Pictures: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Kerry 0-13
Meath 1-8
Report: Dan Kearney
Kerry are through to their third Lidl National League Division 1 final on the trot after an exciting two-point victory over a well drilled Meath at Austin Stack Park, Tralee this afternoon.,
Playing with a strong breeze in the opening half, Kerry took a 0-6 to 0-2 lead in at the break.
It was Meath who were first off the mark, however, when Niamh Gallogly slotted over after a bout of good patient play from the visitors.
Kerry then had a goal chance in the seventh minute when Mary O’Connell picked up a kick out but Jadyn Lucey shot straight at Robyn Murray with the goal at her mercy.
Siofra O’Shea got Kerry’s first from a free two minutes later but in the 12th minute Danielle O’Leary had a goal ruled out for a square ball after Niamh Ní Chonchúir’s shot for a point fell short.
Both sides were guilty of some basic errors but Meath, with Vikki Wall a major influence, took the lead in the 15th minute when Emma Duggan slotted over.
Murray then made a brilliant save in the Meath goal from Niamh Carmody although O’Leary pointed soon afterwards to level up the game at 0-2 apiece.
From here on the rest of the half belonged to Kerry as they found their rhythm and scores from Carmody, a fine individual point from Aishling O’Connell and two frees from O’Shea saw the hosts take a four-point lead in at the break.
Kerry started the second half like they meant business with scores from Anna Galvin and Carmody and Robin Murray was forced into another fine save, this time from O’Shea,
Then Meath took control, scoring 1-5 in a nine-minute spell with Meadhbh Byrne hitting a brilliant goal in the 42nd minute. Byrne saw yellow two minutes later and her loss hurt Meath.
Rachel Dwyer struck a super point for Kerry off the bench and O’Shea struck for three to nudge Kerry 0-11 to 1-8 ahead with six minutes left on the clock.
The large crowd were really involved at that stage and O’Shea pointed another free for Kerry and then Dwyer struck for her second to seal the Kerry victory after a very exciting second half.
Kerry scorers: S O’Shea 0-6 (5f), N Carmody 0-2, R Dwyer 0-2, D O’Leary 0-1, A O’Connell 0-1, A Galvin 0-1.
Meath scorers: E Duggan 0-5 (2f), M Byrne 1-1, N Gallogly 0-1. C Smyth 0-1.
Kerry: ME Bolger, E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly, K Cronin, A O’Connell, A Dillane, M O’Connell, A Galvin (capt), C Evans, N Ní Chonchúir, N Carmody, J Lucey, S O’Shea, D O’Leary.
Subs: R Dwyer for J Lucey 47; C McCarthy for A Dillane 55; L Boyle for C Evans 58; J Curtin for N Carmody 59.
Meath: R Murray, A Sheridan, S Wall, A Gaffney, K Newe, MK Lynch (capt), C Millington, N Gallogly, E Moyles, M Thynne, O Sheehy C Smyth, M Byrne, V Wall, E Duggan.
Subs: M Farrelly for E Moyles 21; K Kealy for C Millington 34; N Troy for A Gaffney 48; M Collins for K Newe 55.
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
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