First-half goals from Meadhbh Byrne and Marion Farrelly were crucial at Pairc Tailteann in Navan on Sunday as Meath got the better of provincial rivals Dublin to make it two wins from two in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League.

In the battle of the last two TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship winners, Meath built on last weekend’s impressive triumph against Mayo to maintain their 100% start to the 2024 season. Carla Rowe contributed 0-4 for Dublin on her return to the first 15, but the Jackies’ search for a first victory in the calendar year will continue into round three of the top-tier.

After Ciara Smyth traded points in the early exchanges with Dublin’s Ellen Gribben, excellent approach work from two-time TG4 All Star Emma Duggan provided the platform for Meath attacker Byrne to slot a low shot to the opposition net in the sixth-minute.

Duggan subsequently extended the home team’s advantage with a superb point from play and after full-forward Farrelly coolly grabbed their second goal of the contest, the Royals found themselves seven points in front (2-2 to 0-1) heading towards the first-quarter mark.

Carla Rowe (free) and marauding half-back Martha Byrne did find the target for Dublin either side of a Duggan free as the play progressed, but despite losing Niamh Gallogly to the sin-bin on 27 minutes, the Royals brought a 2-3 to 0-3 buffer into the interval.

While Dublin were playing with the aid of a breeze in the second half, it wasn’t until nine minutes after the resumption that they added their next score. It was a free from Rowe that got them back up and running, but with the Dublin skipper converting another placed ball effort moments later, this game was still very much up for grabs.

Although Danielle Lawless and Ashling Nyhan joined half-time substitute Kate Sullivan on the field of play as Dublin attempted to turn the screw, Meath’s nerves were settled when Duggan knocked over a free on 52 minutes.

Rowe’s fourth point of the afternoon kept Mick Bohan’s side in the hunt during a tense finish to the action, only for a Farrelly free to offer the Royals ample breathing space in advance of a late point by Dublin’s Kate Murray.

By DAIRE WALSH

Hannah Tyrrell scored a last gasp free to help Dublin secure top spot in Division 1B of the Lidl National Football League with a landmark win over Meath.

BY AISLING CLERY

This was the first meeting of the sides since the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship final at Croke Park last September and they were both already assured of their places in the semi-finals.

They were level on five occasions and after Dublin took a 0-6 to 0-5 lead into half-time, Tyrrell’s goal and late free was enough to seal the win. Emma White scored the Meath effort but the reigning All-Ireland champions fell to their first loss of the season at home in a raucous Páirc Tailteann.

The game got off to a tentative start with both defences holding tight although the goalkeepers were tested early with Monica McGuirk pulling off a save from Siobhan Woods while Kelsey Nesbitt’s shot fell into the hands of Ciara Trant up the other end.

Niamh Hetherton scored first in the 12th minute and the sides were level just before the first water break as Stacey Grimes converted a free. And Meath could have gone in ahead but Trant blocked down a Nesbitt shot after a well-timed pass from Shauna Ennis.

Nicole Owens pushed Dublin into the lead while Caoimhe O’Connor extended it a minute later. Grimes scored her second free but that was cancelled out by a super Woods point.

Vikki Wall reduced the gap to one before Grimes levelled the game with her third free. But Woods sent the ball in and Tyrrell made it 0-5 to 0-4 on the resumption.

A terrific pass from Wall played Orla Byrne in and she levelled the game before Kate Sullivan scored a free to give Dublin a 0-6 to 0-5 half-time advantage.

Grimes levelled again after the restart but Dublin got their goal in the 36th minute. A Sullivan cross was well gathered by Nicole Owens, she found Tyrrell who, with inches of space, shot to the back of the net.

Substitute White hit back with a Meath goal straight away and she pushed Eamonn Murray’s side into the lead for the first time on 41 minutes. But Tyrrell continued to take the fight to the Meath defenders and a couple of scores sent Dublin into the second water break leading by 1-8 to 1-7.

Dublin were dealt a huge blow when Ellen Gribben was sent-off on a straight red card before Grimes drew the sides level again.

Owens and Wall were shown yellow cards late on and both teams had their chances but it was Tyrrell’s free that ensured Dublin won it.

Meath Ladies Footballers got their Lidl Division 1 League campaign off to a positive start, with a deserved victory in their first ever league game to be held at Páirc Tailteann in Navan.

A brace of goals in a three-minute spell from Emma Duggan and Orlagh Lally set the Royals on the road to victory,.

Duggan's three-pointer came as a response to Cork's Emma Cleary finding the net, which handed the Rebelettes the lead for the first time in the 41st minute.

However, despite Cork's efforts it was the hosts who held on for a full brace of league points.

The hosts lead by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval and while Cork did go in front courtesy of an Cleary's 'major', Meath re-established their advantage when TG4 All-Star Duggan and Lally found the net, helping to seal their first win of the season.

Stacey Grimes landed the opening score of the 2022 campaign from an early free before Lally added a fine point on two minutes and Orla Finn scored her and Cork’s first down the other end.

Grimes tagged on her second free on ten minutes but Katie Quirke was on target as Meath took a narrow 0-3 to 0-2 lead into the water break.

Cork levelled on the resumption with Laura O’Mahony scoring on the end of Cleary’s pass. And Meath were lucky to stay in front when Monica McGuirk saved brilliantly from Finn. Grimes added her third free before Niamh O’Sullivan dinked inside her marker and converted a terrific point for a 0-5 to 0-3 lead.

Quirke’s second score a minute later reduced the gap back to the minimum but Meath got the final score of the half with Grimes adding her fourth free for a two-point advantage at the interval. Cork had been reduced to 14 players just before the break when Finn was shown a yellow card.

Grimes and Quirke swapped frees after the restart and in the 41st minute an inch perfect pass from Quirke found Cleary and she made no mistake with the finish. This handed Cork the lead for the first time but that 1-5 to 0-7 score-line didn’t last long. A quick free from Grimes gave Duggan possession and she steadied herself before finishing to the net.

Cork tried to go back on the attack again but Meath claimed possession and ran at the defence with Aoibhin Cleary’s initial shot on goal blocked only for Lally to hop on the loose ball and finish it to the back of the net just before the second half water break.

Meath were 2-7 to 1-5 in front and although Finn, Rachel Leahy and Ciara McCarthy all scored points Meath had enough in reserve to stave off the comeback.