Kerry ended Meath’s reign as All Ireland Champions, after a pulsating entertaining quarter-final clash, in a rain sodden and blustery Austin Stack Park.

2023 will see a new champion arise and take the top step in the Senior Ladies Championship, as Kerry despite only notching a point in the second half prevailed by four in the end.

Meath trailed by ten points at the break, playing against the wind they needed a strong second half push and they got it, but a goal eluded them, Kerry now meet Mayo in the semi-finals.

After a cagey start, Niamh Carmody delivered a terrific long ball for Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh to gather on the right wing, she cut inside passing to Hannah O’Donoghue, she was tackled but got the offload off and Ni Mhuircheartaigh tapped over the opening point.

Siofra O’Shea doubled the Kerry lead but Emma Duggan landed a free from the first real chance the Royals had shooting into the John Mitchels end, putting it back to a one point game just seven minutes into a wet and windy contest in Tralee.

Duggan had Meath level with her second free after 12 minutes, following Aoife Mingoue being fouled on her route to goal, levelling the tie for the first time, but Kerry hit back with a strong two minute window hitting 1-3 past the Meath defence.

O’Shea sent a high shot that dropped into the net over Meath keeper Monica McGuirk, Ni Mhuirchertaigh followed with a free, before Niamh Ní Chonchúir sent two points over the blackspot for a 1-5 to 0-2 lead.

That ended the opening quarter in fine fashion for the home side, it would soon get better, following a terrific turnover with Ni Mhuircheartaigh putting the defence under pressure, Carmody passed the loose ball to O’Donoghue, she found O’Shea, the Kerry captain spotted Carmody who continued her run, racing clean through with eyes on the Meath goal, she dispatched calmly to the back of the net, 2-5 to 0-2.

Duggan kept Meath ticking over as her third free was their only really service coming from the forward line, Kerry were doing well to pressure them and hold firm in the backline, while up front, their dazzling forwards were further stretching their hold on this quarter-final contest, Lorraine Scanlon and Ni Mhuircheartaigh with points, pulling out a ten point lead at the break.

At the start of the second half, Meath needed to start working their scores to come back into the tie, Duggan added her fourth from the free to start the half well, but Hannah O’Donoghue was quick to cancel that out and get Kerry on the board.

Meath were able to get some quick scores to reduce the deficit, Vikki Wall striking their first from play after 35 minutes, but an error from the Kerry kickout saw them turnover possession and Wall added a second soon after, Duggan pointed her fifth free and Meath were behind 2-8 to 0-7, a gap of seven between them.

Wall and two Duggan frees brought Meath to within four points of Kerry, as it was all Meath for the final quarter of play, putting Kerry under similar pressure to last year’s All Ireland, but the home side held their bottle.

Ni Mhuircheartaigh almost put the game to bed in the 59th minute, a beautiful free flowing Kerry attack, ending with the forward through on goal, she had her shot saved by McGuirk in a stunning stop by the Meath keeper.

With the clock ticking down, Kerry held their nerve and kept the ball, waiting for the sound of the hooter to bring this dramatic and entertaining contest to a close, Meath’s reign as All Ireland Champions coming to an end.