Nothing to split Meath and Westmeath in exciting clash

Tom Gannon reports

Meath 0-13

Westmeath 2-7

Meath had to settle for a draw with Westmeath in round 2 of the NCL DIV 2A at Trim GAA. Despite Westmeath missing more chances, eight wides to Meath’s five, Meath will feel like they should have come away from this contest with the win. On a couple of occasions, Meath found themselves with a nice cushion over Westmeath but the Lakesiders always found a way to keep in touch. A soft goal in the first half didn’t help matters either. Ultimately though Meath can be happy with an overall strong performance.

Meath started the game strong, a long ball in from Amy Gaffney fell to Emma Hannafin who opened the scoring in her first start in a Meath jersey. Aoife Carey followed this up with a point. Carey caught the ball from the puck out and sent it flying over the bar to give Meath an early two-point advantage.

Holly Dowdall got Westmeath’s account underway but Meath responded immediately with two well-taken points in quick succession courtesy of Carey and Gaffney.

After 10 minutes, Meath held a three-point advantage and at that stage were looking much stronger than their opponents. An Amelia Shaw pointed free reduced the margin back to two.

After a quiet period for the home side, Grace Coleman got the scoreboard ticking again before Emma Hannafin got on the end of a long ball in and hit it first time over her head for her second point.

A slight lapse of concentration in Meath’s defence gave Holly Dowdall the space and time to weave through and finish it past Maggie Randle. The Ashbourne keeper will admit herself that it was not her finest moment between the sticks. Shaw followed this up with her second score. After 25 minutes the game was now level.

Aoife Carey provided a fantastic score from a tight angle just when Meath needed it. Another score from Westmeath's sharpshooter Shaw drew the sides level but Katie Connelly edged Meath ahead again just before half-time.

Meath went in at the break leading 0-8 to 1-4. Best for Meath in the first half was Sophia Payne, Grace Coleman, and Aoife Carey.

Amy Gaffney got Meath’s account underway in the second half. Westmeath’s Megan Dowdall responded with her first contribution to the scoreline. Gaffney extended Meath's lead back to two before Ciara Foley added another. At this stage, Meath held a four-point cushion and looked to be in control of the match.

However, Megan Dowdall then provided Westmeath with a huge lifeline. No amount of tacking and pressure from Meath’s defence was able to stop Dowdall from bearing down on goal and burying it to the back of Randle’s net.

With 15 minutes to go the sides were level. Dowdall who had that stage had gotten all of Westmeath’s scores in the second half edged the Lakesiders ahead for the first time. Meath responded positively, Gaffney, who was having a cracking second half, drew the sides level with only five minutes remaining.

With not much time on the clock, both teams went in search of a potential winner. Even though it was quite late on in the clash, the pace of the game really reached its pinnacle at this point. The two opposing midfielders Meadbh McLoughlin and Gaffney traded fantastic scores in a very exciting conclusion to the contest.

Next up for Meath is a clash with Derry in two weeks where Meath will be hoping to get revenge for last year's All-Ireland final defeat.

TEAMS

Meath – Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Maeve Clinch; Rachel O’Neill; Leah Devine, Ellen Burke, Grace Connolly; Katie Connolly, Amy Gaffney; Grace Coleman, Aoife Carey, Erin Leddy; Emma Hannafin, Ciara Foley, Jorja Keogh. Subs – Aoibhin Lally for Keogh HT, Olivia O’Halloran for Leddy HT, Emma O’Connell for Grace Coleman 45 mins.

Westmeath – Fiona Keating; Emily McCabe, Julie McLoughlin, Aisling Egerton; Maria Kelly, Muireann Scally, Aine Newman; Aoife O’Malley, Meadbh McLoughlin, Holly Dowdall, Megan Dowdall, Caoimhe McCrossan; Hannah Core, Amelia Shaw, Meadbh Scally. Subs – Niamh Horan for McCrossan 50 mins.

SCORERS

Meath - Amy Gaffney 0-5, Aoife Carey 0-3, Emma Hannafin 0-2, Ciara Foley 0-1, Grace Coleman 0-1, Katie Connolly 0-1.

Westmeath – Megan Dowdall 1-2 two frees, Holly Dowdall 1-1, Amelia Shaw 0-3 two frees, Meadbh McLoughlin 0-1

Referee – Enda Loughnane (Galway)