Murray mints mighty performance when Meath need it most

MEATH…2-11

WATERFORD…1-13

Exactly 30 years ago in the week just gone, Sir Alex Ferguson audaciously pilfered Andy Cole from Manchester United’s main title rivals at the time, Newcastle, for what was a gargantuan £7m at the time. As always seems to be the case, the Old Trafford faithful didn’t take long to come up with a chant for the new arrival – “He’s Cole, He’s Cole, he’s Andy Andy Cole, he gets the ball he scores the goal he’s Andy Andy Cole”. Now read on…

In Meath GAA circles, we may have to change the he to a she and swap Andy for Kerrie. After the exceptionally gifted Na Fianna clubwoman bagged another brace of ‘Majors’ enabling the Royalettes maintain their 100% start to the Lidl Ladies NFL Div. 1 when just about bypassing Waterford at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.

When Cole sent the umpire stooping for the green flag with basically 40 seconds gone – after what is becoming a trademark surging run by Ciara Smyth – had left her with the simply glorious task of filling the onion bag.

To be fair, the spirited Deise came back as would have been expected with Brid McMaugh and Kate Murray pointing before McMaugh put the outstanding Lauren McGregor in for a goal which left just four between the sides at the break, 1-09 to 1-05.

When Cole pounced on a howler by the visiting ‘keeper to make it four goals in two games for herself immediately after the restart, one could only have assumed that was job done. Leading as they did by 2-09 to 1-05 at that point.

But no, Na Deise again came roaring back with McMaugh, McGregor and Murray posted a phalanx of  points. Leaving the locals in squeaky seat territory.

And the legs would’ve come off the chair were it not for an outstanding stop by Robyn Murray from her namesake Kate which just about got Shane McCormack’s charges over the line. Leaving our version of the green and gold still in pole position but with the perceived big three, Kerry, Armagh and Dublin still to come.

SCORERS – K. Cole (2-2), V. Wall and C. Smyth (0-3 each), M. Farrelly (0-2), N. Gallogly (0-1).

MEATH – R. Murray; A. Sheridan, S. Wall, K. Newe; N. Gallogly, M. K. Lynch, C. Millington; K. Kealy, V. Wall; M. Thynne, O. Sheehy, C. Smyth; M. Byrne, M. Farrelly, K. Cole.

SUBS – E. Moyles for Farrelly, N. Troy for Kealy, K. Bermingham for Cole, O. Smith for Millington, A. Gaffney for Byrne.