Generali Pan Europe Meath Ladies Senior Football Championship Final 2014

Seneschalstown 2-16 St Ultans 2-10.

It was a case of lucky thirteen for Seneschalstown as they claimed their thirteenth ever  Meath Ladies Senior Football Championship title and fourth on a row after a hard fought victory over St Ultans in Ashbourne on Saturday evening.   It was an excellent display from the champions as they killed off the game clinically in the closing stages.  

After the pre-game formalities were completed, it was St Ultans who settled first when Elaine Duffy pointed from play from the left of the posts.   After winning a sideline ball, the Ultans got their second point when Katie O'Brien found space to kick over after receiving the ball from the sideline pass.   Seneschalstown opened their account in the second minute when Orla Garry pointed via the post.   The score, however, would not have happened if Stacey Grimes, Grainne Nulty and Louise Coyle had not linked up well in the build-up.   The Bohermeen girls responded well though as O'Brien notched her second point of the game from play after four minutes.  

Seneschalstown grew into the task at hand and hit a purple patch between the fifth and eighteenth minutes as they registered five unanswered points.   Grimes scored the first after Natasha Mullen excellently found her fourteen yards out.   Grimes turned her marker and shot for goal but was unlucky to see her attempt go over rather than under the crossbar.   Seneschalstown drew level in the sixth minute when Nulty hit an excellent long range point after Mary Murray laid the ball the ball off to her.   Garry then put the Yellow Furze side ahead when kicking her second score from play.   The point came after Nulty's high delivery dropped into the Ultans' square which was won by Player of the Match Louise Coyle and she recycled the ball to Garry.   This score put Seneschalstown ahead for the first time.   The gap became two when Garry pointed again.  

However, Seneschalstown could have found themselves two points in arrears at the other end if firstly, goalkeeper Lisa Mullen and then, corner back Aodhnait McAdam each superbly blocked a goal bound shot from the girls in green and black.   The ball was cleared which was the beginning of the move for Garry's third point.   The last score of this spell came from Coyle after Murray split the Ultans defence with a penetrating run before popping the ball to Coyle who dropped the ball over the bar.  

O'Brien then kicked St Ultans first score for 14 minutes when pointing from thirty metres on the clubhouse side of the field.   Grimes made it 0-07 to 0-04 after an excellent individual point.   After picking the ball up in the right corner she weaved in and out numerous times before punching the ball between the sticks.   Duffy and Grimes then swapped frees before Coyle made it a four point game after twenty six minutes when splitting the posts after running directly at the Ultans defence.   The lead was then stretched to five when Murray herself scored after another of her trademark long runs. 

On twenty eight minutes the game's first goal arrived when Ciara Murray punched to the net after O'Brien's point attempt dropped short.   O'Brien followed this up with a pointed free.   This left one between them going into first half stoppage time.   It would get even better for Ultans when midfielder Trish Marley netted after O'Brien ran at the Seneschalstown defence.   Grimes responded with the half's last score from a free.   There was one between them at the break - St Ultans 2-06 Seneschalstown 0-11.

With an Ultans player in the sin bin, Seneschalstown made hay.   Coyle raised a green flag for Seneschalstown and put them back in front by two.   The goal arrived after Garry and Sheridan worked well out the field.   Garry registered her fourth point in the thirty seventh minute after receiving the ball from Grainne Nulty.   The excellent O'Brien opened St Ultans second half scoring with a free to leave it 1-12 to 2-07 after 40 minutes.   Geraldine Doherty reduced it to one after receiving a short forty five.   On forty two minutes Grimes tapped over a free when Garry was fouled.   Duffy then kicked two frees for Ultans to draw them level. 

However, they would not score again as Coyle's second goal proved to be a crucial turning point.   Murray sent a high dropping ball towards goal.    Nulty's punch was half blocked and it broke to Coyle who toe-poked the ball into an empty net.   This opened up a three point lead with five minutes of normal time left.   Shortly afterwards, Seneschalstown lost corner back Seanaidh Hickey when she picked up a knee injury as she attacked the ball in front of the stand.   One person's misfortune can often be another's opportunity though and the strength in depth of the squad was illustrated when her replacement, Roisin Commons fired over to open up a four point gap.   Garry was then fouled outside the large square leaving Grimes with the simple task of pointing a fourteen yard free.  

Coyle then brought the scoring to close when hitting one last point.   From the kick-out Colm McManus blew the full time whistle to send the large Seneschalstown support in attendance into raptures.   After the game captain Mary Murray was presented with the trophy from Aisling Clery of the Meath Ladies County Board.  

Seneschalstown: L. Mullen, A. McAdam, P. Sheridan, S. Hickey, S. Sheridan, L. Doran, A. Carolan, M. Murray (0-01), E. McGrane, O. Garry (0-04), S. Byrne, N. Mullen, S. Grimes (0-06,4f), L. Coyle (2-03), G. Nulty (0-01)

Subs: Ruth Commons for Byrne, Roisin Commons for Hickey.

St Ultans scorers: K O'Brien 0-05 (1f), E. Duffy 0-04 (3f), C. Murray, T. Marley 1-00 each, G. Doherty (0-01)Generali Pan Europe Meath Ladies 

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