Ladies Allstar Challenge a huge success

A last gasp point from Simonstown's Niamh Lister ensured that tonight's Meath Ladies Allstar Challenge finished all square following a hugely entertaining encounter at Donaghmore/Ashbourne.
An initiative from the Meath Ladies Co Board to award Allstars to the best players during last year's club championships saw a Green Stars team managed by Meath legends Sean Boylan, Graham Geraghty and Grainne Nulty take on the Royal Stars who were coached by Rory O'Connor of Rory's Stories and the Meath Chronicle's Fergal Lynch.
The Royal Stars team comprised of players who stood out for their clubs in the Ladies SFC and IFC campaigns, while the Green Stars team were the best players to feature in the JFC, Junior B, Junior C and Junior D.
While the theme of the night was fun and celebration there was also some excellent football from both sides with Niamh Gallogly's first-half goal looking like giving the Royal Stars victory.
However, inspired by the motivational half-time team talk from Boylan, Geraghty and Nulty the Green Stars ralled to hit the front and it needed Lister's late intervention to ensure the game finished 1-11 to 0-14.
The Allstars challenge was preceded by a challenge match between the North American Ladies SFC champions Charlotte from North Carolina, who included former Meath and Donaghmore/Ashbourne player Caitriona O'Shaughnessy in their ranks, against a Donaghmore/Ashbourne selection.
That contest went the way of the American girls on a 2-12 to 0-12 scoreline.

Read next week's Meath Chronicle for full reports and photos from the evenings entertainment.