Final disappointment for defending champions Wolfe Tones
Clann na nGael ladies denied in dramatic finish
It was close but no cigar for a couple of the Meath teams involved in the Comortas Peile in Kilcar, Co Donegal over the weekend, including defending men's senior champions Wolfe Toneds who lost out to a strong Gaoth Dobhair side live on TG4 on Monday afternoon.
The Clann na nGael's men's team lost out in the defence of tyheir junior title at the first hurdle, but the Athboy/Rathcairn women's side made it all the way to the final where a late, late disallowed goal denied them victory over the hosts Cill Chartha in a thrilling final.
Wolfe Tones opened the defence of their senior crown with an impressive start against Waterford's An Rinn. They led by 0-9 to 0-2 at the break, andin the second-half they kicked on with Caolan Ward finishing with 1-6 and Kyle Moran adding 0-6 in the 1-25 to 1-10 win.
In the semi-final Wolfe Tones again showed their strong finishing power to get the better of Cork side St Abán. Wolfe Tones started strongly and took a five-point lead after 15 minutes. St Abán responded with three points, but the Meath men led 0-10 to 0-4 at the break.
St Abán made a brilliant start to the second half and after 45 minutes they trailed by just a point, but Wolfe Tones finished strongly to win 1-16 to 1-10.
In the final Wolfe Tones led by 1-6 to 1-5 at the break, but the scoring slowed significantly for the defending champions as they added just three more points to their tally while Gaoth Dobhair kicked on to claim an impressive 2-13 to 1-9 win and lift the coveted title.
Clann na nGael's defence of the men's junior title was heartbreakingly shortlived as they lost out by 2-19 to 4-12 after extra-time to Galway side St Patrick's from Clonbur.
It was left to the women from Athboy/Rathcairn to fly the Clann na nGael flag in the junior competition and it wasn't until Holly Ní Dhabhtaigh bagged a second goal for the Meath side that they managed to pull away from Galway side Carna Caiseal to win 2-6 to 2-3 in their opener.
In the semi-final the Meath women got the better of Tuar Mhic Éadaigh from Mayo to set up the final against host club Cill Chartha, but there was no joy for Clann na nGael as they lost out in Monday's decider by just two points, 1-6 to 2-5, as a last minute disallowed goal denied them victory.