Meath were disappointed at the full-time whistle as they had to settle for a draw with Limerick in NFL Div 2.

Sports Review of the Year - March: Contrasting fortunes for schools teams

MARCH REVIEW

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Meath were disappointed at the full-time whistle as they had to settle for a draw with Limerick in NFL Div 2. David Mullen

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Meath secured their place in the NHL Div 2B final with victory over Tyrone. David Mullen

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After such a brilliant campaign there was All-Ireland Colleges SFC C final disappointment for O’Carolan College Nobber and their goalkeeper Aron Monaghan. Gerry Shanahan

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Athletes at the start of the 2023 Bohermeen AC Half Marathon. David Mullen

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There was a huge crowd in Pairc Tailteann for the visit of Dublin for NFL Div 2. Gerry Shanahan

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With Pairc Tailteann unavailable Meath Ladies played their NFL Div 1 game against Waterford in magnificent Ballinlough. Gerry Shanahan

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Jack Brady in control for Robinstown during their Leinster Junior Shield win over McKelvey Celtic. Gerry Shanahan

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Leah Devine is in control for Meath during her side’s National Camogie League clash with Derry. Gerry Shanahan

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Aoife Minogue enjoys life as a key dual player. Gerry Shanahan

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Tempers flare in the second half of Meath’s NFL Div 2 clash with Kildare. David Mullen

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The Meath players head for their warm up ahead of the Leinster u-20 FC clash with Carlow. Gerry Shanahan

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Loreto PPS Navan celebrate after winning the Ladies All-Ireland Schools SFC title in Longford. David Mullen

Jimmy Geoghegan

Published: Sun 31 Dec 2023, 9:49 AM

Last updated: Sun 31 Dec 2023, 2:17 PM

You have to take your chances if you hope to win a game, or at least more of the chances that come your way than your opponents. Everyone knows that.

The failure to take more of their chances did, for instance, cost Meath when they played Limerick away in the NFL Div 2. More worrying for their supporters Meath again suffered a late fade out - just as they did in their previous outing against Louth. The Limerick game finished level 2-11 to 0-17, Mathew Costello and Donal Lenihan scoring goals for the Royals. It was hardly convincing.

Then things get even hotter for Colm O'Rourke's side. Dublin arrived in Navan for a league game for the first time since 1988! It wasn't a happy reunion, at least not for Meath as they lost by 11 points, 1-11 to 2-19 - just as they did in '88 although back then they were at least All-Ireland SFC champions. When will we got to use that description again?

There was more cheerful news for the county hurlers as they secured a place in the NHL Div 2B final with a 2-17 to 0-8 trouncing of Tyrone. "This was a very pleasing victory," said manager Seoirse Bulfin who seemed delighted with the way the team was evolving. On the schools front there was disappointment for O'Carolan College, Nobber. Their fortunes resembled that of a horse in the Aintree Grand National that leads for much of the way only to fall at the final fence. They lost out to St Patrick's, Castleisland in the All-Ireland Schools SFC C final at Netwatch Cullen Park. The Meath school deservedly led 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval but the team from Kerry were considerably better after the break. On their way to the final O'Carolan Collge had won their games by an average of 20 points.

In sharp contrast St Michael's, Loreto, Navan produced a stunning finish to claim the All-Ireland Schools SFC title with a remarkable victory over Sacred Heart, Westport at Pearse Park in Longford. Lauren Woods fired home what was described as "a stunning" hat-trick of goals for Loreto who trailed by two points and were down to 14 players (they had a player in the sinbin) with just five minutes to go. What heart, what fight they Loreto students showed.

The growing problems facing the Meath ladies women's senior football team was underlined in they way they hosted Waterford at Ballinlough in the NFL Div 1 but lost out 2-5 to 1-9. "We played some lovely football in the first-half, the second-half was very, very poor," commented Meath manager Davy Nelson.

Aoife Minogue outlined how she is a rare example of a dual inter-county player simply because she loves playing both games, despite a hugely demanding schedule. She played for Meath in the ladies NFL a day before helping the Royal County camogie team to a win over Derry. "I love playing both codes," she said by way of explaining why maintained a schedule others would find daunting.