Meath have to Hand it to the mighty Tyrone girls
MEATH’s hopes of All-Ireland glory were unmercifully crushed by a barrage of goals in this TG4 IFC decider at Croke Park on Sunday.
Tyrone set out their stall in the opening minutes and Meath were blitzed by three goals inside the first quarter. A superbly drilled Tyrone continued on the front foot throughout and every time Meath threatened a revival they were rocked back by another goal.
The Red Hand led by nine points at one stage in the opening half, but despite the concession of three goals Meath showed tremendous spirit as they fought back to close the gap to four approaching half-time.
That deficit could have been reduced further, but captain Niamh O’Sullivan was unfortunate to see a point effort rebound off the woodwork on 28 minutes. Immediately, Tyrone went on the attack to snatch a fourth goal and leave them leading 4-3 to 0-7 at the break.
It was that sort of game for Meath when little went to plan and the match was over as a contest when Tyrone restarted where they had left off in the opening half –
Tyrone Meath 6-8 1-14
with another goal.
Credit to Meath for never giving up the chase, and they should have been rewarded with goals before Stacey Grimes eventually found the net from the penalty spot on 53 minutes.
Earlier, Tyrone keeper Shannon Lynch kept out a piledriver from Vikki Wall, while Marion Farrelly crashed a shot off the crossbar.
There was no doubt that Tyrone were the superior side throughout and their support play, passing and ball retention was second to none, but Meath’s overall performance deserved much more on the day.
Keeper Monica McGuirk didn’t have a chance with any of the goals, while in front of her Orlagh Lally, Megan Thynne and Orlaith Duff worked tirelessly throughout.
Duleek-Bellewstown’s Kate Byrne covered every blade of grass on the pitch from midfield, while Stacey Grimes and captain Niamh O’Sullivan proved best in an attack that was closely marked by the Tyrone rearguard.
Meath led for the only time when O’Sullivan pointed on four minutes. Tyrone’s opening score was a goal, slapped to the net by Neamh Woods after the Meath rearguard was sliced open in a move involving Gemma Begley and Grainne Rafferty.
Even in those early stages matters went from bad to worse for Meath as Chloe McCaffrey pointed and Niamh Hughes hit a second goal on nine minutes.
Tyrone added a third goal from Grainne Rafferty before Stacey Grimes opened her account from a free.
Earlier, Meath suffered a blow when Aoibhin Cleary - who was an injury doubt going into the game - hobbled off. Tyrone also lost Aine Canavan, daughter of All-Ireland-winning captain Peter, to injury, but her absence wasn’t as noticeable as her replacement Niamh O’Neill went on to play a starring role, finishing with a tally of 1-3.
Points from O’Sullivan and Fiona O’Neill improved matters for Meath, and when Stacey Grimes hit three successive points in a six-minute spell they were just four points in arrears and back in the game.
However last year’s beaten finalists quashed any notions of a revival with a point from Chloe McCaffrey before sub O’Neill blasted to the net to leave her side comfortable at the break.
Less than two minutes into the second half Meath had conceded another goal. Niamh Hughes made a surging run and Neamh Woods was on hand to finish to the net.
By the 40th minute Niamh O’Neill had added three points to the goal scored just before halftime and it must have come as a relief to Meath when she was sinbinned on 41 minutes. Moments earlier Meath midfielder Maire O’Shaughnessy had suffered a similar fate.
With the game now well beyond them, Meath continued to play with an abundance of spirit, but their efforts weren’t always rewarded on the scoreboard.
Orlagh Lally got up from corner back to score two points, while Megan Thynne blasted over when her effort could quite as easily gone under. Substitute Emma White also hit a fine point following her introduction.
Tyrone’s final score, their sixth goal, from Gemma Begley, left it double scores - 6-8 to 0-13 - on 48 minutes.
Stacey Grimes took her tally to 1-5 when converting from the pen- alty following a foul on Aoibheann Leahy which proved to be the last score of the game.
MEATH: TYRONE: REF: