Meath prevail in dreadful conditions

LADIES ALL-IRELAND SFC Royals edge out Lilies to seal quarter-final spot

Meath ...............0-7

Kildare .............0-4

DENIESE O'FLAHERTY

Meath booked their place in the Ladies All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals with victory over Kildare in a low-scoring game at Hawkfield on Saturday.

It was a game of two halves. For most of the first half weather conditions were poor with lashing rain and there were, understandably, plenty of mistakes made by both sides with spilled balls and loose passing.

The rain stopped just before the break and dry conditions for the second half prevailed but the football was still quite poor.

Meath upped their performance and that was the difference in the end.

Lara Curran opened the scoring in the second minute and six minutes later Roisin Byrne hit over a lovely point to put two between the sides. Emma Duggan pointed a free in the 11th minute for the Royals.

In the 15th minute Marion Farrelly’s effort was blocked, while at the other end Byrne had a shot blocked down by Mary-Kate Lynch.

Just before half-time Duggan fired over a free to level matters at 0-2 apiece. Meath kicked four wides in the opening half too.

A third point from the boot of Duggan edged Meath in front for the first time in the 38th minute. Three minutes later the Dunboyne woman doubled her side’s advantage when she hit over her third point of the game.

Meath were reduced to 14 players in the 44th minute when Vikki Wall was adjudged to have fouled Claire Sullivan and she was shown a yellow card.

With numerical advantage Kildare went on the attack; Ellen Dowling brought an excellent save out of Meath 'keeper Robyn Murray in the 48th minute.

The lead was extended to four points in the 59th minute when Marion Farrelly kicked over two fantastic points in quick succession.

Kildare got their first score of the second half and their first since the eighth minute when Alannah Prizeman fired over a free. Duggan was on target again with her second point from play to restore her side’s four point lead.

Prizeman kicked over a late free for Kildare but Meath held on for the win.

Meath - Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Katie Newe; Aoibhin Cleary, Sarah Wall, Karla Kealy; Orlaith Sheehy, Marion Farrelly (0-2); Megan Thynne, Niamh Gallogly, Ciara Smyth; Emma Duggan (0-5 two frees), Vikki Wall, Kerrie Cole. Subs - Katie Bermingham for Cole 47m, Shauna Ennis for Sheehy 59m.

Kildare - Mary Hulgraine; Lisa Shaw, Ruth Sargent, Mia Doherty; Molly Aspel, Lauren Murtagh, Laoise Lenehan; Ciara Wheeler, Roisin Byrne (0-1); Lia Reilly, Aoife Rattigan, Mia Ryan; Ellen Dowling, Alannah Prizeman (0-2 frees), Lara Curran (0-1). Subs - Claire Sullivan for Ryan half-time, Leah McGovern for Dowling 52m, Gillian Wheeler for C Wheeler 54m, Ciara Moran for Rattigan 57m, Amy Mahon for Curran 60m.

Referee - Seamus Mulvhill (Kerry).