Cole and Collins brace secure Meath victory in league opener

Meath got their Div One Ladies NFL campaign off to a great start this afternoon against Tyrone.

Meath 4-4

Tyrone 0-2

LGFA Reporter

Two first-half goals from Meath forward Kerrie Cole laid the platform for victory against newly promoted Tyrone in the opening round of the Div One Ladies NFL at blustery Newtownstewart.

Played in testing conditions, both teams can take positives from their efforts on the day but Meath were largely comfortable and the result was never really in doubt.

Pre-match favourites Meath powered out of the traps and raced into a 1-2 to no-score lead with only seven minutes on the clock.

Their goal was extremely well-worked, Cole made no mistake after incisive build-up play from Megan Thynne.

Tyrone were struggling to stitch together attacks but they did get their account up and running via a Maria Canavan free. Aoife Horisk and Sasha Byrne used their physical presence to good effect at the back to help stem the tide.

However, Meath still looked the more potent outfit with their slickness through the hands exemplified by the efforts of half-back Niamh Gollogly, who was a constant threat on their raids forward.

The Royals compounded their advantage when Cole blasted to the net for her second goal of the game after a clever hand pass over the top from Marion Farrelly, helping her side into a deserved 2-4 to 0-2 lead into the second-half.

The opening 10 minutes of the second period saw neither side trouble the scoreboard. Meath had their chances to extend their lead but a combination of the blustery weather and tenacious Tyrone defending ensured that the deficit remained intact.

There were no scores in the middle portion of the half either but Meath made their move for home in the final 10 minutes. Megan Collins palmed to the net with 54 minutes gone after a speculative shot dropped short.

Collins added another a minute late, as she used her height and physical presence to great effect.

That left Meath with an insurmountable 4-4 to 0-2 advantage on the home straight as they made sure of a resounding opening-round victory.

Meath - Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Sarah Wall, Nicole Troy; Niamh Gallogly, Mary Kate Lynch, Clodagh Millington; Aoibhin Cleary (capt), Ella Moyles; Megan Thynne, Orla Sheehy, Ciara Smyth ( 0-1); Meadhbh Byrne, Marion Farrelly (0-3, two frees), Kerrie Cole (2-0). Subs - Megan Collins (2-0) for Cole, Katie Newe for Byrne, Niamh McEntee for Millington.

Tyrone: Amelia Coyle; Jayne Lyons, Joanne Barrett, Grainne McKenna, Claire Canavan, Meabh Corrigan, Meabh Mallon; Aoibhinn McHugh (capt), Aine Grimes; Aoife Horisk, Sasha Byrne, Elle McNamee; Chloe McCaffrey, Maria Canavan (0-2, one free), Sorcha Gormley. Subs - S McCarroll for S Gormley, A Quinn for A Horisk, C Campbell for C Canavan.

Referee: Brendan Rice.