Emma Duggan produced late heroics for the second weekend operating as defending champions Meath superior to a different TG4 All-Eire Senior Championship Closing with an exhilarating victory over Donegal at Croke Park.
ollowing her last-gasp level to earn the Royals victory on the expense of Galway final Saturday, the Dunboyne ace kicked three factors contained in the closing ten minutes to propel her aspect in direction of a decider with Kerry on 31 July.
A resolute Donegal – who dethroned Leinster champions Dublin within the last-eight – pushed the holders each inch of the way in which however their quest for a primary senior ultimate will proceed into 2023.
TG4 All-Star Geraldine McLaughlin discovered the goal both aspect of a Stacey Grimes free to offer Donegal a slender benefit in a tentative opening.
Though Grimes went on to stage issues together with her second level, Donegal signalled their intent in the course of the second-quarter of a tense affair. A fierce effort by Niamh McLaughlin rattled the woodwork on its approach over the bar and the identical participant additionally scored a aim from a penalty after veteran attacker Yvonne Bonner was hauled down within the nineteenth minute.
Whereas Orlagh Lally cut up the uprights for Meath in direction of the tip of the half, Donegal had been three factors to the great, 1-3 to 0-3, heading in on the half-time break.
But, this lead was whittled right down to the naked minimal inside 60 seconds of the restart as Vikki Wall and Niamh O’Sullivan posted quickfire scores. Regardless of shedding Máire O’Shaughnessy to the sin-bin, Meath moved three factors clear with unanswered efforts from Emma Duggan and Grimes (three).
Donegal lastly opened their second-half account with a Yvonne Bonner level within the forty third minute, nevertheless, and midfielder Katie Herron additionally chipped in with a advantageous rating on the run to set-up a nerve-wracking conclusion.
The perimeters had been again stage because of Bonner’s second level of the half and with Wall being yellow-carded on the stroke of fifty minutes, all of the momentum gave the impression to be with Donegal. As soon as once more, although, Meath disregarded their numerical deficiency to push ahead for an additional hard-earned victory.
After kicking an excellent level from play, Duggan additionally knocked over a tough free to edge them a step nearer to a different top-tier ultimate. A Karen Guthrie free stored Donegal in contact, however Duggan’s fourth of the day, off a late breakaway transfer, ensured Meath are nonetheless within the hunt for back-to-back Brendan Martin Cups.
SCORERS
Meath: S Grimes 0-5 (4f), E Duggan 0-4 (1f), O Lally, V Wall, N O’Sullivan 0-1 every.
Donegal: N McLaughlin 1-1 (1-0 pen), Y Bonner, G McLaughlin 0-2 every, Okay Guthrie (f), Okay Herron 0-1 every.
TEAMS
Meath: M McGuirk; S Ennis, MK Lynch, Okay Newe; A Leahy, E Troy, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, O Lally; M Thynne, E Duggan, Okay Nesbitt; V Wall, S Grimes, N O’Sullivan.
Subs: B Lynch for Nesbitt (47), O Byrne for O’Shaughnessy (53), E White for O’Sullivan (58), O Duff for Lynch (60).
Donegal: R McCafferty; E Gallagher, E McGinley, T Kennedy; S Twohig, Nicole McLaughlin, A Boyle Carr; Okay Herron, Niamh McLaughlin; Y Bonner, N Hegarty, R Rodgers; D Foley, T Hegarty, G McLaughlin.
Subs: Okay Guthrie for T Hegarty (30), S White for Rodgers (56).
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
