Meath 2-12 Armagh 4-5
By Shaun Casey
A late rally from the Royal County saw them grab a one-point win over Armagh at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in the last round of the LIDL National League.
In a dead rubber contest, the three-points on offer made no impact on the final placing in the table.
Defending champions Armagh qualified for the league final, where they will face Kerry on April 12, last weekend despite suffering their first defeat of the season to Waterford. For long periods of Saturday’s encounter they held the lead, but Meath nipped ahead late on.
Both sides emptied their benches in the second half, with the home side making 13 changes while Meath introduced seven new players.
Shane McCormack’s side finished the stronger of the two teams, with the incredible Emma Duggan proving the hero.
With both defences on top during the early exchanges, Duggan was the difference and her three points had Meath 3-1 ahead by the end of the first quarter, with Armagh’s sole response coming through Blaithin Mackin.
Armagh struck a purple patch, hitting 2-2 on the bounce with Kelly Mallon slotting over frees either side of the goals.
Niamh Coleman ghosted behind the Meath defence to nail the first while Mallon flicked home an Eve Lavery shot that dropped short.Ciara Smyth and Duggan (2) split the posts but Armagh bagged their third major.
Some incredible quick hands from the home attack saw the ball worked to Aoife McCoy, who fired her side into a 3-3 to 0-6 half time lead.
Duggan closed the gap at the start of the second period with a brace before Mallon grew her personal tally to 1-3.
Substitute Caoimhe McNally hit the net but 1-1 from Smyth, along with a point from Ella Moyles kept Meath in touch.Lauren McConville, who shadowed Vikki Wall, landed a brilliant long range free before Duggan nailed a goal to tie the score.
With the final play of the game, Duggan tapped over a free on the 70th minute to earn a final day win for Meath.
Scorers – Meath: E Duggan 1-9 (4f), C Smyth 1-2, E Moyles 0-1. Armagh: K Mallon 1-3 (3f), A McCoy 1-0, N Coleman 1-0, C McNally 1-0, B Mackin 0-1, L McConville 0-1f.
Meath: M McGuirk; A Sheridan, S Wall, K Kealy; K Newe, MK Lynch, A Gaffney; N Gallogly, O Sheehy; M Thynne, M Farrelly, C Smyth; M Byrne, V Wall, E Duggan. Subs: K Berminham for M Byrne (36), C Lawlor for A Gaffney (40), E Moyles for O Sheehy (44), N Troy for K Kealy (47), O Callan for M Thynne (50), N McEntee for M Farrelly (55), O Smith for A Sheridan (56).
Armagh: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, L Kenny; G Ferguson, L McConville, R Mulligan; N Coleman, B Mackin; E Druse, A McCoy, E Lavery; K Mallon, C O’Hanlon, N Henderson. Subs: M McCann for L Kenny (temporary sub, 35), M Lennon for E Lavery (40), C McNally for E Druse (47), C Traynor for B Mathers (50), L Kavanagh for B Mackin (52), M McCann (52), C Garvey for G Ferguson (54) E McConaghy for N Henderson (54), E McGeown for K Mallon (56), S Quigley for M Ferguson (56), L Marsden for A McCoy (60), B Hendron for C McNally (67), M Lavery for N Coleman (69).
Referee: David Hurson
