Meath come good in second period to reach league final

Orlagh Lally scored 1-02 as Meath advanced to the Lidl NFL Division 1 final at the expense of Mayo at St Tiernach's Park in Clones.

It’s a first Division 1 decider for the Royals since 2006 on a day where Kelsey Nesbitt scored their other goal.

In a highly contested semi-final, it was Michael Moyles’ Mayo side that led by 0-07 to 0-04 at the half-time break.

However, a strong wind that blew throughout the contest was best used by the reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions. Meath hit 2-08 in that second half to ensure the success story continues - a date with Donegal in the decider is next.

Lisa Cafferky got the game's opening score but a Stacey Grimes free cancelled that out two minutes later. Mayo were dominating possession and a long range point from Shauna Howley saw them take the lead.

Meath were unlucky not to get back in front as a quick Grimes free to Nesbitt forced a save from Aisling Tarpey. Mayo were reduced to 14 when Aoife Geraghty was sin binned for a challenge on Vikki Wall but a Howley free sent Mayo into the water break leading by 0-03 to 0-01.

Megan Thynne reduced Meath’s deficit to one after a team move involving Lally, Maire O’Shaughnessy and Wall. Shauna Howley converted her second free but on the resumption this was cancelled out by Emma Duggan.

A Howley free and a second Lisa Cafferky point pushed Meath into a four-point lead on 22 minutes before Duggan got her second point of the contest from distance. A Sinead Cafferky point meant Mayo led by three at half-time.

But the floodgates opened as the second half got underway with Meath hitting 2-5 unanswered in the first ten minutes to seize control. Nesbitt finished to the net for Meath’s first goal on 35 minutes while a super pass from Wall set up Lally and she