TOUGH DAYS FUEL FINAL PERFORMANCE
By DAIRE WALSH
Learning lessons in defeat is crucial for the progression of any sports team and, according to Meath corner-back Katie Newe, that was the key behind Meath’s impressive success over Kerry in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division Two decider at Croke Park.
In the opening game of their Division 2A campaign at Páirc Tailteann, Navan in May, the Royals suffered a 3-10 to 1-10 defeat at the hands of the Munster side. Inside the opening ten minutes of that contest, Meath trailed 2-2 to 0-0 and ultimately couldn’t turn the game around in their favour.
Since then, Eamonn Murray’s charges have been resolute in defence, with All-Star goalkeeper Monica McGuirk keeping clean sheets in subsequent clashes with Wexford, Clare and Cavan. It wasn’t until the 55th-minute that Kerry shook the net in the Division 2 Final and that three-pointer from Rachel Dwyer was a mere consolation.
“The first time we played Kerry, they were very strong and they kind of surprised us with their strength. We put in a lot of work with defending as a team and not fouling in the scoring zone. The defence did great,” Newe after the emphatic 2-16 to 1-9 triumph for Meath.
Like all four teams that were competing on League finals day at Croke Park, Meath had to endure a hectic schedule of fixtures. Their penultimate round meeting with Division 2B winners Cavan was their fourth in the space of just 20 days.
While Newe felt it suited the Royals to have so many games on consecutive weekends, the two-week lead-in towards the Final afforded them an opportunity to alter their training regime, and the results were clearly visible on the field of play.
“Eugene [Eivers] is our strength and conditioning coach. He had us doing runs in the first week and then you could take the second week going over tactics. Just getting that right. I think it set us up well for the Final. I think it showed in the match. Our forwards really defended their kick-outs well and put a lot of work into that.”
Eivers is a vital component of a backroom team that has overseen a remarkable rise in the fortunes of Meath Ladies football in the past few years. There have been disappointments along the way in the shape of a Division 3 ;eague final reversal and back-to-back All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship showpiece defeats, but Meath eventually secured both of those titles in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Additionally, the Lidl NFL Division 2 victory means they are now a top-tier outfit from both a League and championship perspective. As someone who has had to grow up fast in the inter-county grade – she made her adult debut against Wexford in 2017 – the 20-year-old TUD science student believes this can only be good for the future development of the game within Meath.
“It’s unreal since Paul Garrigan and his team has come in with Eamonn Murray in 2017. It has really just been building year after year. Even bringing the cup from the All-Ireland into schools. It’s great for the younger kids as well to look up and see Meath football in top divisions, in both league and championship.”
Last December’s All-Ireland Final win over Westmeath in Croke Park may have helped to banish the heartache of losing the two previous finals, but there was something extra special about their latest trip up to Dublin.
Due to the restrictions that were in place at the time owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, that Mary Quinn Memorial Cup showdown with their provincial neighbours was held behind closed doors. Just over six months later, Royal supporters were allowed back into the stands, with the League final double-header being organised as part of a test pilot programme for the safe return of spectators to outdoor sporting events.
Some of Newe’s family – many of whom have strong connections to Templeogue Synge Street GFC in Dublin – were in attendance on the day and she was thrilled to be able to celebrate Meath’s latest success in their company.
“We were here in December and they weren’t here to support us on. They’ve only been here when we’ve lost. It was good to get a win when they were here and we could hear them cheering us on from the sidelines. It was great.”
Ratoath’s sole representative in the match squad -Saoirse O’Kane is part of the wider panel – Newe and her colleagues can now look forward to being their county’s first representatives in the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship since 2016.
Although Group B encounters with Cork and Tipperary – their conquerors in the 2019 intermediate decider – will be serious tests, they will be exactly the kind of challenges that Newe has been striving for.
“We’re only going to get better if we’re playing against the top teams in Ireland. This is where we want to be. I do think we have a good chance,” Newe added.
“We have Cork first in our Championship in two weeks and then Tipperary after them in our group. We’ll see how we go against them, but I think we have a good set-up now behind us with this League win.”