Emma Duggan's goal the difference as Meath beat Dublin

TG4 Leinster SFC Round Two

Meath 1-8Dublin 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 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, Sinéad 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