Fortuitous goal helps Meath squeeze out Donegal in Letterkenny

Meath just had a little too much for Donegal in Letterkenny with the current Lidl NFL Division 1 and All-Ireland champions crossing the line, in the end, with five to spare. 

Donegal 0-5:1-7 Meath

In a contest where scores were hard earned, both sides went in at the break all square at 0-3 apiece.  

However, the definitive moment in this one arrived on 47 minutes when visiting full-back Mary Kate Lynch’s speculative effort from out the park dropped in and over the head of Aoife McColgan.

That helped open up a four-point deficit and it was a blow that a young and inexperienced Donegal simply couldn’t recover from. 

Back at the very beginning a brace of Suzanne White efforts, including one from play, as well as a Katie Long point appeared like it was going to send Maxi Curran’s charges in with their noses in front at the midpoint. 

But with Stacey Grimes posting a late free to go alongside earlier scores from Niamh O’Sullivan and Niamh Gallogly, matters were deadlocked at the changeover. In between, with Donegal 0-2 to 0-1 up, McColgan produced a stunning stop to deny Meadhbh Byrne a certain goal. 

Quickfire efforts from Grimes and O’Sullivan following the restart then helped push Meath in front for the first time in the contest as they went 0-5 to 0-3 clear. Ciara McGarvey got Donegal going once more on 37 minutes. 

However, just past the three-quarter mark, David Nelson’s girls stole a real march when Mary Kate Lynch’s speculative effort from out the park dropped in and over the head of Aoife McColgan. White responded for Donegal and just that green flag split the teams. 

Meath did lose Máire O’Shaughnessy to a sinbin going into the last ten minutes. But it was still they that closed out matters strongest with Meadhbh Byrne and substitute Ailbhe Leahy adding late points to seal a five-point victory.  

Donegal scorers: Suzanne White 0-3,2f; Katie Long 0-1; Ciara McGarvey 0-1. 

Meath scorers: Mary Kate Lynch 1-0; Stacey Gerimes 0-2,2f; Niamh O’Sullivan 0-2; Niamh Gallogly 0-1; Meadhbh Byrne 0-1; Ailbhe Leahy 0-1. 

Donegal: Aoife McColgan (Malin); Katie Dowds (MacCumhaills), Evelyn McGinley (Termon), Emer Gallagher (Termon; Amy Boyle Carr (Naomh Conaill), Jodie McFadden (Termon), Tara Hegarty (Moville); Shelly Twohig (St Mary’s, Convoy), Roisin Rodgers (Naomh Muire); Saskia Boyle (Dungloe), Katie Long (Glenfin), Laoise Ryan (St Eunan’s); Suzanne White (Killybegs), Shannon McGroddy (Downings), Ciara McGarvey (Termon). 

Subs: Nicole McLaughlin (Termon) for McFadden (42), Ava Walsh (Naomh Padraig) for McGroddy (46), Niamh Carr (Milford) for Dowds (57), Codie Walsh (St Mary’s, Convoy) for Long (59), Cáit Gillespie 9Aodh Ruadh) and Shauna Higgins (St Eunan’s) for McGinley and McGarvey (both 60+3).  

Meath: Monica McGuirk; Áine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Katie Newe; Niamh Galloghy, Shauna Ennis, Aoibhin Cleary; Máire O’Shaughnessy, Aoife Minogue; Megan Thynne, Meadhbh Byrne, Ciara Smyth; Oliva Callan, Stacey Grimes, Niamh O’Sullivan. 

Subs: Shelly Melia for Callan (42), Rachel Casserly for Smyth (50), Ailbhe Leahy for Thynne (59).

Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).