Meath girls edged out at semi-final stage again

Meath made a gallant effort to reach the All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow on Saturday when they tackled Waterford in the semi-final. Beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final last year by Offaly at Nowlan Park, Meath made a brave bid to climb another rung on the ladder, but on this occasion they faltered again. Twelve months ago, Waterford negotiated Laois at the penultimate hurdle before they fell at the final hurdle against Offaly. Buoyed by the opportunity to make amends, the Munster girls produced a strong challenge and were worthy winners. "We gave it our best shot, but Waterford were stronger than us and we can't have too many complaints," Meath manager John Davis told the Meath Chronicle. "Waterford had a very good half-forward line and we just couldn't deal with that, it's very disappointing for everyone. "We will just have to knuckle down and get ready for another campaign next year," added the manager. Wind-assisted Waterford made a positive start with points from Aine Lyng (three) and Patricia Jackman in the opening 10 minutes for a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. Jane Dolan got Meath off the mark with a well-taken point in the second minute, but she also squandered a goal chance soon after when she hit the side netting. Meath battened down the hatches under immense pressure and reduced the deficit in the 16th minute when Sinead Hackett split the posts. Dolan carved out another goal chance a minute later when she pounced on a half chance on the edge of the square, but Waterford custodian Aisling O'Brien averted the danger. Then, amazingly, Dolan missed a close-in free which would have left the minimum in it. Not even an appeal to the referee and umpires had any impact and Waterford countered immediately when Jackman finished to the net at the other end. Jackman and Dolan then traded points before Emily Mangan made a brave save from Lyng's fiercely struck 20-metre free. The Waterford half-forward line was a constant threat, but Meath found enough for a goal through Lizzie Lynch which gave the Royal girls a tremendous lift and cut the deficit to two points. That spurred Waterford and they finished the half with a flourish as Jackman and Lyng pointed for a 1-7 to 1-3 interval lead. Meath resumed smartly with points from Dolan and Hackett which closed the gap to two points, but that was close as it got. For all the pressure that Meath exerted, Waterford survived, almost unscathed, as Lyng claimed a brace of points before the end of the third-quarter which restored the four-point advantage (1-9 to 1-5). The result was put out of Meath's reach when Waterford full-forward Karen Kelly raced through and hand-passed the sliotar to the net a minute later. Despite that setback, Meath still showed some character and replied with a brace of points apiece from Edel Guy and Dolan which kept them in contention until the closing stages when Waterford eased clear for a place in the All-Ireland final and a chance to make amends for last year. Meath - Emily Mangan (Blackhall Gaels); Niamh Guy (Trim), Aoife Thompson (Dunboyne), Maura Keogh (Dunboyne); Aine Keogh (Dunboyne), Aileen Donnelly (Kilmessan), Louise Donoghue (Kiltale); Kristina Troy (Blackhall Gaels), Holly Geraghty (Blackhall Gaels); Fiona O'Neill (Dunboyne), Elizabeth Oakes (Navan O'Mahonys), Edel Guy (Trim 0-2); Elizabeth Lynch (Donaghmore / Ashbourne 1-0), Jane Dolan (Blackhall Gaels 0-5 one free), Sinead Hackett (Dunboyne 0-2). Subs - Aoife Maguire (Killyon) for Oakes 47 mins, J Rispin for Hackett 52m. Waterford - A O'Brien; E Hannon, S O'Grady, KM Hearne; J McCarthy, S Curran, J Simpson; M Murphy, C Raher; P Jackman (1-3), A Lyng (0-9 four frees), G Kenneally; N Morrissey, K Kelly (1-2), N Rockett. Subs - A Breathnach for McCarthy 40 mins, D Fahy for Morrissey 42m. Referee - John Dolan.