MEATH…2-05
DUBLIN…0-07
When Emma Duggan’s fortuitous goal set Meath on their way to a sensational victory over Dublin in the 2021 All Ireland LSFC Final, it was seen as a Robin Hood moment. Or, for those of us old enough to recall, it resembled Ger Canning’s observation when Declan Bonnar curled over the insurance score in the 1992 All Ireland Final “Is this to be it for Donegal, it would be a victory that would do an awful lot of good for a lot of counties around the country”.
This was definitely that. Although the impact the first victory had also reminded me of the epilogue in Cool Runnings, which said “The Jamaican bobsleigh team did indeed compete again four years later, but this time they did so as equals.” It wasn’t a case of a four year wait for the Meath women, but there certainly was a serious amount of vindication playing on the minds of all concerned prior to their defeating of Kerry in the 2022 decider.
Vindication by way of nobody having the opportunity to say they were one hit wonders. They most certainly did that, but, having came up short last season – largely due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control – it’s clear there is a determination within the group to put that to right this time around.
Going down to the Dome and putting a comprehensive defeat on Mayo certainly wasn’t a bad way to begin as such. But for any Meath person worth their salt, whether it be hurling, football, camogie, ladies football or stacking potato boxes – yes, that is a thing, see the Finnegan’s Farm YouTube Channel for evidence of the challenge between Dublin’s Carla Rowe and Orla Byrne of Meath – the real acid test of their credibility arrives against the two shades of blue.
With that in mind, the home side were obviously determined to demonstrate rumours of their demise are being greatly over-hyped. Still, they will also have been well aware of a point often made here that goals are an absolute necessity if entertaining any notions of beating a Dublin team in anything.
So, after Shelly Melia grabbed the throw in and set Ciara Smyth away for the Skryne lady to split the posts, Shane McCormack’s charges maintained the full court press towards the scoreboard end.
Which resulted in two brilliantly constructed goals from Meadhbh Byrne – her third ‘Major’ in two matches – and the outstanding Marion Farrelly gave them a buffer they would never relinquish.
The scoreboard read 2-03 to 0-03 at the change of ends. Thereafter, the game took on an attritional nature, but, where in their first match and a half it was Meath’s herculean defencive effort which saw them over the line as, time and again, Katie Newe, Aine Sheridan, Niamh Gallogly and Mary Kate Lynch repelled attempts at a blue wave before the dynamic duo of the day, Farrelly and Duggan slotted over insurance scores.
Their victory coming as a fitting tribute to the great Niamh O’Sullivan who was afforded a deservedly rapturous ovation when introduced to the crowd at half time. The Dunshaughlin/Royal Gaels clubwoman having brought the curtain down on her stellar, inspirational inter county career.
Indeed, with it being as it wasn’t it only natural that success would follow at club level for the black and ambers. Which duly arrived in the guise of winning the Meath Ladies IFC in 2021, and after which they qualified for the SFC Final twelve months later only to encounter a Dunboyne team at the peak of their powers.
A year on from that, though, they emphatically reversed that result and claimed the Joe Breen Cup. And, with success like that came the inevitable increase in Dunshaughlin/Royal Gaels representation on the county team.
And just as she who started it all for the current generation chose to lay down the baton, those whom she inspired to follow her lead are beginning to make their mark. Not only the other Niamh and Meadhbh but now also Ella Moyles and Karla Kealy.
GAA bloodlines don’t get more purebred than those of the latter two named ladies. It will be intriguing to see how their career paths map out. But if they take on board even a percentage of what they will have learned playing alongside the now retired fountain of greatness, they’ll be better than alright.
Scorers – M. Farrelly (1-1), M. Byrne (1-0), E. Duggan (0-3), C. Smyth (0-1).
MEATH – M. McGuirk; K. Newe, A. Sheridan, N. Troy; N. Gallogly, M. K. Lynch, A. Cleary; M. O’Shaughnessy, S. Melia; M. Thynne, E. Moyles, C. Smyth; M. Byrne, M. Farrelly, E. Duggan.
SUBS – A. Leahy for Byrne, T. Foster for Melia, C. Lawlor for Cleary, O. Mallon for Thynne.
Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down)