Dublin extend winning streak over Meath with determined defensive display

LADIES LEINSTER SFC

LADIES LEINSTER SFC

Dublin.... 2-10

Meath.....1-6

FERGAL LYNCH

The path to a first Ladies Leinster SFC title since 2000 just got a little bit bumpier as Meath slumped to their fourth defeat in five outings against Dublin in Pairc Tailteann on a wet and breezy Saturday.

The three previous losses to Dublin came at an average of 18 points, so this was a significantly improved defensive display from a Meath team that must now defeat Kildare in two weeks time to earn their place in the provincial final.

While the defensive work of the Royals was certainly much improved, Dublin's rearguard was also outstanding as they limited Meath to just one point from play while also restricting them to only a handful of clearcut chances.

Meath only kicked four wides over the hour and they were also denied an early goal by a brilliant save from Abby Shiels as Dublin set up two blue walls of four and invited Meath to run at them.

However despite launching several battering rams in the form of Vikki Wall, Emma Duggan, Marion Farrelly, Niamh Gallogly and Ciara Smyth Meath couldn't break down the brilliant Dublin defence.

On the odd occasion they did manage to find a path through the blue forest their progress was unceremoniously halted by firm tackling or impeded by some harsh refereeing calls, particularly on over-carrying.

There were a few bizarre calls made by referee Eoghan O'Neill that baffled both sides and infuriated both managements, and while Meath can question a few of the decisions they weren't the reason for the result.

There was questioning the awarding of the opening free of the contest as Vikki Wall and Karla Kealy hauled down Caoimhe O'Connor to gift Hannah Tyrrell a 30 metre free to open the scoring inside 40 seconds for Dublin.

Five minutes later a quick free from Duggan picked out Farrelly and her goalbound shot was brilliant saved by Shiels - on such fine margins big games hang.

The difficulty of playing against the wind was obvious when Tyrrell missed a free from just inside the D, but in the 12th minute Chloe Darby doubled Dublin's lead with fine score.

Four minutes later, came the killer blow. Playing with the aid of the wind Meath would have hoped to have held Dublin goalless in the opening half, but after a harsh call by referee against Farrelly which set up Sinead Goldrick for a goal chance that was well saved by Robyn Murray, Goldrick was then fouled on the follow up and Tyrrell converted the penalty to make it 1-2 to 0-0.

Darby added another free to put six between the sides and after 19 minutes of playing with the benefit of the wind at their backs Meath had still yet to score.

Vikki Wall ended that barren opening in the 21st minute when she landed a free after Megan Collins had been fouled at the end of a flowing move that was started by Murray and included Duggan.

Dublin responded with another converted free from Tyrrell, but just before the break the hosts were given a boost when Vikki Wall was hauled down as she bore through on goals.

The referee didn't think the foul was worthy of a yellow card, but Duggan punished Dublin with a brilliant finish to close the gap to 1-1 to 1-4 at the break.

Duggan narrowed the deficit further with free three minutes after the restart after she was fouled, but a minute later Dublin put the issue beyond doubt when Sophie McIntyre applied the finishing touch to a fine move to make it 2-4 to 1-2.

Meath refused to surrender. Duggan landed two points in success, including Meath's only score from play in the 42nd minute to leave just three between the sides.

Dublin replied with a converted free from Darby and one a first from play for Niamh Hetherton to restore their five-point cushion.

Two more Duggan frees made it a three-point game with five minutes remaining, but Meath ran out of steam and Dublin closed out the contest with four points in the closing seven minutes from O'Connor, Tyrrell, Hetherton and Annabelle Timothy to ensure a deserved victory, albeit by a flattering margin.

Dublin - Abby Shiels; Jess Tobin, Leah Caffrey, Niamh Donlon; Hannah McGinnis, Martha Byrne, Aoife Kane; Eilish O'Dowd, Grace Kos; Caoimhe O'Connor (0-1), Chloe Darby (0-3 two frees), Sinead Goldrick; Sophie McIntyre (1-0), Niamh Hertherton (0-2), Hannah Tyrrell (1-3 1-0 penalty, two frees). Subs - Lauren Magee for McGinnis 30m, Annabelle Timothy (0-1) for Darby 48m, Aoife Curran for McIntyre 54m, Niamh Crowley for Donlon 59m, Jodi Egan for Hetherton 66m.

Meath - Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Katie Newe; Aoibhin Cleary, Sarah Wall, Karla Kealy; Orlaith Sheehy, Marion Farrelly; Megan Thynne, Niamh Gallogly, Ciara Smyth; Emma Duggan (1-5 1-0 penalty, four frees), Vikki Wall (0-1 free), Megan Collins. Subs - Nicole Troy for Sheridan, Kerrie Cole for Collins both 41m, Katie Birmingham for Thynne, Amy Gaffney for Kealy both 47m, Olivia Callen for Farrelly 52m.

Referee - Eoghan O'Neill (Laois).