Meath’s Emma Duggan
First-half goals from Emma Duggan and Niamh Gallogly proved crucial as Meath overcame Kildare by 2-11 to 0-12 to book their place in Sunday week’s Leinster Ladies SFC final at Croke Park.
The Royals set the early pace, and while Kildare managed to stay in touch, they were struggling on their own kick-outs and were punished midway through the first half when fired past Mary Hulgraine to give Meath the upper hand.
The Lilies bounced back with points from Ellen Dowling (free) and Ruth Sargent, but they then suffered a fatal setback just before half-time when conceding their second goal.
Meath wing-back Ciara Smyth found space to set up Gallogly, who finished low and hard to the net to leave them leading 2-7 to 0-5 at the break.
To their credit, Kildare upped the tempo at the start of the second half and points from sub Erin Brereton Foley and Neasa Dooley helped to make it a three-point game.
But that was as close as Kildare got as Meath closed out the game in convincing fashion, with Meadhbh Byrne and Megan Thynne extending the gap to five points. Kildare did have a late goal chance, but Monica McGuirk pulled off a fine save.
All-Ireland champions Dublin will be Meath’s opponents after yesterday’s 5-19 to 0-1 win over Laois, in which full-forward Annabelle Timothy scored a hat-trick.
