MEATH LADIES
Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League Round 4
Meath v Cork
Sunday 4th March at 2pm
Donaghmore-Ashbourne GFC.

Half Time: Meath 0-06 v Cork 2-01
Full Time: Meath 2-08 v Cork 3-08


It has been said many a time that goals win games, and that was certainly the case at Donaghmore-Ashbourne today where Meath took on All Ireland Champions Cork in round 4 of the National Ladies Football League. This is the first time that Meath have taken on the Rebel County since 2007 when they travelled to Mallow. That day there was fourteen points between the teams. Since then Meath have undergone a huge change and many miles later the teams met once more. With Geraldine Doherty still out with an injury suffered against Dublin in round 2, Meath were very much the underdogs going into the fixture, but how the Royals love a challenge!

Meath began brightly with Aoife Thompson pointing in the opening minute after good work by Kate Byrne. The early signs were all good for Meath as Kellie Allen, Orla Sheridan and Aedin Murray were all firm in defence for Meath. A super save deflected out for a 45' by Irene Munnelly kept her side with the best side out in the opening stages of the match. A foul on Shauna Bennett in the 4th min allowed Meath Ladies Captain Katie O'Brien double Meath's advantage with her first point of the afternoon. Meath battled hard for every ball and Cork were left stunned when Meath opened a three point to no score lead on 7 mins. From a very difficult sharp angle on the left hand side O'Brien led by example notching up her second point of the afternoon. Cork are not a team to panic. A quick kick-out by Cork keeper Elaine Harte left Meath chasing, and All Star Briege Corkery managed to find an inch from her marker and found the back of the net on 8 mins, despite a deflection from Munnelly.

A number of Meath wides left the crowd gathered in Ashbourne urging their side on, when Cork hit once more. Ciara O'Sullivan found a way past Munnelly for Cork's second goal on 11 mins. Meath were now chasing a three point scoreline. Katie O'Brien reduced the gap to just one point with two superb frees, the St. Ultans player currently relishing her role as Meath Ladies captain and leading by a fine example. The first of the two points could very well have been a goal, as Mary Sheridan had the ball in the parallelogram but couldn't find the space, Cork defending their goals very well. The second point was well worked - from a Meath kickout - worked down to Kate Byrne as corner forward and finished strongly by O'Brien. The teams were level for the second time on 24 mins when Fiona Mahon pointed from a tight angle about 20 yards out on the right hand side. Norita Kelly gave Cork the lead heading into half time with a point on 27 mins. Super defending from Meath's Aedin Murray and Orla Sheridan ensured that Meath were only adrift by just a solitary point at half time - Meath 0-06 to Cork's 2-01.

The wind in the first half no doubt aided the Meath team, and prayers were most definitely answered as it died to barely anything in the second half. Meath defence was caught cold however as the second half was thrown in and Rhona Buckley did what earned her an All Star in 2011 and chipped the ball past Munnelly who had come off the line in the hope of blocking the shot. A foul on Vivienne McCormack on 36 mins allowed O'Brien to convert the resulting free to leave three points between the teams. This was cancelled out on 38 mins when multi winning All Star Juliet Murphy converted a long range free. On 41 mins, Aoife Thompson was fouled on the 13 metre line right in front of the goals. O Brien stepped up and fired it over for her sixth point of the contest. Again Irene Munnelly was called to the fore to make a super save from Buckley and keep Meath hopes alive. Unfortunately Cork upped a gear and a string of six unanswered points left Meath trailing by nine with five minutes left on the clock.

Many teams have faltered and allowed this formidable Cork side to over run them. This Meath team however were not in the humour of rolling over and letting them win without a fight. Although they were quiet for over ten minutes of the second half, the last five moments they showed that they could be a real threat in this year's All Ireland Championship. When your luck is down and you're chasing a game, every team needs someone to lift spirits and in the 56th minute Clann na nGael's Vivienne McCormack did just that. A beautiful pick up with her toe left her marker for dead about 30 yards out and McCormack's cross into the danger area was timed to perfection as Katie O'Brien connected with it, punching it into the net for Meath's first goal. This lifted the Meath team who got on top of their markers once more and allowed more pressure to be applied to the Cork defence. A scuffle in the box led to a foul on Mary Sheridan and Joe Murray bravely awarded a penalty. Up stepped Vivienne McCormack who made absolutely no mistake with the finish, burying it in the roof of Harte's goal on 59 mins. Heading into injury time, the Meath crowd wondered what would happen next. A Cork free in right at the end flew straight into Mary Sheridan's hands, and the Seneschalstown player took it out to safety. When referee Joe Murray blew the whistle to end the contest, Meath were disappointed but still extremely happy to be within three points of the All Ireland Champs. It finished in Ashbourne with the Champs victorious - Cork 3-08 to Meath 2-08.

All in all a tough loss for the Meath girls, their third three point loss in this campaign. The number three seems to be following them around lately. With three matches left in the round stages of the league, the Senior team will look to getting back to winning ways. The team now turn to focus their attention on Kildare next Sunday 11th March at 2pm in Donaghmore-Ashbourne. Although Kildare are yet to score a victory in this year's campaign, Meath will still tread carefully as they are still a team to be reckoned with. Best for Meath today were Aedin Murray, Orla Sheridan, Kellie Allen, Fiona Mahon and Katie O'Brien.

