Second half Duggan goal proved to be the vital score for Meath to claim slender Leinster win
Meath 1-08
Dublin 0-10
By Aisling Clery
Emma Duggan’s second half goal proved to be the difference as reigning All Ireland Champions, Meath, defeated rivals Dublin at Parnell Park.
The sides were level at four points apiece at the break and a strong attack in the third quarter pushed Meath over the line to victory.
This was Meath’s first game in the Leinster Senior Championship since 2016, and they dominated the early exchanges.
Stacey Grimes got Meath on the scoreboard first from a free on three minutes. Vikki Wall added the first point from play and from some distance two minutes later after a well-timed pass from Niamh O’Sullivan.
While Dublin tried to get a foothold in the game, Meath pushed into a three point lead with Grimes hitting a second free on eleven minutes.
On the resumption, Nicole Owens curled a terrific effort around the posts to get Dublin off the mark.
A game that was end to end, Sinead Wylde reduced the gap to two points when Lyndsey Davey found her in space.
However, this was cancelled out when Niamh O’Sullivan supplied Aoibhin Cleary and the TG4 All Star finished over the bar.
Kate Sullivan completed a terrific run when she split the posts to leave Dublin one adrift and the game was level on twenty-eight minutes when Jennifer Dunne found her range. At half time, there was nothing to separate the sides at four points each.
On the resumption, Grimes converted her third free before Niamh O’Sullivan pushed Meath into a two point lead a minute later.
Meath opened up a five point gap when Wall and Grimes exchanged and found Emma Duggan who rifled past Abby Shiels in the Dublin goal.
Dublin were unlucky at the other end as Caoimhe O’Connor saw her effort rebound off the upright.
Vikki Wall grabbed her second point and pushed Meath into a six point lead when she ran from the centre of the field and converted while Grimes added her fourth free to make it a seven point game shortly after.
Two quick fire Kate Sullivan points reignited the Dublin attack and Hannah Tyrrell pointed to bring the gap back to four with around ten minutes left on the clock.
Dublin almost found the goal they needed when Sinead Goldrick spotted Lyndsey Davey behind the Meath defence, but she couldn’t connect with the pass.
Martha Byrne and Goldrick both pointed to reduce the gap to two with time running out.
Dublin lost Lauren Magee to the sin bin in the final moments and when Aoife Kane converted, Dublin were just a single score adrift.
However, Meath kept a stranglehold on possession and did enough to hang on to a one point victory. Meath will face Westmeath in Páirc Tailteann next Saturday at 3pm in Round Three.
Dublin Scorers
12. Kate Sullivan 0-03 (1f)
10. Nicole Owens 0-01
11. Sinead Wylde 0-01
8. Jennifer Dunne 0-01
18. Hannah Tyrrell 0-01
6. Martha Byrne 0-01
5. Sinead Goldrick 0-01
19. Aoife Kane 0-01
Meath Scorers
14. Stacey Grimes 0-04 (4f)
12. Emma Duggan 1-00
13. Vikki Wall 0-02
7. Aoibhin Cleary 0-01
15. Niamh O’Sullivan 0-01
Dublin
1. Abby Shiels
2. Jess Tobin
3. Leah Caffrey
4. Ellen Gribben
5. Sinead Goldrick
6. Martha Byrne
7. Orlagh Nolan
8. Jennifer Dunne
9. Kate McDaid
10. Nicole Owens
11. Sinead Wylde
12. Kate Sullivan
13. Caoimhe O’Connor
14. Niamh Hetherton
15. Lyndsey Davey
Dublin Substitutions
20. Lauren Magee for 11. Sinead Wylde (HT)
19. Aoife Kane for 7. Orlagh Nolan (HT)
18. Hannah Tyrrell for 14. Niamh Hetherton (HT)
21. Siobhan Killeen for 13. Caoimhe O’Connor (49)
22. Natalia Hyland for 10. Nicole Owens (55)
Meath
1. Monica McGuirk
2. Shauna Ennis
3. Mary Kate Lynch
4. Orlaith Duff
5. Aoibheann Leahy
6. Emma Troy
7. Aoibhin Cleary
17. Orla Byrne
9. Orlagh Lally
10. Megan Thynne
19. Emma White
12. Emma Duggan
13. Vikki Wall
14. Stacey Grimes
15. Niamh O’Sullivan
Meath Substitutions
18. Niamh Gallogly for 5. Aoibheann Leahy (HT)
21. Bridgetta Lynch for 19. Emma White (34)
23. Ailbhe Leahy for 17. Orla Byrne (42)
28. Meadhbh Byrne for 15. Niamh O’Sullivan (48)
20. Ciara Smyth for 9. Orlagh Lally (55)