Three points for Meath ladies
February 05, 2012
Meath's Geraldine Doherty
Meath v Tyrone
Sunday 5th February at 2pm
Donaghmore-Ashbourne GFC
Full Time: Meath 1-12
Tyrone 1-07
In clinical style, Meath collected the first three points of their National League campaign of 2012 over a determined Tyrone side at Ashbourne on Sunday. Indeed, this is Meath's first venture into the top flight of the National League since 2008. They gained promotion to division one in 2011 after beating Kerry in the semi-final of the 2011 competition. However, a new year and most certainly a new fight to the Meath Senior Ladies.
In a game that Meath led from the start, dropping behind only once momentarily, the result never appeared to be in doubt. After early action by the Meath defence, Katie O'Brien got Meath on the scoreboard with a converted free on four minutes. This was immediately followed by a point from Geraldine Doherty, after the midfield pairing of Fiona Mahon and Shauna Bennett combined well. Tyrone took an early setback when wing forward Orla O'Neill was sin binned for a poor tackle on Fiona Mahon.
With a man up, Meath didn't appear to immediately take advantage of having an extra player, indeed Tyrone capitalized on poor Meath defending when full forward Gemma Begley slipped behind the Meath defence and somehow found a way past 2011 All Star goalkeeper, Irene Munnelly. This jolted the Meath side, and a flurry of scores ensued. Returning from an absence on the Meath Senior team, Aoife Thompson from Dunboyne got Meath's next score on ten minutes. Thompson had a busy first half, creating Doherty's next point before adding a second of her own on twelve mins. While Vivienne McCormack and Kellie Allen both showed well for Meath, it was the partnership between Thompson and Doherty that was especially noticeable. Doherty got her third point of the contest on eighteen mins, after the first shot by Thompson was well blocked down by Tyrone net-minder Shannon Lynch.
On the resumption, Thompson secured position, kicked high into the box and Shauna Bennett was flying in, punching the ball past Lynch into an empty net. Meath supporters overjoyed with a 1-06 to 1-00 lead, which was closely followed by a further score from the boot of Bennett in the twenty-second minute. This was most definitely a team effort with Mahon, Bennett and Thompson all involved. The teams traded scores in the 23rd and 24th minutes respectively with Doherty and Catriona McGahan laying claims to the scores. Half time came but not before Katie O'Brien ended the half with how she started, a terrific point again showing how well Meath were working as a team. At half time Meath were looking good albeit with a slight breeze in their favour, 1-09 to 1-01.
The second half started with two changes for the Royals. Emma Troy, recently named Senior Club Championship Player of the Year and County Minor Players' Player of the Year 2011, came in to replace Eve Wardick, while Catriona O'Shaughnessy replaced Ashley Leavy. Tyrone were not going to sit back and take a beating. They began the second half brightly with Gemma Begley scoring their opening two points. The Meath defence rallied well, with Troy making her presence immediately known, and Jenny Rispin playing well. Mary Sheridan replaced Laura Dempsey, last year's County U16 Player of the Year.
Joline Donnelly pointed twice for the Ulster side on 38 and 42 mins to leave just four between the teams. Doherty pointed for Meath's first score of the second half on 45 mins after Mary Sheridan fielded a high ball. Mahon was fouled on 48 mins and Doherty duly converted the resulting free to restore a six point lead. Once more Donnelly pointed with just ten minutes left on the clock. While both sides rang in the changes, Megan O'Brien made her debut on the Meath Senior team. While Tyrone battled hard, the Meath defence stood up and performed very well. Aedin Murray limited Gemma Begley's threat, limiting her only to converting frees which Begley duly did on 58 mins. However time had run out on the side from Ulster, and Meath ran out convincing winners. It was left to Katie O'Brien to end the scoring for the afternoon with a free on the 60 minute mark.
All in all it was a confident Meath performance. They looked in control of the game, and Fiona Mahon looked every inch of her 2011 All Star nomination. Meath manager Paula Cunningham will no doubt be pleased with today's performance, and while the team slipped slightly at the start of the second half they did well to pick it up again and finished strongly. The 2011 campaign looks positive for Meath and with Dublin waiting in the wings for a tussle next Sunday 12th February, Meath will be eager to prove their Leinster semi-final victory last year wasn't a flash in the pan. Best for Meath today was Aedin Murray, Aoife Thompson, Fiona Mahon, Katie O'Brien and Jenny Rispin.
The Meath Ladies County Board would like to wish today's captain Catriona O'Shaughnessy the very best of luck in her new job in Singapore. Catriona has been an invaluable member of the Senior panel since she was in her teens and we will all miss her! We hope she takes all she has learnt with her to her new GAA club!
Meath Team & Scorers: Irene Munnelly, Eve Wardick, Aedin Murray, Orla Sheridan, Ashley Leavy, Eileen Rahill, Kellie Allen, Shauna Bennett (1-01), Fiona Mahon, Laura Dempsey, Katie O'Brien (0-03), Vivienne McCormack, Jenny Rispin, Aoife Thompson (0-02), Geraldine Doherty (0-06).
Subs: Emma Troy for Wardick (half-time), Catriona O'Shaughnessy (capt.) for Leavy (half-time), Mary Sheridan for Dempsey (37 mins), Megan O'Brien for McCormack (55 mins), Colleen Jordan for Thompson (59 mins).
Tyrone: Shannon Lynch, Maria Donnelly, Carol McGlinchey, Tori McLaughlin, Claire Scullion, Eimear Teague, Joanne Donnelly, Shauneen Ferrity, Shannon Quinn, Emma Hegarty, Neamh Woods, Orla O'Neill, Joline Donnelly, Gemma Begley, Catriona McGahan. Tweet