Meath Team & Scorers: Irene Munnelly, Orla Byrne, Aedin Murray, Orla Sheridan, Ashley Leavy, Eileen Rahill, Kellie Allen, Shauna Bennett, Fiona Mahon (0-01), Mary Sheridan, Katie O'Brien (1-06, 3F, Capt.), Vivienne McCormack (1-00), Jenny Rispin, Aoife Thompson (0-01), Kate Byrne.
Subs: Half Time: Aideen Guy for O. Byrne, Emma Troy for K. Byrne. Stephanie Byrne for Thompson (51 mins).
Cork Team: Elaine Harte, Ann Marie Walsh, Deirdre O'Reilly, Rena Buckley, Briege Corkery, Brid Stack, Aisling Hutchings, Juliet Murphy, Norita Kelly, Annie Walsh, Ciara O'Sullivan, Geraldine Flynn, Nollaig Cleary, Rhona Buckley, Grace Kearney.

Meath Under 14 Report
The 2012 Leinster U14 Championship kicked into action this weekend with Meath hosting Wexford at Bective on Sunday. was a fast open game with Meath building a commanding lead with the aid of strong breeze in the first 20 minutes. Wexford got 2 quick scores to leave the score 1.6 to 1.1 with half time approaching. Meath lost influential playmaker, Elizabeth Moreland, to injury at half time but Kelsey Nesbitt was an able replacement. The Simonstown player came on in the second half to score 1.1.Meath turned round against the breeze and played with great control and determination, Marion Farrelly finished top scorer with 1-04. for Meath today were Eimear Cooke, Katie Bellew, Marion Farrelly, Toni Hannon and Megan Thynne. Next up for the Meath under 14s is an away trip to the Garden County.
Half time Meath 1.7 Wexford 1.1
Full time Meath 2.13 Wexford 1.1
Meath Team & Scorers: Sarah McNerney, Emma Cassidy, Victoria Wall (Capt.), Patricia Owens, Natasha Mullen, Eimear Cooke, Saoirse Patchell, Katie Bellew, Niamh Cassidy, Megan Thynne (0-01), Toni Hannon (0-03), Elizabeth Moreland (0-01), Aobhin Cleary (0-02), Marion Farrelly (1-04), Hannah Mulvaney (0-01).
Subs used: Kelsey Nesbitt (1-01), Florence Smyth, Regina Hand, Niamh Martyn, Aisling Duffy, Caoimhe Bird, Kealey Hannon, Nicole Kelly.

Meath Under 16 Report:
The 2012 Leinster U16 Championship also kicked into action as part of a double header with the under 14s for Meath this weekend as Meath's U16s also took on Wexford in Bective. Meath started very brightly, playing with the aid of a strong wind. They registered their first score with a fine point from corner forward Kelly Harris followed by some great scoring from Stacey Grimes (0-02) Grace Malone (1-02), Naoise de Graffe (0-01), Aisling Cassidy (0-01) and Ellie Lane (1free). Wexford trailed by 7 points at this stage but scored 3 late goals in the first half to go in 1 point up at half time.
Wexford started much brighter in the second half and started putting points over from outfield to stretch their lead. Meath didn't register their first score of the second half until nearly ten minutes from end when Edwina Olwell scored a fine hat trick of goals but it came too late to rescue the match. Final score Meath 4-7 Wexford 7-12.
Meath Team & Scorers: Hazel Callaghan, Sarah Bagnall, Niamh Dalton, Lauren Byrne (Capt.), Aisling Cassidy (0-01), Niamh Sheridan, Niamh O'Kelly Lynch, Leah Kelly, Ellie O'Neill, Kelly Harris (0-01), Alicia Curtis, Stacey Grimes (0-01), Eleanor Lane (0-01 free), Naoise De Graffe, Grace Malone (1-02).
Subs: Catriona Keoghan for O'Neill, Edwina Olwell (3-00) for Lane, Sarah Goodwin for Bagnall, Debbie Maughan for De Graffe, Katie Moran for Curtis, Sarah Halpenny for Goodwin.

Other Meath news - Congratulations to Gaeil Colmcilles referee Colm McManus who refereed his first National fixture this weekend between Longford and Offaly.
The Meath minors will kick off the new look Leinster minor championship with a home fixture against Wicklow next Saturday at half 2 in Donaghmore Ashbourne. This year's minor championship will be on a league basis rather than knock out as before. This is to cater for the demand of more football for this age group. This year's Meath minor management are Stuart Smith, Martin Mannering, Ollie Callaghan, Mary Sheridan and Colleen Jordan.
On Monday March 12th in Walterstown GFC at 7.30pm - Meath Ladies Executive in conjunction with Croke Park officials will hold a Development Workshop. This workshop is to put a plan in place for improving ladies football in the county. Clubs are asked to send a variety of members to this workshop in order to sort out the issues and develop a sport that has increased to almost three thousand members. Those interested in attending are asked to contact Mary O'Regan, County Secretary, by email [email protected] as soon as possible.

Upcoming Fixtures:
Saturday 10th March: Leinster Minor Championship Round 1: Meath v Wicklow - Donaghmore-Ashbourne GFC at 2.30pm. Ref TBA
Sunday 11th March: Bord Gais Energy National Ladies Football League Round 5: Meath v Kildare - Donaghmore-Ashbourne GFC at 2pm. Ref TBA. Tweet

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