Dubs look forward to a meeting with the Royals!
- Feb 10,2012
Dublin Ladies take on Leinster rivals Meath this coming Sunday in the second round of the Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League. The Dubs will make the relatively short journey down the N2 to the home of Donoughmore Ashbourne GAA club for this eagerly awaited local derby which has a 2pm start time.
Dublin chalked up an impressive win over Kildare in last weekend's opening round of the league but Dublin manager Peter Clarke is aware that Meath will ask more questions of his Dublin team and will be eagerly looking forward to the visit of the Dubs to the Royal County.
These two sides last meet on the 3rd of July last year in the Tg4 Leinster Championship semi-final and on a warm clammy day in Portmarnock Meath caused the shock of the year when they disposed of the then reigning All Ireland and Leinster champions Dublin by the narrowest of margins.
Dublin found them -selves in the unfamiliar surroundings of the qualifiers. Dublin eventually went on to reach the quarter final but where beaten again by a single point this time by a resurgent Cork side that in turn went on to reclaim back the Brendan Martin cup and win their 6th All Ireland crown in seven years.
Back to this weekend's encounter Dublin have enjoyed having the edge on their neighbours in the last three league encounters between the sides, in March 2008 Dublin had 4 points to spare when the held on to win by 2-08 to 0-10 in a close match played in Senschalstown. The metropolitans did the double on Meath in 2011 with a 2-15 to 1-08 win in Portmarnock in round 5 before reclaiming their division one status with a 3-15 to 2-09 win over the Royals in the Division 2 league final played before a home crowd in Parnell Park.
However Meath might get the nod for this Sunday's clash of the Leinster rivals, playing at home in front of a large Meath support could be as valuable as two or three points on the score board. Meath gave a confident performance last Sunday against Tyrone and the Meath ladies will be eager to prove to one and all that last year's shock championship win over the Dubs was not a flash in the pan performance.
Meath will look to All Star goal keeper Irene Munnelly, the in- form midfielder Fiona Mahon and sharp shooter Geraldine Doherty to hit form and cause the travelling Dubs some problems.
Peter Clarke took over the helm from Tommy Brown and is in his maiden year as Dubs boss so it is hard to evaluate Dublin's performance over a poor Kildare team with both management and players alike adjusting to the regime.
Was the score board a true reflection of the quality of this new look Dublin team, were Dublin worthy of a 27 point win over the Lilywhites or did the score flatter a team in transition, I guess by 3.30pm on Sunday we will know more.
Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL; Div 1
Sunday 12th February @ 2pm
Dublin v Meath
Venue: Donaghmore Ashbourne, GAA Club
Referee: Eugene O'Hare (Down)