The Meath ladies booked their place into the Leinster Final after a comprehensive victory over Kildare in their final group game in Walterstown on Saturday. Leading by eight at the interval the royal ladies kicked on in the second half notching up a tally of 5-3 to secure their place in the Leinster decider and bring them one step closer to glory.

In the blaring sunshine it was the Lilywhites who got the ball rolling when Emma Kielty slotted over after claiming possession off the Meath rear guard. To this Meath responded excellently when Lauryn Grier found the net after a fantastic run from Áine Carr. From the Kildare kick out immediately after Meath rattled the net again when Abbie Timmons won possession and ran through and score Meath's second goal.
Neasa Dooley kicked a brace of points for Kildare to close the gap before Timmons added to her goal from earlier with a fine point. Kildare managed to close the gap to the minimum when Kielty found space to slot home midway through the half.
The Royal girls kicked on again and Sophia Payne and Grier kicked further points for the home side before Grier bagged her second goal of the game after a fine pass from Mollie Byrne. Defensively the home side were excellent breaking down the Kildare attacks time and time again. Sarah Doyle pointed for the away side before the royals rallied in front of goal once again. Hannah Talbot's shot came crashing off the post, however, Payne followed up to slam home Meath's fourth goal before the interval leaving eight between the teams.

Half-Time: Meath 4-3 Kildare 1-4.

The royals stormed out of the blocks after the resumption and registered another goal when Niamh O'Sullivan snuck in behind the defence to slam the ball past the keeper. The game was over as a contest soon after when Grier bagged her third goal and Meath's sixth of the game which was followed by an Eva Hunter free.
The home side were ruthless in front of goal and their seventh goal came a minute later when Timmons slotted home and five minutes later she had another. Grier added a brace of points before Kildare's Sarah Doyle pegged a goal back for her side. The final minutes saw a further 2 goals scored one for each team with Mollie Byrne hitting the net for Meath and Dooley netting for the away side before referee Paul Burke brought proceedings to an end sending the Royal ladies into jubilation.
The royals were outstanding today in every position on the pitch. Their hard working attitude and their defensive stability will make it tough for any opposition and with their confidence at a high level they can look forward to their Leinster final in May.

Meath Team: Judy Bobbett; Áine Carr, Katie Newe, Emma Connell; Laoise McDermott, Aedin Slattery, Leah Reilly; Kate McCarthy, Deirdre Murray; Hannah Talbot, Aisling Flynn, Lauryn Grier (3-3); Mollie Byrne (1-0), Niamh O'Sullivan (1-0), Abbie Timmons (3-1).
Subs - Sophia Payne (1-1) for Flynn (13m), Eva Hunter for Talbot (25m), Niamh Lineen for O'Sullivan (44m), Rachel Troy for Reilly (52m), Chloe Gilsenan for Carr (55m), Erin Leddy for Byrne (57m), Aoife Lenehan for Grier (57m).

Kildare Team: Ciara Farrell; Madeline Harney, Carla Ennis, Maria Doyle; Lara Gilbert, Sorcha Gillman, Christine Donagher; Katelynn Doran, Aoibheann O'Gorman; Nanci Murphy, Sarah Doyle (1-1), Neasa Dooley (1-2); Emma Kielty (1-1), Lara Curran, Caoimhe Maher.
Subs - Orla Maguire for M Doyle (19m), Leah McCormack for Gilbert (25m), Shauna Dee for Donagher (49m), Michaela Burke for S Doyle (56m), Alannah Pardy for Kielty (56m).
Referee: Paul Burke (Louth). Tweet

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