So near yet so far for gallant Royals

LADIES LEINSTER SFC FINAL

Dublin ......2-13

Meath.......1-12

FERGAL LYNCH

The 25 year wait for a Leinster SFC title goes on for Meath Ladies as they endured a barren final quarter and lost out to Dublin in a thrilling final at Croke Park today.

Boosted by a stunning Niamh Gallogly goal Meath led by four points 19 minutes into the second-half, but Dublin turned the screw and dominated the final quarter to kick eight points without replay and seal the title.

It was cruel on an ever-improving Meath side, but this latest final quarter fade out will need to be addressed ahead of the start of the All-Ireland series.

Meath conceded the final four points and lost by seven in their Leinster meeting with Dublin three weeks ago and last week they were almost caught on the line by Kildare before narrowly holding on to seal the final spot.

The loss of Marion Farrelly to a knee injury after a late and dangerous tackle proved to be decisive. In the 10 minutes between Farrelly's departure and half-time Meath were outscored by 2-2 to 0-1 and that allowed Dublin back into a game where they were a long way second best.

The introduction of Sinead Goldrick and Carla Rowe gave Dublin extra spark and with Martha Byrne pulling the strings from centre-back they grew in confidence.

Meath too had their outstanding stars. Vikki Wall was outstanding and almost unplayable. She kicked two points from play, but it was her drive and determination that caused Dublin so many problems.

Gallogly and Emma Duggan were also magnificent as was Megan Thynne who produced another Energiser bunny performance, but after exerting so much pressure and energy in the opening 45 minutes Meath weren't able to sustain their brilliant start.

Written off as 5/1 outsiders Meath dominated the opening quarter with Duggan converting frees either side of points from Wall and Farrelly before Ciara Smyth made it 0-5 to 0-0 in the 15th minute.

Hannah Tyrrell replied with Dublin's first score, but Duggan landed two more frees, the second after Farrelly was fouled and forced off to make it 0-7 to 0-1.

Poor marking gifted Tyrrell with the simplest of tasks of firing Dublin's opening goal in the 28th minute and after Duggan responded with a converted free the defending champions added points from Caoimhe O'Connor and Niamh Donlon either side of a goal for Elish O'Dowd who was allowed get inside the square untracked to help Dublin to a 2-3 to 0-8 interval lead.

Gallogly restored Meath's lead with a stunning goal two minutes after the restart and that two-point gap was maintained as Duggan traded points from play with Niamh Hetherton and Kate Sullivan.

A Duggan free and a superb score from Wall extended Meath's lead to 1-12 to 2-5 in the 45th minute, but they failed to score again as Tyrrell kicked three in a row, including two frees, and Rowe landed a free to restore parity, 2-9 to 1-12 in the 53rd minute.

Hetherton edged Dublin inn front and they controlled the game well with Goldrick, Rowe and Sullivan applying the gloss on a flattering scoreline for Dublin, while Meath will take plenty of encouragement from another improved display.

Dublin - Abby Shiels; Jess Tobin, Leah Caffrey, Niamh Donlon (0-1); Hannah McGinnis, Martha Byrne, Lauren Magee; Eilish O'Dowd (1-0), Grace Kos; Caoimhe O'Connor (0-1), Chloe Darby, Sophie McIntyre; Hannah Tyrrell (1-4 two frees), Niamh Hertherton (0-2), Annabelle Timothy. Subs - Sinead Goldrick (0-1) for McGinnis 22m, Kate Sullivan (0-2) for Darby, Carla Rowe (0-2 one free) for Timothy both half-time, Niamh Crowley for Donlon 42m, Rebecca McDonnell for McIntyre 63m.

Meath - Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Katie Newe; Aoibhin Cleary, Sarah Wall, Karla Kealy; Orlaith Sheehy, Marion Farrelly (0-1); Megan Thynne, Niamh Gallogly (1-0), Ciara Smyth (0-1); Emma Duggan (0-7 five frees), Vikki Wall (0-3 one free), Kerrie Cole. Subs - Katie Bermingham for Farrelly 26m, Ella Moyles for Smyth 48m, Megan Collins for Cole 59m.

Referee - Barry Redmond (Wexford).