Young Lilies outclassed by Royals in Leinster U14 Championship

Meath      5-12

Kildare     1-6

Leinster LGFA U14 Championship

Orlaith Mallon was the star of the show for Meath as she bagged a crucial 2-7 on the Royals procession through this Leinster Championship group stage tie that was played in Dunganny on Saturday afternoon.

Meath were far the sharper and had Kildare under pressure from the off and after 13 mins of play were leading by 1-6 to no score. Kildare's first shot on target was a lobbed shot over the Meath keeper on 18 minutes that struck the crossbar on the way down giving time for the Meath netminder to clear the danger before the ball could cross the line. Kildare's first score eventually came on 19 minutes via Orlaith O'Mahony.

Meath tagged on another point and defended well before Kildare tagged on their second point through Sophie Ngai in the 25th minute. Orlaith Mallon, who was a constant threat to the Kildare backs everytime she got on the ball, tagged on another point for the home side bringing her tally in the half  to 1-4

Meath finished the half with a flurry and a goal from Amber Cosgrove right on the whistle seen the home side into a commanding half time lead 2-8 to 0-2

Unlike their second half performance in their opening round game where Kildare defended well and took the game to Dublin, Kildare weren't able to stop the Meath girls attack as they came in wave after wave. The home side added another 2-3 while the visitors interjected with points from Sophie Ngai and Abby Pender. Both sides traded pointed frees and Kildare managed a goal late in the half from the boot of O'Mahony. That is as good as it got for the visitors as Meath pushed on to finish strong, adding another 1-2 running out comfortable winners.

Meath will be strong favourites to make the A final after 2 wins from 2 and a win against Dublin next day out will secure it. Kildare play Longford at home in 2 weeks time needing a win and hoping that Meath can do them a favour in defeating Dublin. Should that happen it would force a 3 way play off as Dublin have lost to Longford and Kildare to Dublin.

It makes for an interesting last round of games and the season certainly isn't over yet for Kildare with a lot still to play for.

Meath 

Robyn Murray; Nikki Ennis, Kirsten Massey, Hannah Moran; Megan Clarke, Caitriona Flynn, Roisin McManus; Ciara Lawlor, Charlie Murray; Ciara Smyth (0-2), Amber Cosgrove (1-2), Jennifer Lynch (0-1); Olivia Callan, Orlaith Mallon (2-7,3f), Katie Twomey (2-0)

Subs used

Caoimhe McCabe for Cosgrove, Faye Sherdian for Callan, Olivia O Halloran for Murray, Louise Pearl for McManus, Ella Reilly for Twomey, Rebecca Harney for Mallon.

Kildare 

Deirdre Hensey; Niamh Jenkins, Grace King, Molly Burns; Yasmin Brown, Alex Reynolds, Eabha Owens; Hannah Crowley, Niamh Hayes; Anna Carpenter, Caitlin Kennedy, Orlaith O'Mahony (1-1); Abby Pender (0-2f), Ruth Sergeant, Sophie Ngai (0-2).

Rachel Ibrahim for Hayes, Rachel Corcoran for Burns, Saoirse Hogan Murphy for Carpenter, Amiee Ryan for O'Manony, Enya O Brien for Brown, Phoebe Landy (0-1) for Ngai, Hannah Wilson for Pender, Abbey Mulreid for Reynolds