Eastern Gaels Ladies returned to where it all began just ten months ago to take on home side Castletown in the second round of the Meath LGFA Division 8A League. On a miserably cold, wet and windy Monday night the team served up some heart-warming football to run out easy winners on a scoreline of 4-12 to 1-02.

It was really a sign of things to come when Annaleigh McGuinness netted with Gaels’ first attack and it was largely one-way traffic thereafter. Megan Murray slotted three quickfire points in 4 minutes, the third after some lovely approach work. Her next effort hit a post before Caoimhe Cairns got in on the act with a pointed free. An early injury saw Megan Cromwell replace the unfortunate Katie Burke but it didn’t affect the Gael’s rhythm.

Soon Emma O’Sullivan raised a green flag after Caoimhe had a shot blocked and Aoibheann Butler then got in on the act with a nice point halfway through the half. Some great work by Emma saw Megan kick a lovely point and the ensuing kickout gifted Megan yet another score. The Castletown Ladies made the odd foray up the field but they rarely got past a resolute halfback line of Kate Kelly, Sorcha Nic an Aba and Cliodhna Cairns.

The home side had their first scoring opportunity on 24 minutes but the free was off target and Isabelle McDonnell Murphy set the Gaels off on another attack with the usual pinpoint kickout. A flowing move saw Megan point before Caoimhe finished the scoring for the half with two points, the first after good work by Annaleigh and Aoibheann.

Kate Ball was everywhere in the first half and won a huge amount of ball. Kate and Emma O’Sullivan were driving the team on from midfield and the Ladies used the elements well to register 2-10 without reply at half time.

Whatever thoughts Castletown had of a comeback were dashed four minutes into the second half when a Megan Murray free dropped into the net. To compound their woes Castletown then had their number 8 yellow carded for a foul on Cliodhna which saw our centre-half hobble off. Annaleigh then continued her good form with another cracking goal before Megan kicked a monster free into the wind.

Management rang the changes with Leah Maguire and Sorcha Cronin introduced, the latter making an impressive debut for the Gaels. Despite being comfortably ahead the team continued to work very hard and Alison Boyle, Grace Toolan and Ger Doyle were defending as if it were a one-point game while ably linking play to carry out of defence. Halfway through the half Megan scored what was to be Eastern Gaels last score.

A head collision saw Kate O’Sullivan go off injured, but thankfully like Cliodhna’s injury it was not serious. With Gaels forced into a number of positional switches and down a couple of players a young Castletown team, to their credit, rallied late in the game.

A free in the 19th minute saw them register their first score and they doubled this with another free two minutes from time. Deep into injury time the home side finished with a flourish when they found the back of the Gaels’ net. But the game was over long before that with the visitors running out comfortable winners on a scoreline of Eastern Gaels 4-12, Castletown 1-02.

Next up Gaels travel to Kilmainhamwood where the Ladies will be hoping for a third consecutive win on the road.

Eastern Gaels scorers: Megan Murray 1-08 (1-01f), Annaleigh McGuinness 2-0, Caoimhe Cairns 0-03 (1f), Emma O’Sullivan 1-0, Aoibheann Butler 0-01.

Monday, 4 March 2024