MEATH…0-08
GALWAY….0-16
It is symbolic of a team’s current status and ambitions when one hears open mention of the fact that top flight survival will suffice as far as priorities for a National League campaign. Of course there’s always the possibility that such a non-fussed approach could come back and bite you in such a manner so as to leave sitting a very uncomfortable proposition.
But then, unpalatable though it may be to digest for some purists, Colm O’Rourke’s assertion last week that a lot of counties would rather be nowhere the latter stages of the second of the four competitions in which each county takes part is in fact quite easy to understand.
Even Arsenal, seemingly dominant in every threshold they cross at present, may eventually have to forego their intentions in one of the competitions to ensure they nab some silverware by season’s end. So, on that score, you could understand Meath skipper Niamh Gallogly admitting in the wake of Sunday’s defeat that retention of their top flight status will suffice from the spring competition this year for Wayne Freeman’s team.
That said, even achieving such an accomplishment has become decidedly more difficult in light of Sunday’s result in Grangegodden, the home of the Gaeil Colmcille club in Kells. Incidentally, with Pairc Tailteann currently out of service, the match taking place in Ceannais Mor, it represented the wheel of history going full circle.
When last renovation work was undertaken at the Brews Hill venue, circa 1988, Gaeil Colmcille’s home – then Pairc Colmcille at the top end of the town – was the holiday home of choice for at least some of the county teams. As we know, our men have, theoretically at least decamped to Croke Park. One wonders, though, was the same opportunity offered to hurlers, lady footballers or camogie players. And if, as is suspected, not, why not?
Anyway, if the last Air BnB spell is best remembered for Colm O’Rourke being put off against Armagh and thereby rode out of an All Star, the current vacation didn’t get off to the most auspicious of starts with the girls coming up well short against last year’s Div. 2 winners.
With Katie Slevin on fire up top, the west was well and truly awake. The maroon and white leading by 0-09 to 0-04 at the break, with ten minutes having expired before Emma Duggan got the locals on the board.
The crater Meath found themselves in got considerably deeper after the break as, through Slevin, Niamh Divilly, Roisin Leonard and Leanne Coen extended the Tribeswomen’s advantage out to ten points.
In fairness, as is in the DNA of all Meath teams, Freeman’s forces improved considerably in the second half as Duggan, Niamh Gallogly, Megan Thynne and substitute Orla Finnegan cultivated scores which, though they weren’t enough to turn the tide on the day in question, more than suggested there is the weaponary there to ensure there will definitely be better days ahead.
Scorers – E. Duggan (0-3), N. Gallogly, M. Thynne, M. Byrne, R. Casserly and O. Finnegan (0-1 each).
Meath – R. Murray; A. Sheridan, M. K. Lynch, O. Gore; O. Smith, S. Wall, K. Bermingham; O. Sheehy, N. Gallogly; M. Thynne, C. Smyth, M. Farrelly; E. Duggan, R. Casserly, M. Byrne.
Subs – L. O’Neill for Smyth, O. Finnegan for Byrne, C. Lawlor for Farrelly, A. Gaffney for Gore, M. McConnell for Duggan, S. Ni Scalain for Thynne.
Referee – Ray McBride (Dublin)
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