Meath edged out in thriller
Meath's bid for a first Ladies All-Ireland IFC title ended in disappointment at Croke Park this afternoon as Tipperary proved marginally too strong to secure a 2-16 to 1-14 victory.
Meath got off to the perfect start with Aoibhin Cleary racing through to open the scoring after just 17 seconds, but then Tipperary took over and signalled their goal threat as Monica McGuirk did brilliantly to deflect Orla O'Dwyer's effort over the bar.
Aishling Moloney opened her account 90 seconds later and in the fifth minute Caoimhe Condon made it 0-3 to 0-1 to the Premier County.
Aisling McCarthy was on the end of a good move to stretch Tipperary's lead to three and after some mis-fires from Vikki Wall, Orla Byrne and Emma Duggan it was Vikki wall who added to Meath's tally in the eight minute.
Meath continued to concede the kickout and from one surging move from defence Caitlin Kennedy was allowed the freedom of Croke Park to gallop forward and set up Moloney for her second score.
After Bridgetta Lynch was swallowed up when in front of goals she recycled the ball to Duggan for Meath's third point, but again Tipperary responded impressively with Angela McGuigan dummying Orlaith Duff before pointing to make it 0-6 to 0-3 late in the first quarter.
Fiona O'Neill replied for Meath and when Duggan converted a free after Maire O'Shaughnessy was fouled there was just a point between the sides 0-5 to 0-6.
Kennedy continued to run riot from half-back and she got on the scoresheet to restore Tipperary's two-point cushion and that gap remained as Duggan (free) and Vikki Wall traded scores with Moloney (two).
Then the tie turned in Meath's favour when Lynch's high ball found O'Neill and as Maria Curley lost her footing the Dunboyne player blasted to the net to give Meath the lead for the second time, 1-7 to 0-9.
Kelsey Nesbitt stretched that lead two minutes later, but 10 seconds into first-half injury-time McGuigan blasted a brilliant goal to restore Tipperary's lead and after Duggan (free) and McCarthy scores Meath trailed 1-9 to 1-10 at the break.
Tipperary squandered three decent chances immediately after the break, while Meath also went close to grabbing a second goal when Nesbitt's deflected shot was touched onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick.
Lynch did draw Meath level 10 minutes after the restart, but in the following two minutes Tipperary put the game to bed with Moloney pointing before McCarthy fired a brilliant goal to make it 2-11 to 1-10.
O'Dwyer blasted another goal chance over the bar before Wall replied for Meath, but the irrepressible Moloney restored Tipperary's five-point cushion.
Duggan made it 1-12 to 2-13 before being called ashore, but Tipperary extended their advantage with Moloney and Ava Fennessy on target.
Stacey Grimes marked her appearance with a free, but Tipperary were in control and held on to win with Moloney (free) and Wall trading late scores in an exciting game.
SCORERS
Tipperary – Aishling Moloney 0-8 one free; Caoimhe Condon 0-1; Angela McGuigan 1-1; Aisling McCarthy 1-2; Orla O'Dwyer 0-2; Caitlin Kennedy 0-1; Ava Fennessy 0-1.
Meath – Emma Duggan 0-5 three frees; Vikki Wall 0-4; Fiona O'Neill 1-1; Aoibhin Cleary 0-1; Kelsey Nesbitt 0-1; Bridgetta Lynch 0-1; Stacey Grimes 0-1 free.
TEAMS
Tipperary – Lauren Fitzpatrick; Lucy Spillane, Maria Curley, Emma Cronin; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Caitlin Kennedy; Aisling McCarthy, Anna Rose Kennedy; Niamh Lonergan, Aishling Moloney, Orla O'Dwyer; Ava Fennessy, Angela McGuigan, Caoimhe Condon. Subs – Laura Dillon for Cronin half-time, Roisin Daly for C Condon 43 mins, Orla Winston for McGuigan 53m
Meath – Monica McGuirk; Katie Newe, Orlaith Duff, Sarah Powderly; Orla Byrne, Shauna Ennis, Sarah Wall; Maire O'Shaughnessy, Aoibhin Cleary; Emma Duggan, Vikki Wall, Megan Thynne; Bridgetta Lynch, Kelsey Nesbitt, Fiona O'Neill. Subs – Orlagh Lally for Powderly 47 mins, Stacey Grimes for Duggan, Megan O'Brien for Byrne both 49m, Niamh Gallogly for Ennis 59m, Emma White for S Wall 61m.
.Referee – Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).