Carla Rowe scored 1-2 and Dublin kick-started their Lidl NFL Division 1 campaign with a six-point victory over defending champions Meath at DCU St Clare’s on Saturday evening.
Attacking duo Rowe and Hannah Tyrrell helped themselves to a combined tally of 1-5 as Dublin triumphed in the latest edition of what is fast becoming one of Ladies football’s most compelling rivalries.
Although the dependable Stacey Grimes contributed four points, their opponents Meath ultimately came up short in Davy Nelson’s first competitive game at the managerial helm.
It proved to be a dream start for the hosts with team captain Rowe palming to the net off an intricate attacking move just under two minutes into the action, and by the break the Jackies led by 1-5 to 0-3.
While Dublin initially pushed on after the restart with back-to-back efforts by Orlagh Nolan and Tyrrell, Meath developed a purple patch that brought them firmly into contention.
After Thynne posted her second point of the tie, Grimes registered three successful frees to leave a goal between the teams with just nine minutes remaining on the clock.
The gap stayed at three points following traded scores by dead-ball specialists Tyrrell and Grimes, but Dublin’s power off the bench ultimately propelled them towards a convincing win. Substitutes Chloe Darby, Kerri Owens and Shannon Richardson kicked three points in quick succession as they closed out the game in clinical fashion.
Featured image: 21 January 2023; Aoife Minogue of Meath is tackled by Jodi Egan of Dublin during the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 match between Dublin and Meath at DCU St Clare’s in Dublin.
Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
