Meath…1-09
Derry…0-10
For as long as this hack has been on the GAA ‘circuit’, Derry teams have had something of an Indian sign over Meath. The All Ireland SFC semi final of 1987 was before my time and throughout Sean Boylan’s long tenure with the county team I am fairly certain we never overcame the Oak Leaf County in the league.
Now factor in a loss in the All Ireland U-21 FC Final of 1997 and Trim losing out to Steelstown Brian Ogs in the All Ireland Club IFC Final of 2022 and you get the picture. However, an antidote may be at hand. Hurls. When they are included in the equation, teams from the Royal County appear to have wrestled back some degree of an upper hand.
For Exhibit A see the green and gold victory over the white and red in last years All Ireland U-21 HC B decider at Newry, while on Sunday last in Ashbourne, the Meath camogie team manifested Exhibit B by way of defeating Derry in the final round of ‘regulation’ fixtures in the Very National League.
Brendan Skehan’s side led by 1-05 to 0-05 at the break. The goal coming about after Caroline Quinn got on the end of a saved Olivia O’Halloran effort. These sides are well used to encountering each other and there’s never much between them.
It was exactly thus this time around again and, despite excellent displays once again from Ellen Burke, Maeve Clince, Aoife Minogue and Grace Coleman, it took a brilliant stop from Tara Murphy in the closing moments to ensure another joust with Kerry who have beaten all before them so far.
MEATH – T. Murphy; E. Burke (0-1), C. Coffey, R. O’Neill; T. King, M. Clince, L. Devine; A. Minogue (0-3), C. O’Riordan; A. Lally (0-1), G. Coleman (0-3), N. Doyle; S. Payne, C. Quinn (1-0), O. O’Halloran. SUBS – N. Daly (0-1) for Payne, NJ Linehan for Quinn.