Meath keep All-Ireland hopes alive

It took a lot of hard graft in warm conditions but in the end Meath chalked up the victory they needed over Longford in the Ladies All-Ireland IFC Group Two game at Pairc Tailteann today. 

This was a real championship encounter in the sense that it was do or die for both sides with a victory essential to sustain their ambitions. 

Meath got just that despite not finding the net. They led 0-10 to 1-4 at the interval and they stayed in front throughout the second-half with Longford reducing the deficit to two points. 

Emma Duggan led the way for the winners with seven point, four frees, while Vikki Wall was in fine form hitting six points with Aoibhin Cleary and Kelsey Nesbitt registering three apiece. 

Goals from Michelle Farrell and Aisling Greene (penalty) helped to sustain Longford's hopes and the applied considerable pressure on the Meath defence that generally held firm with Megan Thynne, Shauna Ennis and Cleary helping to turn defence into attack time and again. 

See match report, quotes and photographs from game in next issue of Meath Chronicle