Meath ladies open with a win against Tyrone

Meath opened their Ladies NFL Div 2 campaign today at Dunganny with a merited 2-14 to 2-6 victory against Tyrone.

Promoted as 2019 Div 3 champions the Royal County ladies started this game on the front foot and were ahead by 2-6 ro 0-3 at the interval as they laid the foundations for victory in the opening half. 

Emma Duggan was the stand-out player on the scoreboard as she finished with 10 points to her credit, five in each half with three from play.

That ability to hit the target was crucial for the Meath women as at the other end Tyrone were wasteful and squandered some good chances.

WATCH THE CLOSING MINUTES 

The goals were also vital for Meath with Oldcastle's Bridgetta Lynch firing to the net in the ninth minute and Simonstown's Kelsey Nesbitt also finishing a well-worked goal close to the interval.

Orla Byrne accounted for Meath's other point in the first-half while Tyrone laboured for scores with Niamh O'Neill (two) and Grainne Rafferty splitting the posts.

Meath's Allstar goalkeeper Monica McGuirk was also in good form with a number of fine saves in each half.

Meath resumed smartly after the break and added points from Duggan (three) and Vikki Wall (two) for a 2-11 to 0-3 advantage.

That really put it up to Tyrone and they found a response  with a couple of third-quarter goals from O'Neill who finished with 2-4 to her credit, she also sent over a brace of points that suggested a Tyrone revival was on the cards.

The Ulster women closed the deficit to five points (2-6 to 2-11) in a more evenly-contested second-half with Dearbhla Gallagher accounting for their last point in the 55th minute after a period of sustained pressure.

Meath absorbed the pressure and countered positively to finish with a brace of Duggan pointed frees and a good efort from play by substitute Emma White. 

FIRST ROUND RESULTS - NFL DIV 2 
Meath 2-14, Tyrone 2-6.
Kerry 4-8, Cavan 3-10
Armagh 5-8, Clare 1-8
Monaghan 6-23, Wexford 2-6

SECOND ROUND - NEXT WEEKEND
Monaghan v Clare
Cavan v Meath
Armagh v Tyrone
Wexford v Kerry