Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog. Eamonn Murray’s Meath are hoping for back-to-back titles after their monumental 2021 success, while Kerry contest their first senior final since 2012. Throw-in at Croke Park is at 4pm.
Here are the teams named to start. Meath are sticking with the same side who narrowly held off a spirited challenge from Donegal in the semi-final.
Meath
1. Monica McGuirk (Dulleek Bellewstown)
2. Shauna Ennis (Na Fianna — captain), 3. Mary Kate Lynch (Summerhill), 4. Katie Newe (Ratoath)
5. Aoibheann Leahy (Navan O’Mahony’s), 6. Emma Troy (Boardsmill), 7. Aoibhín Cleary (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
8. Máire O’Shaughnessy (Donaghmore Ashbourne), 9. Orlagh Lally (Clann na nGael)
10. Megan Thynne (Dunsany), 11. Emma Duggan (Dunboyne), 12. Kelsey Nesbitt (Simonstown)
13. Vikki Wall (Dunboyne), 14. Stacey Grimes (Seneschalstown), 15. Niamh O’Sullivan (Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels)
Meanwhile, the Kingdom are also unchanged.
Kerry
1. Ciara Butler (Castlegregory)
2. Julie O’Sullivan (Inbhear Sceine Gaels), 3. Kayleigh Cronin (Dr Crokes), 4. Eilís Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds)
5. Aishling O’Connell (Éire Óg, Cork), 6. Emma Costello (Firies), 7. Ciara Murphy (MKL Gaels)
8. Lorraine Scanlon (Castleisland Desmonds), 9. Cáit Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds)
10. Niamh Carmody (Finuge/St Senans), 11. Síofra O’Shea (Southern Gaels), 12. Anna Galvin (Na Fianna — captain)
13. Paris McCarthy (Castleisland Desmonds), 14. Danielle O’Leary (Rathmore), 15. Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (Corca Dhuibhne)
2 mins- Some start. Meath are pinged twice for charging by referee Maggie Farrelly. At the other end, a patient Kerry attack ends with a fine score from Ciara Murphy. The wing-back drove up under the Hogan Stand and took her score.
5 mins – Kerry’s top scorer Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh is visibly frustrated after she misses a kickable free. Meath drive up the field from the kick-out but are turned over on the 45-metre line. Their running game has had little joy so far.
6 mins – Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh scores her first free of the day.
Goal for Kerry!
7 mins – It’s Ní Mhuircheartaigh! The short kick-out is pressed and turned over. The corner-forward stays composed and chips Monica McGuirk with a superb finish. What a start by the underdogs.
8 mins – Meath needed that. They are finally off the mark and starting to move the ball quicker.
Goal for Meath!
10 mins – What a sensational opening ten minutes! Hard running off the shoulder sees Emma Troy win possession close to goal and the forward strikes a superb shot into the top corner. The Royals are pressing the kick-out and it is working.
11 mins – Vikki Wall is on the scoreboard with a free and we are all level in HQ.
13 minutes – The champions have responded accordingly. Another Wall free from the Hogan Stand side curves beautifully over the bar and they are back in front. Kerry are trying to bunch and break on their kick-out but Meath are chasing aggressively.
16 minutes – This game has been much more open than many anticipated. A Stacey Grimes point pushes Meath two clear. At the other end, Kerry work a great opportunity but it drops short into McGuirk’s hands. She is fouled and everyone has a chance to take a breather.
20 minutes – The 2021 champions are currently showing how well-coached they are. Another patient attacking moves over and back before a foul hands Emma Duggan the opportunity to kick a free. It drifts wide, but Kerry lose the kick-out again.
21 mins – Meath are destroying the Kerry re-start. Emma Troy drives forward to kick a point and from the next play, they turn over the Munster side again. Vikki Wall adds another and the gap is now four.
22 mins – What a score! Siofra O’Shea kicks a beauty from the top of the D at a vital moment for Kerry. A devastated Aoibheann Leahy has left the field with a leg injury suffered before that score.
24 mins – Score of the day. Niamh O’Sullivan gets on the ball out wide under the Cusack Stand. Here jinking run turns the defence inside out and she wheels away hand aloft as the umpire reaches for the white flag.
25 mins – punch for punch here! Paris McCarthy replies immediately for Kerry.
