Meath…1-12
Galway…1-11
Emma Duggan’s long range point with fifteen seconds left on the clock sent Meath back to Croke Park as the All Ireland Champions overcame the most stern of their credentials to date at Tullamore’s O’Connor Park this evening.
Eamonn Murray’s charges proved here that they had all necessary components which characterise true champions. It wasn’t a night for swashbuckling football, rather, one to dig in and deploy the nous and knowhow garnered over a long time on the road together. Top of any such list of which must be trust in themselves and the self assurance not to panic.
As favourites would want to be, Meath were quickest off the blocks as Duggan burst straight through the Galway defence and split the posts almost immediately. Midfielder Orlagh Lally also pointed early on and when tremendous effort by Niamh O’Sullivan was rewarded via Duggan blasting to the net, it appeared Paddy Power’s decision to price up the Royal County as 1/4 favourites seemed fair enough.
Not a bit of it. Remember, it’s not all that long ago the maroon and white ladies were taking on Dublin on the sport’s biggest day while Meath were Intermediate. So no doubt the defending queenpins will have been wise to the Galway attacking prowess. And, though they did go in leading by a point at half time, 1-03 to 0-05, it was a fortunate lead.
The only reason former Tribesmen goalkeeper Maghnus Breathneach’s team didn’t go in leading at the break was down to heroic defending from Emma Troy, Shauna Ennis and, in particular, the inspirational Mary Kate Lynch. However, all that notwithstanding, it was the Connacht ladies who pointed first to earn themselves parity.
More than that, in fact, those chasing a treble for their county in less than 24 hours enjoyed a spell of dominance thereafter and backed Murray’s charges into a corner they hadn’t seen in a long time as the talented attacking duo of Olivia Divilly and Tracey Leonard again swung the tide towards where the free birds fly.
It is exactly at such times, though, that those of true greatness rise out of the crowd. That was true of the Meath team collectively, but in nobody more so than Mary Kate Lynch.
From Paddy ‘Hands’ O’Brien to Jack Quinn, Mick Lyons, Darren Fay, Kevin Reilly and Conor McGill, Meath have some of the pillars of the pantheon of great full backs and Mary Kate deserves commendation among them all. The inspirational Summerhill lady was the cog who kept the green machine ticking over as the west well and truly woke up.
Again, though, the Kepak-clad ladies wrestled back the impotus and established a four point lead courtesy of scores from Aoibheann Leahy, Aoibhin Cleary, Kelsey Nesbitt and Stacey Grimes.
Any inclinations of comfort they may have felt rapidly evaporated as firstly Eva Noone found a way through the opposing phalanx and netted. Leaving the minimum between the sides. Then, almost inevitably, the very influential Leonard split the posts to restore stalemate with time ebbing away.
Few could have faulted if Meath’s priority was to preserve themselves and avail of the safety net of extra time. But no, calling on the spirit on the spirit of David Beggy et al after Kevin Foley’s goal in 1991 against Dublin, Meath set about getting the job done. Meaning they managed possession through several phases until they could work it to shooter supreme Duggan who hoisted the ball goalward and it duly did the needful with the aid of the crossbar to keep the Royal train rolling on.
Meath: M. McGuirk; S. Ennis, M. K. Lynch, K. Newe; A. Cleary (0-1), E. Troy, A. Leahy (0-1); M. O’Shaughnessy, O.Lally (0-1); M. Thynne, E. Duggan (1-2), K. Nesbitt (0-3); V. Wall (0-1), S. Grimes (0-3), N. O’Sullivan. Subs; O. Byrne for Thynne, B. Lynch for Nesbitt, E. White for Grimes.
Referee: B. Redmond (Wexford)