Royals battle to victory over Derry

Stephen Sheil's side deservedly came out on top of a titanic battle with Derry

Meath 2-12

Derry 1-11

Isabel O’Connor’s cracking strike for goal in the 52nd minute came at just the right time for Meath as they were made to battle hard for their away victory over Derry in the National Camogie League Div 2 on Saturday.

The Royals played into a very stiff breeze in the first-half at Celtic Park but they showed great fighting spirit to lead at the interval by a point. A fantastic final quarter by Stephen Sheil’s side got them over the line.

With the aid of the strong wind, Derry naturally enough had the upper hand for a large part of the first-half but a late spurt of scores, including a well-taken Ciara Foley goal gave Meath a one-point lead at the break.

Derry hit back after the restart and a goal in the 42nd minute boosted the home side as they led narrowly at the end of the third quarter. Meath closed out the game well though and secured their third win in four league outings.

Maeve Clince and Abbye Donnely once again provided the spine of a Meath defence that did very well to neutralise some of Derry's talented forwards.

Isabel O’Connor and Ellen Burke grafted hard in the middle of the park and while the supply into the full forward line was limited, Emma Regan made the best of the opportunities afforded to her and scored three fantastic points.

Roisin Heaney converted an early free for the Royals but Derry quickly seized momentum and scored four points on the spin, three of which came from the hurl of Carla Collins. After 12 minutes, Derry led 0-4 to 0-1.

Olivia O’Halloran did well under pressure and broke a few tackles before she set up Emma Regan who scored Meath’s second point from a tight angle. Derry quickly responded with points from Collins and Emma Wilson before O’Connor assisted Aoibhin Lally for a nice point. After 20 minutes, Derry led 0-6 to 0-3.

Between the 27th and 29th minute, Meath scored 1-3 on the spin as Heaney added to her tally with two lovely frees. Lally played a lovely ball into Foley who did well to beat Niamh Gribbon in the Derry net before Regan contributed another fine point. Collins’ sixth and Derry’s eighth point reduced the gap back to the minimum but at half-time Meath led 1-6 to 0-8.

Meath started well after the restart and Heaney wasted no time with her snap shot that split the posts after she received a nice pass from Regan. Heaney then scored another free to put Meath ahead by three points after 40 minutes.

Against the run of play, Derry put themselves right back into contention when Jackie Donnelly found the back of Maggie Randle’s net. Cliodhna Ni Mhianain then put Derry ahead and after 45 minutes the home side led by 1-9 to 1-8.

It did not take Meath long to regain the lead as two frees in quick succession from Heaney handed Meath a slender advantage after 50 minutes. The Royals were given a huge boost when O’Connor produced a wonder strike from the edge of the D into the top left corner of the Derry net.

Soon after, Regan showed some lovely footwork, dropped her shoulder and split the posts for her third point. Collins pulled one back for Derry but after 55 minutes, Meath led 2-11 to 1-10.

The wind died down considerably in the second-half but that did not stop Abbye Donnely from chipping in with a lovely long-range effort. Collins then brought her personal tally to 0-8 but that was not enough for Derry as the final whistle confirmed a well-earned victory for the Royal camogs.

Meath - Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Maeve Clince, Rachel Moran; Leah Devine, Abbye Donnelly (0-1 free), Rachel O’Neill; Isabel O’Connor (1-0), Ellen Burke; Olivia O’Halloran, Aoibhin Lally (0-1), Roisin Heaney ( 0-7 six frees); Ella O’Brien, Ciara Foley (1-0), Emma Regan (0-3). Subs - Aoife Carey for O’Brien 41m, Katie Connolly for Payne, Grace Coleman for Foley, Erin Leddy for Lally all 56m, Aisling Byrne for O’Neill 58m.

Derry - Niamh Gribbin; Eabha Mullan, Paige Bell, Eimear McCloskey; Sinead McGill, Niamh Quinn, Aine McGill; Sinead Mellon, Rachel McAllister; Cliodhna Ni Mhianain (0-1), Carla Collins (0-8 seven frees), Emma Wilson; Shauna McGrath, Aoife Shaw, Jackie Donnelly (1-1). Subs - Amy McKenna for Shaw 38m, Clare Gunning for Wilson 43m, Eabha McElhinney for Mellon 50m, Aisling Porter for Wilson 56m.

Refere: Jerome McAllister (Antrim).