Meath storm to victory over Down
All-Ireland Minor B Championship
Down vs Meath
Down travelled to Meath in their second game of their Championship campaign at the weekend. A strong wind was to give Meath the advantage in the first half and the Meath girls made the most of the advantage. They started strong putting Down’s defence under pressure. Aoife Minogue dominated in midfield for the Meath girls picking out sharp forward Amy Gaffney. Meath had racked up an eight point lead between Gaffney and Minogue when corner forward Nadine Doyle made an attack on goal. Lauren Clarke from Down made an impressive save. The Meath forwards made another few runs at goals only to be closed down quickly by the Down’s defence. A clash ball in front of the nets caused Down’s Lauren Clarke to have to come off her line and clear the ball out the field. During the last five minutes of the first half the Down girls started to apply pressure only to be closed down quickly by Meath’s defence. Down’s Neisha McCullough got Down on the scoreboard by pointing a free shortly before the half time whistle. Down did well to hold Meath to a nine point to one point lead going into the break.
It looked like the wind might have been going to help Down out in the second half as a good ball played in from the backbone gave Anna Rogan a shot on goal. It was cleared by the goalie back into the hand of Rogan who then took a point. A turning point came with the heavy rain and Meath applied pressure making two attempts on goals only to be closed down quickly by Down’s Clare McGilligan. On the third attempt Megan Thyne hit the back of the net for Meath. Some good passing between the Meath midfielder and forwards allowed them to get a few more balls over the bar. Meath’s Amy Gaffney made a great run towards the goals and looked certain to rattle the net until Dearbhla Magee from Down caught pace with her and got a great hook. In the final minutes Down and Meath both exchanged frees at either end with the strong wind pushing it either side of the cross bars.
A combination of travelling to Meath with a number of key players missing and very unfavourable weather conditions meant this wasn’t to be Down’s day. The girls will now turn their attention to the Ulster Minor Championship this Saturday when they will face Cavan at home. Down seniors are also at home this Sunday to Meath in the National League.
Final score: Meath 1:14 Down 0:03
Down: L Clarke, C Greenan, C Byrne, D McCabe, D Magee, C McGilligan, C Fitzpatrick, G Gallagher, L Wilson, N McCullough (0-02), S Murphy, P Lively, A Rogan (0-01), E Rushe Subs: E Fitzpatrick, K McGilligan
Meath: S Whitty, B Keyes, M Clince, C Jones, F O’Brien, E Coffey (0-01), L Reilly, A Coyne, L Martyn, A Gaffney (0-03), R Hoey, N Doyle (0-01), N McLoughlin, A Doyke, R McIntyre (0-01), A Minogue (0-06), M Thynne (1-02)
