Royals rattle the Kingdom to book All-Ireland Final spot
Meath booked their place in the All-Ireland ladies SFC final with a fantastic win over Kerry on Saturday
Meath 2-12
Kerry 1-9
We're back! We are so back!!! Less than one week on from the Meath lads' crushing hammering to Donegal, the Meath Ladies stepped up to the mark and lifted the whole county again with a fantastic All-Ireland semi-final victory over Kerry in O'Connor Park on Saturday.
On a day that will live long in the memory of the supporters who travelled to Tullamore, Shane McCormack's side produced an incredible performance to defy the odds and defeat the current All-Ireland champions, Kerry, to reach an All-Ireland SFC Final, where they will renew theie old rivalry with Dublin in two weeks.
The first-half for the Royals was about intensity and hard work. They got their just reward when Kerrie Cole scored possibly the goal of the season in the 18th minute. The Na Fianna woman received the ball very wide and made a darting run directly at the Kerry net, skinning two Kerry defenders along the way before producing an unbelievable finish.
Despite playing into a strong breeze, Meath led at the interval by 1-5 to 0-6. The unsung heroes were the backbone behind Meath's excellent showing in that opening 30 minutes. Mary Kate Lynch did an incredible job of nullifying the impact of Siofra O'Shea. Marion Farrelly dominated the middle third and also provided two points for the Royals.
Megan Thynne put in an absolute monster shift for the Royals. Meath turned over Kerry numerous times in the first-half and almost every time Thynne was there at the thick of it to transition Meath from defence into attack.
Kerry had a bit of a bright spell in possession early on in the second-half but failed to take most of the opportunities presented to them. Meath kept the scoreboard ticking over with points courtesy of Emma Duggan and captain Aoibhin Cleary.
After 40 minutes, the sides were level with 1-7 each. Cole then made another break through the Kerry defence before she picked out Sarah Wall who finished to the back of the net to put Meath up by three.
Kerry were back to within two a few minutes later and could have hit the front in the 50th minute, but luckily for the Royals, Niamh Carmody's attempt went just to the right of Robyn Murray's net.
Kerry failed to make much more of an impact and the Royals finished strong with 0-4 without response. Substitute Shauna Ennis got in on the action before Cleary got her second and Duggan concluded proceedings with a brace of scores.
Meath - Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Katie Newe; Aoibhin Cleary (0-2), Sarah Wall (1-0), Karla Kealy; Orlaith Sheehy, Marion Farrelly (0-2); Megan Thynne, Niamh Gallogly, Ciara Smyth (0-2); Emma Duggan (0-5 four frees), Vikki Wall, Kerrie Cole (1-0). Subs - Shauna Ennis (0-1) for Newe 32m, Katie Bermingham for Sheehy 40m, Niamh McEntee for Cole 57m
Kerry - Mary Ellen Bolger; Eilish Lynch, Deirdre Kearney, Cait Lynch; Aishling O'Connell, Emma Costello, Aoife Dillane; Mary O'Connell, Anna Galvin (0-1); Niamh Carmody, Niamh Ni Chonchuir (0-2), Caoimhe Evans (0-1); Jadyn Lucey, Siofra O'Shea (0-5, three frees), Danielle O'Leary (1-0). Subs - Rachel Dwyer for Lucey 37m, Roisin Rahilly for Kearney 39m, Kelly Enright for Galvin 50m, Fay O'Donoghue for Aishling O'Connell 52m, Niamh Quinn for Dillane 53m.
Referee - Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).