Meath 2-08, Tipperary 4-11
Despite a committed and determined performance from the Royal Fourteens, it wasn't to be their day as a strong second half performance from the Munster Champions earned them their second All Ireland U14 B title in as many years. Meath fought hard in the opening half, heading into the half time break just two points behind but Tipperary upped it a gear in the third quarter and goals from the impressive Ava Fennessy ensured the Cup remained in Tipperary for another twelve months.
It was the Royals that started the brighter however, surging into a 0-02 lead in the opening five minutes. Royal Gaels' Maedhbh Byrne was first on the scoreboard after a super cross field pass from Alannah Boland. A foul on Boland on five minutes gave Emma Duggan the chance to double the Royals lead which she dispatched over the black spot. Ava Fennessy cut the Royals lead to one when she pointed on 8 mins, with the sides going level on 12 mins when Ciara Dwan split the posts from 30 yards. Tipperary were gaining in confidence and grabbed their opening goal on 14 mins but Meath's reply was instant. A well worked passage of play saw Keri Martin pick the ball up on wing and find the industrious Ellen Grant in space. Grant in turn passed off to Meadhbh Byrne who gave an inch perfect pass to Boland who was free on the square. The Cilles player did what came naturally and buried the ball into Saoirse Teer's net. On the resumption, Duggan was fouled after a long ball in from Grant and the Dunboyne player converted her second free. Meath were dominating play and consolidated their lead as Boland grabbed goal number two. Captain Aisling McCabe led by example in the middle of the field, turning in a super performance, found Emma Duggan and Duggan's pass in to Boland was timed to perfection. This was to be Meath's last score of the half however, as Tipperary dominated hitting five unanswered points to retake the lead, a lead they weren't to relinquish. Ali Sherlock, Tegan Gordon, Tia Nulty and Caoimhe McPeake all showed well for the Royal back line in the opening half and Tipperary could have been further ahead however but for Meath netminder Aoibheann Corcoran who pulled off several saves that wouldn't be out of place in Croke Park! At half time though, Meath were trailing by two;
Half Time; Meath 2-03, Tipperary 1-08.
As the second half threw in, Tipperary's dominance continued, Leah Clancy and Ava Fennessy each splitting the posts. These scores were cancelled out though by an Ellen Grant score after a one-two with McCabe and a converted free from Duggan on 38 mins. Alannah Boland was unlucky to see her shot deflected for a '45 while Caoimhe McPeake grabbed a fine long range point on 41 mins. Meath were rocked though on 42 mins as Tipp grabbed their second goal. Despite the tenacious efforts of Meadhbh Byrne, Browne, Orla Conlon and Gordon, Tipperary continued their dominance on the Royal rear-guard with Aisling Ryan pointing on 46 mins and Fennessy grabbing the Model County's third goal on 49 mins. As the game started to slip away from the Royals, they were unfortunate to see not one but two sin bins. Fennessy grabbed her side's fourth goal on 55 mins. While the game was now out of reach for the Royals, they never gave up. Determination, drive and pride kept them fighting. Duggan converted her fourth free of the afternoon on 57 mins and with the Royal rearguard performing well, they curtailed any further Tipp scores. Indeed it was the Royals who had the final say just before the full time whistle blew, Aoibhinn Bracken hitting a sweet point deep into injury time. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as Tipp were crowned U14 B Champions for a second successive year.
Full Time: Meath 2-08, Tipperary 4-11.
It has been a fantastic journey for our fabulous fourteens. They started out back in February playing Dublin and have made incredible strides forward, both individually and as part of a team. The skills they have developed and friendships they have forged will continue as hopefully too will their career as inter-county footballers. Congratulations to the girls and their management team on reaching the All Ireland Final and with the talent on show, it is undoubtedly not the last time they will contest for top honours. Congratulations ladies on a job well done!
Meath Team & Scorers: Aoibheann Corcoran, Orla Conlon, Ali Sherlock, Tegan Gordon, Tia Nulty, Mollie Browne, Caoimhe McPeake (0-01), Ellen Grant (0-01), Aisling McCabe (C), Olivia Gore, Maebhdh Byrne (0-01), Eimear Fay, Alannah Boland (2-00), Emma Duggan (0-04, 4f), Keri Martin.
Subs: Aideen Jones for Martin (HT), Aoibhinn Bracken (0-01) for Gore (HT), Caragh Monaghan for Fay (52 mins), Aoibhé Monaghan for McPeake (55 mins), Saoirse O'Kane for Byrne (57 mins), Hannah Dardis, Holly Kealy, Lauren Donnelly, Zoe Matthews, Lauren McCarthy, Caoimhe Leddy, Orla Hayes, Katie Carragher, Meibh Reilly, Rebecca King, Alice McGrath, Niamh Mulvihill, Grace Gavigan, Orla Finnegan, Meghan Corish.
Referee: Cathy Forde (Wicklow)
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