Dubs blown away by rampant Royals in NFL clash

Meath…2-14

Dublin…1-4

There’s nothing quite like chalking up a victory against your near neighbours and rivals who have squashed your hopes and ambitions so often in the past.

There was certainly a sense of euphoria around the Meath camp after this Ladies NFL Div 2 encounter at Stamullen on Monday afternoon.

There were other factors that undoubtedly contributed to the broad smiles many of the home players sported after the hooter had sounded to bring an end to this engaging if one-sided encounter played before a big crowd and the TG4 cameras.

After a losing, lacklustre, low-wattage, error-prone display against Galway the previous week Meath needed to improve their general performance – they did that here and then some.

Granted this was a much-weakened Dublin combination from the side that defeated the Royals in last year’s All-Ireland final, with many of their marquee names missing, but that shouldn’t diminish Meath’s performance.

They were good, very good at times, full of running and intent, regularly stringing passes together, as they swiftly moved from defence to attack - and Dublin struggled to cope – with the whirlwind that regularly rolled their way.

Statistics don’t tell everything about a game but they say an awful lot too. Six Meath players – Emma Duggan, Ciara Smyth, Marion Farrelly, captain Niamh Gallogly, Katie Bermingham and Rachel Casserly - got on the scoreboard compared to just three from Dublin who could only muster a single point after the break.

The home side led from start to finish. They were in front 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval with the goal arriving on 18 minutes. The ball was played high into the well-populated Dublin goalmouth and Duggan appeared to get a touch with an outstretched hand to ensure the ball ended up in the net.

It was no surprise Meath made the breakthrough at that stage to register a major because they created some clear-cut goal-chances. Early in the game the lively Orla Finnegan looked destined to find the net only to be denied by a fine save by Dublin ‘keeper Katie Moran Tighe while the enterprising Meadbh Byrne also shot wide when the net beckoned.

Meath’s second goal arrived on 53 minutes. Mary Kate Lynch stormed out of defence, passed to Casserly who in turn off-loaded to Smyth. The talented Skryne player conjured up a classy, powerful finish to put further daylight between the sides. Smyth ended the afternoon with an impressive 1-4, as did a revitalized Duggan.

Wayne Freeman’s side created and took some super points – another aspect of the afternoon the Meath manager will be pleased about. His side also conceded few turnovers, in sharp contrast to the Galway game. Even when Farrelly was sinbinned in the second-half Meath stayed on course.

Dublin, who mustered a goal scored by Rachel Hartnett, will be a very different proposition in the summer and maybe in the closing stages of the league, but they weren’t able to handle Meath’s level of performance in this game.

“Any day we beat Dublin is a good day,” said one Meath fan to someone who pointed out Dublin were far from their strongest. Many of the other home followers would doubtless agree.

Meath – Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Amy Gaffney; Orla Smith, Sarah Wall, Katie Bermingham (0-1); Orlaith Sheehy, Niam Gallogly (0-2); Megan Thynne, Ciara Smyth (1-4), Marion Farrelly (0-2); Emma Duggan (1-4 two frees), Orla Finnegan, Meadbh Byrne. Subs – Rachel Casserly (0-1) for Finnegan 41m, Lauren Woods for Byrne 45m, Ciara Lawlor for Smith 47m, Aoife Farrell for Thynne, Meena McConnell for Duggan both 55m.

Dublin – Katie Moran Tighe; Niamh Crowley, Ashling Nyhan, Keeva Kenehan; Gemma Connolly, Hannah Leahy, Ellen Gribben; Rachel Hartnett (1-0), Hannah McGinnis; Sophie McIntyre, Orla Nolan, Kate Donaghy (0-1); Annabelle Timothy, Jodi Egan (0-2), Elsa Kearney. Subs – Neala Byrne for Connolly, Lauren Grendon (0-1) for Kearney both half-time, Siobhan Birnie for Kenehan 45m, Charlie Murphy for Egan, Shannon Russell for Donaghy 50m, Aoibh Doyle for Leahy, Laura McManus for McGinnis, Catarina Aimeida for Timothy both 54m, Nicole Smith for Hartnett, Ellen Leddy Doyle for Gribben both 58m.

Referee – Shane Curley (Galway).