26 mins – Another driving run forward earns Meath a straightforward free for Grimes. From the resulting kick-out, Meath win possession. Niamh O’Sullivan drops a shot short yet somehow, Meath turn it over once again. Vikki Wall is fouled, turns to appeal to the referee, takes use of the advantage to kick at goal. Hawkeye deems it wide and we will come back for the free.
29 mins – Kerry are still in this. A lengthy attack is halted by Vikki Wall who strategically fouls around halfway. Lorraine Scanlon spots her opportunity and races up the opposite wing before striking on the laces straight over the black spot.
Half-time: Well that was an immensely enjoyable half of football. Declan Quill and Darragh Long’s outfit flew out of the blocks to race into an early lead. To their credit, Meath didn’t panic and stuck to their game plan. It is end-to-end, with excellent score-taking and a bit of bite for good measure. This tie has all the components for a cracking second half.
Here is that early Kerry goal.
7 nóim #MTHvKER @meathladiesMLGF 0-00@kerryladiesfoot 1-02
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 31, 2022
Cúl den scoth ó Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh! 😍
Louise pounces on a poor kick out to increase the lead for Kerry!#ProperFan
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/KliG1gBNv8
The only change we have seen so far is Orla Byrne who came on for the injured Leahy.
One standout stat that Kerry will have to fix from that first half. They lost 50% of their own kick-outs. On the other hand, Meath have kicked three wides and dropped two short.
31 mins – Kerry’s first attack is turned over but they press high up the field and win it back. McGuirk’s kick is intercepted by O’Shea who slots it over.
32 mins – Great scramble defence from the Kingdom. Emma Duggan finds it hard to swing a leg close to goal and is forced back out. Eventually, Meath earn a free. Grimes drops it short and Kerry break quick.
35 mins - Ní Mhuircheartaigh nails a free. From the resulting kick-out, Orla Byrne soars high and Emma Troy runs a great support line all the way to the D where she is halted illegally. No mistake this time from Duggan. Two point game.
39 mins – Missed opportunities at both sides. Firstly, Emma Duggan does really well to dummy back and lose a defender but her shot drops into goalkeeper Ciara Butler’s hands. Kerry fail to make it count as they eventually kick a wide into the Davin End. Interestingly, McGuirk waits and holds her hand high for a kick-out signal.
41 minutes – It might not be going all her way in attack but Emma Duggan is doing trojan work defensively. Tracking back and forcing repeated turnovers. Meath’s Nesbitt is off with Bridgette Lynch coming on.
45 mins – A series of wides now for Meath. Can Kerry come again?
Goal for Meath!
45 mins – Once again, Kerry’s kick-out is their undoing. Meath turn over and immediately break. Runners flood in on goal and by the time Grimes handpasses across for Niamh O’Sullivan, all it needs is the simplest of finishes. Kerry respond by bringing on Erica McGlynn with Paris McCarthy making way.
49 mins – Goal for Meath.
That all came from Vikki Wall showing her class. The 2021 Player of the Year drove forward from halfway. Immediately, the crowd rose in anticipation. She unselfishly passes to Grimes who shoots. It clips the crossbar and drops kindly for Bridgetta Lynch. Another green flag and Meath are cruising.
54 mins – Kerry have kept at it but are running on fumes. The ball falls to Ní Mhuircheartaigh who kicks wide.
55 mins – Vikki Wall has been engaged in a lengthy battle with the referee and she will finish the game on the sideline after a soft yellow card.
57 mins – Niamh O’Sullivan’s left foot curves over a great point. Meath are emptying their bench now with the finish line close.
Here is a look at Meath’s third goal.
50 nóim #MTHvKER @meathladiesMLGF 3-09@kerryladiesfoot 1-07
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 31, 2022
Cúl eile don Mhí! Bridgetta Lynch an uair seo! 🤩
Ten minutes left for Meath to hold on!#ProperFan
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/J1jEOOingV
Raptors unable to attack the rim, never get a foul and turnover….. When Cavs go forward, yawn in front of them, its a foul…. Hard to beat the Cavs and the officials at same time, US networks really influence MLB, NBA and MLS…….
While I get you a bit. . . none of it is enough to explain the 40 or so points difference.
David, I think it has affected them attacking the paint, instead going for the impossible too often. Cavs are a 3 point team, not Raptors, but yes, heads did drop too easy too, but when you simply get no breaks from officials, easy to see happening….