'Not pretty' but Davy Nelson happy to see first Meath win

Meath manager Davy Nelson knew the significance of getting a first win under his belt as the reigning Lidl NFL Division 1 champions beat Donegal.

Mary Kate Lynch was the unlikely match-winner for the League and TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship holders in Letterkenny. The full-back got forward to score the crucial goal in a 1-07 to 0-05 success, on a day when scores were hard to come by.

It was 0-03 to 0-03 at half-time and Donegal struggled on the resumption, Meath picked off their scores and then Lynch's long range shot evaded Donegal goalkeeper, Aoife McColgan.

"Nothing beats winning and we got the good fortune with the goal," said Nelson.

"Fitness levels aren’t anywhere near what they’re going to be come May. It’s hard going and you have to earn crumbs in every contact, every possession just to move forward.

"It wasn’t pretty but we’re just content to have come out the right end of things."

Also on Saturday, last year’s Lidl NFL Division 2 champions, Kerry, continued their perfect start with a narrow 3-05 to 0-13 victory away to Mayo at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan.

It was another keenly contested first half and although Kerry dominated for large periods they only took a 0-05 to 0-04 lead into the break. However, all three second half goals came in Kerry’s favour.

Síofra O’Shea, Lorraine Scanlon and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh all found the net for another impressive win.

"We got a great one-point win last week in Waterford and another one this week so we’re very happy," said Kerry joint-manager Declan Quill.

"We got three goals early in the second half and we badly needed them. The goals came from putting direct ball into the forward line and they were probably the only times we did it.

"We’ve lots to work on