Meath finish league off in style with emphatic win over Cork

The result will be a huge boost to Meath, who had lost their previous three games by wide margins.

LGFA Div 1

Meath 2-14

Cork 1-7

Tom Gannon reports

Meath ladies bounced back to form with an emphatic win over Cork at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Over the last couple of weeks, there have been plenty of doubts over this Meath ladies side. Three straight heavy defeats had many people questioning whether or not the Royals were capable of getting even close to the sort of performance that Meath supporters have become accustomed to over the last couple of years. However, this Meath side refuses to be written off and they have firmly cemented themselves back into the conversation of top teams in the country with a fantastic dominant win over Cork in their final league game of 2024.

Despite losing the throw-in, Meath managed to register the first score of the game in the opening play. Niamh Gallogly intercepted a Cork pass and gave it to Shelly Melia, Melia set up Duggan who duly obliged by slotting it over the bar. Duggan followed this up immediately with a second point to give Meath an early two-point lead.

Emma Cleary responded for Cork. Four wides in the opening 15 minutes stopped Meath from extending their advantage. That was until a lovely 1-2 with Melia sent Megan Thynne through on goal. Thynne's attempt was a little on the high side but it did raise the white flag to put Meath two points to the good after 20 minutes.

Cleary and Farrelly traded scores before a mix-up from a kickout allowed Sadhbh O'Leary to attack the Meath goal and slot the ball in the bottom corner. This gave Cork a one-point lead but soon after, Emma Duggan levelled the contest.

A superb point from wingback Katie O'Drioscoll edged the rebels back in front. Marie O'Callaghen and and Aisling McCabe traded scores in injury time in the first half which left Cork with a one-point advantage at half-time. Cork led Meath 1-4 to 0-6.

A mix-up from a kickout along with eight wides had ultimately cost Meath a significant advantage at half-time. Meath to their credit were playing with much more intensity and positiveity than they had been in previous rounds. There was a sense in that first half that Meath had a point to prove. Despite being down at halftime, they were far the better team in the opening 30 minutes.

Early in the second-half another mix-up from a kick out allowed Cork sub, Dara Kiely through on goal and Kiely was dragged down in the box. Kiely took on the responsibility of taking the penalty herself but Robyn Murray redeemed herself for her poor kickout by pulling off a great save.

Emma Duggan opened Meath's second-half account. From the resulting kick out the ball found its way to Shelly Melia and Melia's shot from distance dropped into the top corner of the net. It was almost a carbon copy of Emma Duggan's goal from the 2020 All-Ireland final. Having been down by one at half-time, Meath were now up by three points after only five minutes of play.

After a scramble for the ball deep in Cork's half, Duggan came out with the ball and immediately slotted it over the bar for her fifth point. Farrelly got two fantastic points in quick succession to put Meath up by five as we headed into the final quarter. Farrelly then had an opportunity to put the game to bed but her attempt rattled off the crossbar. Soon after Meath had another goal chance fall by the wayside when Melia was dispossessed just as she was about to pull the trigger on an open goal. Duggan managed to pick up the pieces and slot the ball over to leave Meath six points up.

Another goal chance came and went for the now dominant Meath, again Farrelly had the goal at her mercy but the Cork defence done just enough. Two short-range points courtesy of Katie Newe and Emma Duggan put Meath beyond the reach of the Rebels before Farrelly finally found the back of the net. Substitute Amy O'Leary put the last drop of icing on the cake with Meath's final score. A fantastic second-half performance and a well-deserved win for the Royals.

SCORERS

Meath - Emma Duggan 0-7 two frees; Marion Farrelly 1-3; Shelly Melia 1-0; Katie Newe 0-1; Megan Thynne0-1; Aisling McCabe 0-1; Amy O’Leary 0-1.

Cork - Sadhbh O’Leary 1-0; Emma Cleary 0-2 two frees; Sarah Leahy 0-2; Katie O'Driscoll 0-1; Maire O’Callaghan0-1; Éabha O’Donovan 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - R Murray; Katie Newe, Aine Sheridan, Nicole Troy; Niamh Gallogly, Mary Kate Lynch, Karla Kealy; Maire O’Shaughnessy, Shelly Melia; Megan Thynne, Ella Moyles, Aisling McCabe; Lisa Young, Marion Farrelly, Emma Duggan. Subs: Aoibhin Cleary for Kealy 39 mins, Olivia Gore for Moyles 50 mins, Ailbhe Leahy for Thynne 54 mins, Isabel O'Connor for Newe 54 mins, Emily McCann for Young 54 mins, Ciara Lawlor for Troy 54 mins, Rachel Casserly for Melia 57 mins, Orlaith Mallon for McCabe 57 mins, Ciara Doherty for Farrelly 57 mins, Amy O'Leary for Duggan 59 mins

Cork - Sarah Murphy; Melissa Duggan, Sadhbh McGoldrick, Ellen Twomey; Laura O’Mahony, Sarah Leahy, Katie O’Driscoll; Maire O’Callaghan, Abbie O’Mahony; Emma Cleary, Daire Kiely, Amy McDonagh, Kaitlin Smith, Lydia McDonagh, Sadhbh O’Leary. Subs: Caoimhe Richmond for Murphy HT, Aoife Healy for McGoldrick HT, Éabha O’Donovan for McDonagh HT, Libby Coppinger for O’Mahony 37 mins, Emma Hurley for Smith 42 mins, Bianna Smith for Kiely 42 mins, Kate Redmond for O’Leary 53 mins, Anna Ryan for Twomey 53 mins, Noelle O’Mahony for O’Mahony 55 mins, Dara Kinirhy for Cleary 60 mins.

REFEREE: Anthony Marron (Monaghan)