Leinster Ladies Football U16 B Final
Venue Athy, Co. Kildare

Fulltime score: Meath 4 - 16 - Laois 3 - 11

Half Time score Meath 1 - 07 - Laois 1 - 05
Date Sunday 12th May 2013.

Meath u16 girls turned in their best performance of the year to lift the Leinster U16B trophy in windy Athy on Sunday last.

Playing with the a strong breeze at their backs the Royals started brightly registering early points through Ellie O Neill and Megan Thynne . However Laois soon settled and led by 2 points at the end of the first quarter. Regina(Reggie) Hand brought Meath within a point before Laois picked off the Meath defence to raise a green flag. Nicole Byrne had earlier turned over a rasping shot from the Laois full forward to keep her team in the game. Meath responded immediately when Simonstown's Hand sent a rocket to the Laois net to leave the minimum between the teams. That green flag signalled a revival for the Royals as they registered 4 points through Captain Niamh Gallogly, 2 from Thynne and a late free from Boardsmills Susan Kealey. Aoife Minogue replaced her Clann Na nGael team mate Shauna Tully just before the half ended and Michael Griffins charges went in at half time 2 points to the good.
Katie Bellew was forced to retire to retire during the interval with a hamstring injury and was replaced by her club mate Kelsey Nesbitt while the industrious Ellie O Neill switching to midfield.

Many in the sizeable attendance must have thought Laois would take control with the help of the strong breeze blowing towards the clubhouse end but it was Meath who settled first. Susan Kealey clipped over 2 points while under intense pressure before Hand once again raised a green flag with a 20 yard dipping shot to the keepers left. To their credit Laois responded immediately with a well worked goal. There was only 8 minutes gone in the second half and the scores read Meath 2-09 to Laois 2-05.

This entertaining contest continued to enthral the spectators with fine open football played in an excellent spirit. Hand completed her hat trick following some slick interplay to put Meath in a commanding position entering the final quarter. Hannah Mulvaney broke through the Laois defence to drive narrowly over the bar before Hand got another point. The Laois keeper found it hard to find her team mates in the 2nd period with many of her clearances being picked up by the excellent Stacey Grimes and a very dependable Meath half back line of Gallogly, Sarah Bagnall and Aoife Flattery.
Katie Dowling was introduced for Mulvaney and was involved in Meaths fourth goal which was dispatched to the net by the returning Aoife Minogue. Royals Minogue, Nesbitt and full back Vicky Wall had all climbed off the treatment table to play influential parts in this game. Boardsmills Kealey finished the game with 8 points,

4 from frees and ensured that the Royals exacted full value for any fouls inside 30 yards. Laois battled gamely to the end registering 1-02 in the last 10 minutes but Meath were not to be denied. Sarah Scully and Raina Griffin replaced Nesbitt and Kealey in the final minutes before Meath ran out comfortable winners 4-16 to 3-11.

This group had only shown glimpses of their true ability in earlier matches and finally put it all together with some incisive passing and disciplined defending throughout this final. The Meath Management team of Michael Griffin Tracey Hamilton Sean Whelan Cliona Griffin were ably assisted by Joe Brady on the day and will be delighted to prepare the girls for an All Ireland B Semi-final in early August.

Best for Meath was Regina Hand. She was ably supported by Ellie O Neill, Megan Thynne, Stacey Grimes and Susan Kealey
Others to impress included Karley Leavy, Hannah Mulvaney and keeper Nicole Byrne.

Meath
Nicole Byrne, Karley Leavy, Victoria Wall, Michela Stellini, Aoife Flattery, Niamh Gallogly Capt (0.1) Sarah Bagnall, Stacey Grimes, Katie Bellew, Shauna Tully, Ellie O Neill (0.1) Megan Thynne (0.3), Hannah Mulvaney (0.1)
Susan Kealey (0.8) Regina Hand (3.2). Subs: Aoife Minogue (1.0) for Tully, Kelsey Nesbitt for Bellew, Katie Dowling for Mulvaney, Raina Griffin for Nesbitt and Sarah Scully for Kealey. Tweet

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