Meath Div 2 camogie champions
Meath captured the National Camogie League Div 2 title today at Birr with a 1-10 to 2-3 victory against Galway.
Meath conceded an early pointed free to Galway's Rachel Monaghan, but Aoife Minogue drew the sides level with a good effort from play in the fifth minute.
Galway were boosted by a super goal from Monaghan following some poor defensive play by the Meath rearguard, but the Royal County dug deep and got back into contention with points from Jane Dolan and Aoife Maguire as each side battled for supremacy.
Dolan had Meath on terms in the 28th minute when she converted and as the Royals continued to pile on the pressure the Blackhall Gaels player, who moved out from her full-froward starting position, gave her side the lead from a '45' before a fortunate goal set them up nicely ahead of the break.
Maguire's centre from the wing dropped under the bar for the Meath goal, but Galway went straight up the pitch from the puck-out with a goal from substitute Marie Farrell.
That gave Meath a 1-5 to 2-1 interval advantage and they increased the margin during the third-quarter with a brace of Dolan pointed frees and one from play by Megan Thynne.
Galway managed a point from Emer O'Donovan during the same period to trail by three points (2-2 to 1-8) going into the final quarter.
Galway gave it everything, but Meath stood strong and were resolute as they finished out the game with points from Thynne and Sinead Hackett while Galway scored through Cliodhna Walsh.
Meath – Emily Magan (Blackhall Gaels); Aoife Thompson (Dunboyne), Claire Coffey (Na Fianna), Grace Coleman (Killyon); Aine Keogh (Kildalkey), Cheyenne O'Brien (Kiltale), Louise Donoghue (Kiltale); Kristina Troy (Blackhall Gaels), Sinead Hackett (Dunboyne 0-1); Katie Hackett (Boardsmill), Aoife Maguire (Killyon 1-1), Aoife Minogue (Dunderry 0-1); Fia O'Brien (Kiltale), Jane Dolan (Blackhall Gaels 0-5 three frees, one '45'), Megan Thynne (Kilmessan 0-2).
Subs – Amy Gaffney (Ratoath) for Minogue 35 mins, Fiona O'Neill (Dunboyne) for Thompson 58m.