Eastern Gaels Ladies got our 2024 season off to the perfect start last night with a hard fought win in Carnaross, beating the home side on a scoreline of 15 points to 1-02. On a chilly evening the Meath LGFA Division 8A opener provided plenty of entertainment over the hour with some well taken scores.

Gaels opened the scoring with a Megan Murray point after 5 minutes but in the following attack the home side raised the green flag with an opportunist goal. Eastern Gaels were starting to get some rhythm in their play and reeled off the next five scores, the first from Caoimhe Cairns after some neat approach play.

Megan followed this with a lovely score, then Katie Burke and Kate O’Sullivan after an important interception by Sorcha Nic an Aba. Aoibheann Butler struck another well worked point before Carnaross registered their first point. On the stroke of half time a fine Megan point closed the scoring for the half to leave it Carnaross 1-01, Gaels 0-07.

Carnaross were causing plenty of problems but the Gaels defence stood firm thanks to some excellent defending and with Kate Kelly, Kate Ball and Grace Toolan shoring up the centre. Isabelle McDonnell Murphy was having a fine game in goal and her distribution was flawless.

Four minutes into the second half Carnaross cut the deficit to just two points but that was to be their last score. With Kate and Emma O’Sullivan providing the energy from midfield the Gaels attack was finding the range. Quickfire points from Katie Burke (2), Megan Murray and Kate O’Sullivan pushed the margin out to six points. On a heavy pitch the Gaels defended excellently with Alison Boyle and Ger Doyle defending and linking well with their half back line and midfield.

Halfway through the half Megan Murray pointed a free and the next ten minutes saw the defences come to the fore with no score registered. The Gaels’ forwards continued to work hard for space with Annaleigh McGuinness and debutant Megan Cromwell keeping a very dogged Carnaross defence stretched. This enabled the Gaels to finish strongly and a lovely point by Kate O’Sullivan was sandwiched between two further points for Megan Murray, leaving a final score of Carnaross 1-02, Eastern Gaels 0-15.

So a great start to the campaign after a hard fought battle against a Carnaross side that never stopped working until the final whistle. Special mention to mentor Jess McManus who was hugely encouraging and supportive to the team throughout. Next up is Castletown this coming weekend.

Eastern Gaels scorers: Megan Murray 0-07 (3f), Katie Burke 0-03, Kate O’Sullivan 0-03, Aoibheann Butler 0-01, Caoimhe Cairns 0-01.

Monday, 26 February 2024