Heartbreak for meath at nowlan park
Meath were edged out in a dramatic All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie semi-final by Waterford at Nowlan Park this afternoon when they lost by a point (3-9 to 3-10) in a thriller.
Jane Dolan had Meath on the scoreboard inside 50 seconds with a well-taken point from play while Aoife Minogue converted a free soon after as the Royal County made a positive start.
Waterford replied from a Trish Jackman pointed free, but when Dolan got on the end of Kristina Troy's long free into the square and finished to the net in the ninth minute it gave Meath a 1-2 to 0-1 advantage.
Waterford reduced the deficit to the minimum with two more Jackman points (one free) and a good effort from Jennie Simpson by the end of the first-quarter.
Meath were under some sustained Waterford pressure, but Claire Coffey was solid at full-back while Aoife Maguire and Katie Hackett were effective at midfield.
Troy also broke up some promising-looking moves and when Dolan added a second Meath goal in the 23rd minute it eased the pressure. A minute later Edel Guy long-range point attempt fell short, but caused problems for the Waterford full-back and goalie with Megan Thynne quick to capitalise and poke the ball to the net. Dolan added two more points (one free) before the break with Jackman on target for the Munster girls with a point.
Meath goalkeeper Emily Mangan also made some impressivve interceptions and clearances to keep her side in the ascnednacy as they took a 3-4 to 0-5 interval lead.
Waterford roared into contention after the break and a three-goal blitz gave them the lead by the 49th minute as Meath were left reeling. Substitute Shona Curran, Aisling Power and Beth Carton found the net for Waterford while Curran, Lorraine Bray, Niamh Rockett and Jackman sent over.
Meath could only muster points from Minogue (free and a '45') and Sinead Hackett as they were blitzed and trailed by 3-7 to 3-9 with 10 minutes remaining.
That gap widened when Carton sent over for Waterford, but Meath's spirit surfaced with a
late flourish that cut the gap to the minimum as Dolan sent over a brace of points, but it just wasn't enough.
Meath – Emily Mangan (Blackhall Gaels); Emma Coffey (Na Fianna), Claire Coffey (Na Fianna), Grace Coleman (Killyon); Aine Keogh (Kildalkey), Kristina Troy (Blackhall Gaels), Louise O'Donoghue (Kiltale); Aoife Maguire (Killyon), Katie Hackett (Boardsmill); Aoife Minogue (Dunderry (0-3), Edel Guy (Boardsmill), Megan Thynne (Kilmessan 1-0); Cheyenne O'Brien (Kiltale), Jane Dolan (Blackhall Gaels 2-5) Sinead Hackett (Dunboyne 0-1). Subs – Amy Gaffney (Ratoath) for Guy 29 mins, Maire Keogh (Kildalkey) for E Coffey 45m, Fia O'Brien (Kiltale) for Minogue 52m, Aoife Thompson (Dunboyne) for Thynne 59m.