Royal Camogs dismantled by talented Saffrons

Anton O'Neill's side were soundly beaten by Antrim on Saturday afternoon

Antrim 4-19

Meath 0-13

TOM GANNON

Meath Camogs suffered another heavy defeat for the second week running after Antrim comfortably got the better of the Royals in Loughgiel on Saturday afternoon. It was always going to be difficult for Meath to get the better of the talented Ulster outfit and from the get-go, Meath struggled to keep pace.

The win confirmed Antrim's spot at the top of the group as Meath's opening-round victory over Westmeath has earned them a quarter-final clash with Down in two weeks.

After a sluggish start, Meath had a good spell midway through the first-half. Antrim were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over though and they kept the Royals at arm's length.

The Saffrons delivered two major blows when they got a brace of goals in quick succession with five minutes left in the opening-half. Carl McCormack's side then got two more goals early on in the second-half and from there it was plain sailing for Antrim.

The absence of last week's player of the match against Offaly, Amy Gaffney, from the panel, came as a bit of a surprise when the team was announced on Friday. Gaffney's presence in midfield was missed as Antrim dominated the middle third throughout.

Meath's full-back line had an improved performance this week, in particular, coming out with the ball, but they struggled to handle the likes of Caitrin Dobbin and Cassie McArthur.

Down the other end, Meath were massively lacking creativity. They had enough possession in Antrim territory, particularly in the first-half to rattle off a considerably larger tally but time and time again, they failed to get a shot away.

Overall though, Meath can have no complaints, they were soundly beaten by a side that is operating on a much higher level than the Royals are at the moment.

Straight from the throw-in, Antrim hit the front and they rattled off three points to build up a 0-4 to 0-0 lead inside five minutes. Isabel O'Connor got Meath off the mark with a well-taken point after she cut in from the right-hand side.

The Saffrons responded through Maeve Kelly, before two frees from Aoife Carey and Ciara Foley brought Meath back to within two. Antrim restored their advantage through Kelly and Dobbin. Foley then got her second, a long-range effort from her own '65'.

Kelly was doing a lot of damage on the scoreboard and she hit the next two points to put Antrim up by 0-9 to 0-4. Carey and Amy Boyle traded points before disaster struck for Meath.

A long-range effort from Kelly found the back of Tara Murphy's net and less than a minute later Roisin McCormack set up Cassie McArthur for Antrim's second goal. The Saffrons now led 2-10 to 0-5.

Grace Coleman, who was introduced from the bench, hit the last two points of the half for Meath but they were cancelled out by scores from Kelly and Dobbin. At the interval, Antrim led 2-12 to 0-7.

From a competitive perspective, Antrim put the game to bed within eight minutes of the restart as they outscored the Royals 2-3 to 0-1. The brace goals, courtesy of McCormack and McArthur, came inside the opening four minutes. Meath's only point in this period was hit by Katie Connolly in the 32nd minute.

Meath ploughed on though and Brodie Kelly had a goal opportunity go a-begging when she was denied by net-minder Caitriona Graham. The resulting '45' was nailed by Aoife Carey.

Antrim began to take the foot off the pedal a bit but still kept the scoreboard ticking with points from Sarah O'Neill and McCormack. In the final ten minutes, Meath outscored Antrim 0-4 to 0-2.

Meath points were well taken by Katie Connolly, Carey, Emma Regan and Erin Leddy, however, the girls in yellow concluded proceedings with a free from Orlaith McAllister.

Antrim - Caitriona Graham; Dearbhile Dobbin, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton; Clare McKillop, Sarah O'Neill (0-1), Shannagh Heggarty; Amy Boyle (0-1), Nicole McAtamney; Maeve Kelly (1-1), Roisin McCormack (1-8 four frees), Lucia McNaughton (0-1); Cassie McArthur (2-0), Katie Molloy (0-2), Caitrin Dobbin (0-4). Subs - Finnula Kelly (0-1) for McAtamney, Eimear Johnston for Dobbin both half-time, Eavanne Martin for Boyle, Orlaith McAllister (0-1 one free) for McArthur both 34m, Sarah Fyfe for Heggarty 36m.

Meath - Tara Murphy; Laura O’Neill, Claire Coffey, Sophia Payne; Leah Devine, Maeve Clince, Ciara Foley (0-2 two frees); Rachel O’Neill, Brodie Kelly; Isabel O’Connor (0-1), Erin Leddy (0-1), Grace Connolly; Aoife Carey (0-4 two frees, one '45'), Emma Regan (0-1), Katie Connolly (0-2). Subs - Grace Coleman (0-2 one free) for Clince 21m, Ellen Burke for Murphy 27m, Roisin Heaney for Grace Connolly half-time, Aisling Byrne for Kelly, Cliodhna O'Riordan for O'Neill both 46m.

Referee - Karol Collins (Galway).