Meath open with solid performance in league

Meath got their bid for National Camogie League Div 3 honours off to a positive start with a merited victory against Dublin at Trim on Sunday. This was Dublin's second team, but the Metropolitans were able to include a number of first team players after their scheduled Div 1 game against Tipperary was postponed due to an unplayable pitch at Naomh Mearnog. This was an encouraging performance by Meath and there is plenty of scope for improvement. The team produced a solid display and while Jane Dolan, with four points, was the most impressive player, there were many others who featured prominently. Emily Mangan was solid between the posts with Aoife Thompson at full-back, Niamh Guy (pictured) at corner-back and Kristina Troy at centre-back also impressive. Louise Donoghue had a major influence on the outcome as she broke up many promising looking Dublin attacks and countered with great effect. Edel Guy and Claire Coffey were excellent at midfield and Guy claimed a crucial point eight minutes into the second-half at a time when Dublin were enjoying their best spell, but found the going tough against an uncompromising Meath rearguard. Dolan had Meath on the scoreboard with a fine point from play after only two minutes and she added another soon after. In between those points, some poor Meath defending paved the way for Dublin's Fiona Hayes, a member of the first team panel, to get the visitors off the mark. Dublin adopted a tight marking policy on Dolan as she consistently posed problems and was involved in the move which produced a goal in the 16th minute. Donoghue provided support for Dolan and was available to take a pass before she found Sinead Hackett. The Dunboyne player embarked on a solo raid from the left wing and dropped the sliotar into the square where Emma McNally finished to the net. Meath remained in the ascendancy with Dolan pointing before Hayes converted a free which kept the Dubs in touch. Undaunted, Meath sustained the pressure and Dolan provided the ammunition for an opportunist McNally point a minute ahead of the break. Then Dolan embarked on a sizzling run and unleashed a ferocious drive which Dublin's first choice goalie, Helen Cosgrave, parried and cleared at the expense of a shattered hurley as she was put under pressure by Hackett. Leading by 1-4 to 0-2 at the interval, Meath defended tenaciously after the resumption. The hosts weathered a storm of Dublin pressure and extended their lead to six points, 1-6 to 0-3 by the end of the third-quarter. Elaine Gallery split the posts for Dublin, but Guy and substitute Katie Mullen scored inspirational points for Meath. Twins Adrienne and Lauren McCann were introduced in attack for Fiona O'Neill and Hackett and Adrienne fluffed a decent goal opportunity before Dublin substitute Hannah McInerney reduced the deficit to five points with six minutes remaining. Meath also had a 'goal' disallowed in the closing stages and managed five wides from good positions as Hayes and Dolan, who operated from a very deep position in the second-half, exchanged points. Meath – E Mangan; N Guy, A Thompson, L Maguire; A Keogh, K Troy, L Donoghue; C Coffey, E Guy (0-1); F O'Neill, L Oakes, A Maguire; S Hackett, J Dolan (0-4 one free), E McNally (1-1). Subs - K Mullen (0-1) for A Maguire 25 mins; L McCann for Hackett and A McCann for O'Neill both 39m. Dublin – H Cosgrave; I Dempsey, G Ryan, C McGough; R Markham, S Duff, S Kennedy; E McCarthy, E Hickey; A Cushen, F Hayes (0-3 one free), A Twomey, L Devoy, E Gallery (0-1), P McGrath. Sub - H McInerney (0-1) for McGrath half-time. Referee - John Thompson (Carlow).