After the tremendous adventure that 2006 turned out to be, this year represented something of a disappointing season for the Meath ladies' senior football team. But when all the injuries they suffered are taken into account, as well as a number of retirements involving key members of the panel, it's quite understandable how things worked out. It will be recalled that Meath went all the way to the National League Div. 1 final last year where they just lost out to a powerful Cork team at Parnell Park and as the summer arrived they experienced an eventful championship campaign which brought further final disappointment when Laois got the better of them in the provincial decider. Finals really weren't good to them. There was also a defeat against Galway in a replayed All-Ireland quarter-final, after they had turned in a couple of truly committed performances, but when all was considered and the campaign as a whole was reviewed it had been a year to remember with a fair degree of pride - even if no silverware had been collected along the way. This year the National League concluded for Meath with a very heavy quarter-final loss to Mayo at Islandeady. That wasn't a positive or happy day, but as spring turned to summer the championship brought renewed hope that success might just be around the corner. However, a disappointing performance against Kildare at Pairc Tailteann in late June saw them exit the Leinster Championship race at the semi-final stage, which represented a big blow, before they secured a morale boosting victory over Dublin after extra-time in their opening All-Ireland qualifier match at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow. That was unquestionably one of the real highlights of what turned out to be a difficult year overall. Meath defeated Down with relative comfort next time out in the qualifier series at Newry and then lost to a strong Armagh team by two points at Clones, which suggested they might just be capable of exacting revenge on Kildare when the counties clashed again in the qualifiers at Ratoath. However, it wasn't to be as the Lilywhites won by three points and Meath's championship campaign was over for another year. It was a major disappointment for all those involved with the team, but when it is considered that former All-Star Geraldine Doherty, one of the most outstanding players in the country, missed the entire championship after sustaining a serious injury in a challenge match against Cavan, that Aisling Ennis was also cursed with injury and that Mary Sheridan was unavailable for a large part of the campaign it was hardly a major surprise that Meath fell short. Add in those retirements involving players who have been key parts of the Royal County set up and it's easy to see why it happened. Among those to depart the panel was that brilliant forward Gillian Bennett who helped St Michael's to the Meath Junior Championship title this year, scoring a phenomenal tally of 1-13 in the final against Wolfe Tones. How big a loss was she? "We had three or four injuries and a number of retirements which weakened us," said Meath selector Ann Dungan as she looked back on the year. "If you take a look at the team from the previous year you can see how many key players weren't available to us. "I know one or two players never made a team, but you do rely on certain players to make things happen for you. Geraldine Doherty suffered a bad injury playing in a challenge match against Cavan. It was one of those freakish injuries and was very unfortunate, but she will be back. "Aisling Ennis, who was one of our star up and coming young players, injured her cruciate ligament. Gillian Bennett, Elaine Lynch and Edel McGrane retired. Jackie Shiels has been away in England and Mary Sheridan was in Australia and missed all of the National League campaign. You just can't afford to do without so many key players." Yet, despite all their problems with injuries, retirements and players being unavailable, Meath turned in some very good performances during 2007, most notably in an opening qualifier match against Dublin in Carlow when they came through by four points after a thrilling encounter that went to extra time. Sadly, they were unable to build significantly on that noteworthy success. "That really was a cracker of a game," Ann added. "It was like all matches between Meath and Dublin. We were really up for it that day and beat them after extra time. That game seemed to go on all day and the referee played a fair bit of injury time at the end of extra time." However, there were some very disappointing days as well, including a couple of defeats against Kildare - firstly in a Leinster Championship semi-final at Pairc Tailteann in June when they lost by six points and thus waved good bye to their hopes of gaining provincial honours and later when the Lilywhites ended their All-Ireland qualifier campaign when winning by a goal at Ratoath. Ann described the Leinster Championship defeat as "a bit of a surprise" but she fully appreciates the commitment players have given to the team over a number of years. It's just a great pity that there wasn't a trophy or two in return for so much effort in recent times. "It's been so disappointing for the last two years," she said. "We didn't come out of our shell. But the absence of so many key players had a huge impact on things this year." However, 2007 is now history and the only way for Meath to look is forward. But sadly, they again look likely to be hit by injuries and players being unavailable, so predicting with any degree of accuracy what will happen in 2008 and beyond is a far from easy task. "A number of our key players are taking time out, Suzanne McCormack and Jane Burke among them. Suzanne is gone to Australia. So I suppose it is hard to say how it will go for us," Ann added. "A number of the girls are with us for a fair few years and it's a big commitment. "But you never really know. Just look at the way things worked out for the Meath men this year. They weren't fancied and they reached the All-Ireland semi-final. You can never say for certain. We have some very good young junior players coming through, but it takes time to rebuild. They are coming along and will be the backbone of the team into the future." But, unfortunately, there has been more bad news on the injury front for Meath as well. "Louise McKeever broke her arm playing rugby and Louise Byrne, who is our second goalkeeper, is also out injured," said Ann. "And I think Mary Sheridan is going to England." One sight that all Meath supporters want to see in the very near future is the return of the immensely talented Geraldine Doherty to the county colours following that injury sustained against Cavan which has sidelined her for several months. The St Ultan's player is one of the real stars of the ladies' game, not alone in her own county but throughout the country, and that was demonstrated when she received her fully deserved All-Star award. She is one of those players who Meath can ill afford to be without as they plan for the future. She is the sort of player who can provide that spark of magic and inspiration that can turn a game and is always a potential match-winner. "Geraldine has been going to the gym and is getting ready to come back," was the good news relayed by Ann Dungan. "She will be back." Geraldine's return would certainly represent a major piece of good news for the player herself, her club and her county. She was one of the players who was missed in an enormous way during the 2007 championship and what a welcome addition she will be on her return. Tweet

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