close, as Meath did in this encounter, was praiseworthy.
Of course it would have been better, much better, for Anton O'Neill's team if they had won this game and at one stage in the second-half it was looking like they might do just that.
In the 45th minute Meath's markswoman Aoife Carey landed a monster free, arrowing the ball between the posts from near mid-way.
That inspiring score left the teams 0-10 to 1-7 level. Not only that Meath had the assistance of a formidable breeze.
They looked poised to push on. Instead it was Offaly who fired over the next three points. Suddenly the initiative had drifted beyond the visitors and they were just unable to reclaim lost ground.
They did get the margin down to one point on 54 minutes, when Carey pointed from play, but again the home team found a response.
It was a painful lesson indeed for this still-evolving Royal County side. When the chance is there it has to be taken because against teams like Offaly second bites at the apple are rarely offered.
This was a big day indeed for two of Meath's players - Roisin Heaney and Isabel O'Connor. They made their first starts in the league and both did splendidly well, performing like they had been around for years.
O'Connor showed oceans of skill, composure and exemplary vision; she showed tremendous grace under pressure, invariably finding a colleague with her passes. Heaney applied herself to her defensive duties rarely giving her opponent a chance to shine, and distributing the ball well once she did get possession.
O'Connor also marked her display with three points; more than any other Meath player from open play. Amy Gaffney, as ever, gave an industrious display from her midfield berth, capping her afternoon with two points. Carey finished with five scores, two frees, one 45.
The only goal was part of a surging start to the game made by Meath - and against the wind too. The score arrived after eight minutes. Rachel O'Neill delivered a long ball to Slattery who showed pace and great alertness to gain a little space and shoot to the net. That added to an early Carey converted free gave me a 1-1 to 0-0 advantage.
Offaly, as expected fought back and with Clodagh Leahy slotting over scores they led 0-9 to 1-3 at the break. Deservedly so. For much of that opening half the Meath defence were heroic in the way they held firm and 'keeper Tara Murphy was busy too.
The Kilmessan netminder was again called into action soon after the interval saving splendidly twice in quick succession. Then Meath enjoyed a bright spell and drew level. They just couldn't push on, their hopes undermined by some wrong options.
Amy Gaffney did force a fine save from home netminder Leah Gallagher in the second-half but there was no second goal.
Still, much for Meath to be encouraged about with the quality, the intensity of this display.
Offaly - Leah Gallagher; Aoife Liffey, Orlagh Phelan, Elizabeth Kilmartin; Ellen Regan, Amy Byrne, Kaitlyn Kennedy; Clodagh Leahy (0-6, five frees), Caoimhe O'Donovan; Fianait Dooley (0-2), Kaye Mulrooney (0-2), Roisin Kinsella; Mairead Teehan (0-1), Grainne Kennedy, Grace Teehan (0-2 one free). Subs - Hannah Freenane for K Kennedy, Aoife Hoctor (0-1) for G Kennedy both half-time, Ciara Maher (0-1) for O'Donovan 39m, Emma Buggy for Kinsella 45m, Orla Kilmartin (0-1) for Leahy 54m.
Meath - Tara Murphy; Laura O'Neill, Maeve Clince, Sophia Payne; Leah Devine, Ciara Foley, Roisin Heaney; Rachel O'Neill, Amy Gaffney (0-2); Aedin Slattery (1-0), Aoife Carey (0-5 two frees, one 45), Isabel O'Connor (0-3); Katie Connolly, Grace Coleman, Grace Connolly. Subs - Ella O'Brien for K Connolly half-time, Blathnaid Hughes for Coleman 49m, Cliodhna O'Riordan for Foley52m.
Referee - Patrick Murphy (Carlow).