Senior ladies lose out to Meath in the LIDL NFL Round 2

Meath 2-5

Dublin 0-7

By DAIRE WALSH

First-half goals from Meadhbh Byrne and Marion Farrelly were crucial at Pairc Tailteann in Navan on Sunday as Meath got the better of provincial rivals Dublin to make it two wins from two in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League.

In the battle of the last two TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship winners, Meath built on last weekend’s impressive triumph against Mayo to maintain their 100% start to the 2024 season. Carla Rowe contributed 0-4 for Dublin on her return to the first 15, but the Jackies’ search for a first victory in the calendar year will continue into round three of the top-tier.

After Ciara Smyth traded points in the early exchanges with Dublin’s Ellen Gribben, excellent approach work from two-time TG4 All Star Emma Duggan provided the platform for Meath attacker Byrne to slot a low shot to the opposition net in the sixth-minute.

Duggan subsequently extended the home team’s advantage with a superb point from play and after full-forward Farrelly coolly grabbed their second goal of the contest, the Royals found themselves seven points in front (2-2 to 0-1) heading towards the first-quarter mark.

Carla Rowe (free) and marauding half-back Martha Byrne did find the target for Dublin either side of a Duggan free as the play progressed, but despite losing Niamh Gallogly to the sin-bin on 27 minutes, the Royals brought a 2-3 to 0-3 buffer into the interval.

While Dublin were playing with the aid of a breeze in the second half, it wasn’t until nine minutes after the resumption that they added their next score. It was a free from Rowe that got them back up and running, but with the Dublin skipper converting another placed ball effort moments later, this game was still very much up for grabs.

Although Danielle Lawless and Ashling Nyhan joined half-time substitute Kate Sullivan on the field of play as Dublin attempted to turn the screw, Meath’s nerves were settled when Duggan knocked over a free on 52 minutes.

Rowe’s fourth point of the afternoon kept Mick Bohan’s side in the hunt during a tense finish to the action, only for a Farrelly free to offer the Royals ample breathing space in advance of a late point by Dublin’s Kate Murray.

Scorers - Meath: M Farrelly 1-1 (0-1f), E Duggan 0-3 (2f), M Byrne 1-0, C Smyth 0-1. Dublin: C Rowe 0-4 (4f), M Byrne, E Gribben, K Murray 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; N Crowley, L Caffrey, N Donlon; L Magee, M Byrne, H Hegarty; N Hetherton, O Carey; C O’Connor, O Nolan, J Egan; A Timothy, C Rowe, E Gribben. Subs: K Sullivan for Egan (h-t), D Lawless for Hegarty, A Nyhan for Timothy (both 49), K Murray for Nolan (54), C Darby for Carey (63).

MEATH: M McGuirk; K Newe, A Sheridan, N Troy; N Gallogly, M.K. Lynch, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, S Melia; M Thynne, E Moyles, C Smyth; M Byrne, M Farrelly, E Duggan. Subs: A Leahy for Byrne (53), T Foster for Melia (55), C Lawlor for Cleary (61), O Mallon for Thynne (64).

Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).