Cassidy's classy display overshadowed by dominant Lilywhites

Meath picked off at Hawkfield

Kildare...4-8

Meath...1-10

Consistency. It’s something every team seeks to find. That level of performance week in, week in that's required if success is to be attained.

It’s something Meath lack right now in their Ladies NFL Div 1 campaign. Against Waterford in their previous outing before this one, Wayne Freeman’s side showed the kind of defensive fortitude and attacking nous to ensure they won a contest few expected them to win.

Then at Hawkfield on Saturday they lost a game many would have expected them to win against bottom of the table Kildare. Not only did they lose they did so comprehensively, leading very briefly in the opening half before shipping the first of four goals.

At times the Meath defence looked alarmingly vulnerable as the Kildare attack cut a swathe through the green and gold battlements and but for a super reflex save from Robyn Murray and a courageous, full-hearted block by Megan Thynne they could have got two more - at least.

This was, as one Meath supporter put it, "A bad day at the office." Indeed it was as the Royals struggled to deal with a Kildare side who served up the kind of display that belied their position at the bottom of the table.

The defeat means Meath are now back in the relegation frame with two games against Cork (away) and Armagh (home) to come. It looks like it will be a nervy conclusion to the campaign for Wayne Freeman's reconstructed side.

The visitors to the fine facilities at the Kildare GAA Academy that includes a neat stand, led briefly when the Rachel Casserly popped over the opening score of the game after 13 minutes. It was a typical score from Casserly with the St Ultan's player doing a lot of the spade work herself before confidently shooting over.

It was a sign of a player on form and so it proved to be as Casserley conjured up a tour de force, Allstaresque performance full of strong running and score-getting topped off by an impressive tally of 1-4. Thynne and Katie Bermingham also stood out with their relentless running and focus on the task at hand.

Over the hour Meath fashioned some fine scores with Emma Duggan, Niamh Gallogly and Orla Finnegan finishing off enterprising moves. Marion Farrelly and Duggan also tagged on points from frees.

The problem was the ease in which Meath conceded scores with Gillian Wheeler surging through the heart of the Meath defence for Kildare's first strike a minute after Casserly's opener.

The Royals absorbed another hefty blow on 24m. This time good fortune was with Kildare when Mayah Doyle shot towards the Meath posts. It looked like she was aiming for a point. Instead the ball looped over Murray into the far corner of the net.

Trailing 0-4 to 2-6 at the interval Meath were clearly in a bind. They began the second-half with a greater intensity and drive but their cause was seriously undermined when Sarah Wall and Niamh Gallogly were shown yellow cards. Wall's yellow, especially, was extremely harsh.

Aoife Murnane and Alannagh Prizeman went on to find the net each for the dominant Lilywhites with Meath's goal down mainly to Casserly's tenacity and talent. She won the ball close to the Kildare goals, jinked past an opponent before losing possession. She kept battling, dispossessed a Kildare defender, the ball went lose, and Casserly fired to the net.

The only problem from a Meath perspective is that the goal was scored in the 59th minute. Somehow seven minutes of injury time were found by the match official but even then the Royals couldn't muster the scores, or the consistency, they desperately needed to save the day.

Meath - Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Orla Smith, Karly Kealy; Sinead Murphy, Sarah Wall, Katie Bermingham; Orlaith Sheehy, Niamah Gallogly (0-1); Marion Farrelly (0-1 free), Meadhbh Byrne, Megan Thynne; Emma Duggan (0-3 one free), Rachel Casserly (1-4), Orla Finnegan (0-1). Subs - Mary Kate Lynch for Smith, Ciara Smyth for Finnegan both half-time, Lauren Woods for Farrelly 38m, Ciara Lawlor for Kealy 47m, Meena McConnell for Byrne 49m, Alanna Reilly for Murphy 50m, Orla Byrne for Sheehy 51m, Aoife Farrell for Bermingham 56m.

Kildare - Corla Nolan; Aine Mernagh, Aoife Murnane (1-0), Mia Doherty; Hazel McLoughlin (0-1), Ruth Sargent, Laoise Lenehan; Nanci Murphy, Gillian Wheeler (1-0); Lisa Shaw, Ciara Wheeler, Mollly Aspell; Aoife Rattigan (0-7 four frees), Mayah Doyle (1-0), Alannah Prizeman (1-0). Subs - Ruth Dillon for Prizeman 44m, Laura Dunlea for Doyle 49m, Roisin Forde for Wheeler 53m, Sofra Galvin for Shaw 54m, Aisling Irhue for Murphy 61m.

Referee - Anthony Marron (Monaghan).