Meath 1-10, Dublin 3-10

A superior second half gave Dublin a sixth successive Leinster U-16 title on Sunday afternoon in the familiar grounds of Clane GFC, Co. Kildare. However Meath most certainly gave the team from the Capital a lot to think about and on a different day the result could have gone in favour of the Royals. However, as the old adage says goals win games and despite Meath goalkeeper Judy Bobbett being at her very best, it was Dublin that raised three green flags to ensure victory.

The game began at a furious pace with the Royals setting standards raising two white flags inside the first three minutes. Seneschalstown's Kiah Geraghty opened the scoring in the second minute with a fine point before wing-back Laoise McDermott fired over a second a minute later. The midfield pairing of Aoibhín Cleary and Niamh Cassidy worked well in feeding the forwards with plenty of ball and indeed Meath should have been further ahead as several chances were spurned wide. Dublin's first score raised the first green flag of the game - courtesy of Rachel Brennan. Cleary drew the sides level on ten mins but this was cancelled out a minute later when Jennifer Dunne split the posts. Parity was restored midway through the half when Captain Niamh Donnelly converted a free from a wide angle. Indeed, the Simonstown player and Meath Captain enjoyed a strong outing and certainly drove her team on when the chips were down. Tara Fay added a point for Meath a minute later. Meath's defence were in fine form - overturning Dublin possession with Laoise McDermott, Emma McCarney and Emily O'Connor enjoying fine performances. A brace of scores on 17 and 18 mins for Dublin put them one ahead - one a free from Ciara McDunphy, the other a point from play from Caoimhe O'Connor. Twenty mins gone on the clock and Dublin had their second goal, this one from McDunphy who blasted the ball past Judy Bobbett in goals. Fortunately Meath finished the half the stronger, registering three unanswered points - an Abbie Timmons free on 23 mins and a brace of points from the sturdy boot of Kiah Geraghty. Dublin's O'Connor got the last point of the half to leave the Royals trailing by two at half time with it all to play for in the second half.

Half Time; Meath 0-08, Dublin 2-04.

The second half got off to just as energetic a start as the opening thirty with Dublin Captain, Clara O'Sullivan, registering Dublin's first point of the second half on 33 mins. Meath were delivered a sucker punch on 34 mins when O'Sullivan raised Dublin's third flag. Meath were doing their utmost to find a way through the Dublin rearguard but their efforts were disappointed. Dublin's lead was stretched to seven points on 39 mins with Aoibhe Bell on target. Ailbhe Leahy was rewarded for her chasing and hassling with a green flag for the Royals on 40 mins to cut Dublin's lead back to four. The goal was a just reward for the O'Mahonys player - who had been unlucky on several occasions in the first half. With the game in the melting pot, it was Dublin who came out on top and fired over three unanswered points - with Michelle Carey, Danielle Lawless and Caoimhe O'Connor all getting themselves on the scoreboard. The teams traded scores with Niamh Donnelly converting a free on 58 mins and Dublin's O'Sullivan pointing on the resumption. Although Abbie Timmons fired over a late point deep into injury time, the result was beyond doubt, the U-16 Title heading back to Dublin once more.

After defeat to Dublin in Round One, the Meath U16s have come a long way. Defensively they were stronger, in attack they were sharper and they did not concede until the full time whistle - a fabulous attitude for any team. It is perhaps testament to the Royal forwards, that Dublin's wing back, Heather Bolger, received the 'Player of the Match' accolade. Great credit must go to not only the players for their efforts but also to the management team of Phil Fay, Michael Hand, Marian Timmons and Sinead McCormack. Their determination and enthusiasm for their team as well as the hours spent coaching and encouraging will certainly stay with this group of players for years to come. While the panel may be disappointed this evening, they can rest assure that their families and supporters are hugely proud of them. Meath will regroup and refocus and come back stronger than ever. Today was just not to be their day.

Meath Team & Scorers: Judy Bobbett, Emma McCarney, Laura Quinn, Martha Reidy, Laoise McDermott (0-01), Anna Brannigan, Emily O'Connor, Niamh Cassidy, Aoibhín Cleary (0-01), Tara Fay (0-01), Niamh Donnelly (0-02), Niamh Hand, Abbie Timmons (0-02,1f), Kiah Geraghty (0-03), Ailbhe Leahy (1-00).
Subs: Becky Deery for Brannigan, Laurie McClean, Lauren Collier, Lizzie Collins, Orlaith Moyles, Hannah Tuite, Tess O'Neill, Niamh Williams, Ellen Cassidy, Mikaela Rao, Emma Cassidy.

Dublin: Jenny Flaherty, Eve Reidy, Siabh Hannigan, Sinead O'Donoghue, Heather Bolger, Sarah Fagan, Shannon Murtagh, Jennifer Dunne (0-01), Michelle Carey (0-01), Niamh Carey, Rachel Brennan (1-00), Ciara McDunphy (1-01, 1f), Caoimhe O'Connor (0-03), Danielle Lawless (0-01), Clara O'Sullivan (1-01, C)
Subs: Aoibhe Bell (0-02) for N Carey, Dearbhla Snow for McDunphy, Orla Martin for Lawless

Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)

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