Farrelly's late, late score proves so vital

Meath battle to earn precious draw

Meath...0-11

Armagh...1-8

Fine margins. They usually mean a lot when it comes to a team's fortunes - or misfortunes.

That was certainly the case at Summerhill today when Meath earned a draw with Armagh in the NFL Div 1 with Marion Farrelly firing over a point in injury time - and how precious did that score prove to be.

For a minute or two after the final whistle as results from elsewhere were unearthed and all the calculations were done it was discovered the draw, and Farrelly's point, was enough to copperfasten Meath's place in the top flight for a another year. Fine margins.

At the start of the game there was a real possibility that they could have been relegated if they lost and other results went against them but the fact they avoided such a fate is a huge boost to the future development of this team. Enduring a painful relegation would really have been a blow to manager Wayne Freeman and his charges. A real blow.

Farrelly, who gave a player of the match display, showed real composure to land the equalising point, lofting the ball over from distance. In an additional two minutes of play allowed Meath might well have got the winner but they simply couldn't get the ball off Armagh who knew if they held on for a draw they were absolutely safe also.

The hosts only led very briefly in the opening minutes when Casserly pointed. Soon Armagh went in front and they were deservedly ahead 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval, their cause greatly helped greatly by the fact that they had a strong breeze behind them.

Their goal was scored on 19 minutes and was a real body blow to Meath's hopes because they defended well up to then - and indeed after that too.

One of Armagh's big contingent of highly skilful players, Kelly Mallon, found the net with powerful shot that sent the ball fizzing past Meath netminder Aoibheann Corcoran - and for so long it looked like that strike might help the Ulster side to victory.

As expected Meath, with the elements in their favour after the break, came storming back and they created a series of scoring opportunities. Their problem was they couldn't take enough of them to help them pull clear of the team in orange.

In all the Royals hit 12 wides, with eight of them clocked up in that second moiety when they strung together some, eye-catching sweeping moves that had Armagh floundering with Casserly going close to finding the net with a low drive.

As it turned out Meath did register points from Ciara Smyth, Emma Duggan, Meadhbh Byrne and two from the excellent, ever dangerous Casserly in that second half. It was enough to keep them in the hunt before Farrelly (who also scored two after the break) popped up with her equalising score - much to the delight of the home support.

Casserly scored four points in all over the hour and finished up as Meath's topscorer while Mallon earned that honour for Armagh with 1-2 but how important did Farrelly's equaliser prove to be? Massive as it turned out. Fine margins and all that.

Meath - Aoibheann Corcoran; Karly Kealy, Aine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch; Sinead Murphy, Olivia Gore, Katie Bermingham; Orlaith Sheehy, Niamh Gallogly; Megan Thynne, Ciara Smyth (0-1), Marion Farrelly (0-3); Emma Duggan (0-2 frees), Lauren Woods, Rachel Casserly (0-4). Subs - Amy Gaffney for Sheridan 38m, Meadhbh Byrne (0-1) for Woods 42m, Orla Finnegan for Murphy 51m, Kerrie Cole for Sheehy 58m.

Armagah - Brianna Mathrs; Maeve Ferguson, Clodagh McCambridge, Cait Towe; Alana Donnelly, Lauren McConville, Grace Ferguson; Blathin Mackin (0-2), Christina O'Reilly; Caoimhe McNally, Aoife McCoy, Emily Druse; Aimee Mackin (0-2), Ella Reid, Kelly Mallon (1-4). Subs - Maeve Lennon for McNally half-time, Sarah Quigley for Reid 39m, Eimear McConaghy for O'Reilly 59m.

Referee - Eoghan O'Neill (Kildare).