Overdue success for Meath

Meath completed a marvellous turnaround in the county"s camogie fortunes when they lifted the Nancy Murray Cup at Drumlane, Co Cavan on Sunday afternoon at the expense of Roscommon. Twelve months ago at Leixlip, the tears that flowed after the decider against Laois were of the distraught variety as the Royal County girls completed an unwanted hat-trick of final reversals. Meath contrived to lose the league, Leinster and All-Ireland finals, but even allowing for those blips, 2007 marked a complete rejuvenation in the fortunes of the Camogie Board. Fast-forward 12 months and Roscommon have now taken over that mantle. They have lost to Meath four times, once last year and three times in 2008. That will surely test the mettle of the Connacht girls as much as it tested Meath"s character last year. There was nothing easy about this victory either. The sides were level three times, twice in an absorbing second-half, and Roscommon took a 1-3 to 0-5 interval lead to the dressing room. There, they engaged in a bit of mind-games, or as one linesman suggested, ' a lot of bullshit' because Armagh referee Pat Walsh had to send the fourth official, Maggie Farrelly, to get them out for the second-half. Walsh had tried the customary 'whistleblowing" which really is a futile exercise anyway as the only people who can hear the whistle in such circumstances are the players on the pitch and the spectators. Almost 20 minutes elapsed before Roscommon appeared and all they achieved was to fire-up their opponents who remained on the pitch during the break. When queried by the Meath Chronicle about the delay, a Roscommon mentor maintained that they were 'just sorting out a few things.' There was no place for the faint-hearted on the excellent Drumlane pitch which, a week earlier, had hosted the All-Ireland semi-final re-fixture between Roscommon and Armagh. The girls from the west had the benefit of playing on the pitch and roared on by their supporters in the sizeable crowd, they recovered from the concession of a seventh minute Jane Dolan pointed free when Claire Curley opened their account soon after from play. That scored was instigated by a probing run from Annette McGeeney and the Athleague player provided a constant threat to the Meath defence. She regularly ran at the Meath rearguard and was involved in the move which gave Fiona Connell her goal chance in the 22nd minute. However, the blame for that goal rested squarely between Emily Mangan and Laura Donegan who both failed to deal with a high centre. That gave Roscommon a 1-2 to 0-4 advantage with Meath"s points coming from Sinead Hackett (two) and Dolan. Meath got back on terms through Elizabeth Lynch close to the interval, but Roscommon headed in for their 'siesta" full of confidence following an excellent pointed free by Kellie Hopkins, her second of the half. The sides traded early points after the resumption, but play was also delayed due to a number of injuries. Meath captain Aileen Donnelly drew the sides level from a 60-metre free before Frances Lynch pointed Meath in the direction of the winners" enclosure after Elizabeth Oakes made the opening. That was the signal for an increase in tempo, from both teams, and the result was an absorbing final quarter where each side threatened. McGeeney had Roscommon on terms again (0-8 to 1-5) from an excellent point with 11 minutes remaining. With Mangan making a number of good saves and with the rearguard holding firm, Meath wrestled the initiative again and Dolan seized a loose ball. She split the posts with an inspirational score. Roscommon countered again, but were unable to make the breakthrough and with three minutes remaining, Elizabeth Lynch pointed. Gutsy Roscommon came roaring back and Claire Curley reduced the deficit to the minimum. Three minutes of injury-time were extended to six due to more injuries, but Meath survived. The class of 2008 exorcised the demons of 2007. SCORERS Meath - J Dolan 0-4, two frees; S Hackett 0-2; E Lynch 0-2, A Donnelly 0-1, free; F Lynch 0-1. Roscommon - F Connell 1-0; K Hopkins 0-3, frees; C Curley 0-2; A McGeeney 0-1. THE TEAMS Meath - Emily Mangan (Blackhall Gaels); Mags Stephens (Dunderry), Laura Donegan (Navan O"Mahonys), Karen Ward (Kilmessan); Edel Guy (Trim), Aileen Donnelly (Kilmessan), Louise Donoghue (Kiltale); Ann Marie Fagan (Trim), Laura Flynn (Navan O"Mahonys); Elizabeth Oakes (Navan O"Mahonys), Frances Lynch (Kilmessan), Sinead Hackett (Dunboyne); Elizabeth Lynch (Donaghmore / Ashbourne), Jane Dolan (Blackhall Gaels), Stephanie Horan (Kilmessan). Sub - Aine Keogh (Dunboyne) for Hackett, 50 mins. Roscommon - C Connaughton; E Farrell, N Connolly, S Coyle; C Killeen, D Kelly, C Morris; K Hopkins, C Regan; C Moran, A McGeeney, P Lennon; E Daly, F Connell, C Curley. Subs - R Fallon for Connell, half-time; C Rogers for Daly, 47 mins. REFEREE Pat Walsh (Armagh)