McHale’s Mayo hit brick Wall in Navan
Vikki Wall of Meath reacts to referee Kevin Phelan's decision to call for her challenge on the grounded Sinead Walsh of Mayo during the LGFA National League Division 1 match at Páirc Tailteann in Navan. Pictures: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
A second visit to the east in nine days resulted in another defeat for Mayo, as two goals and a point from Vikki Wall contributed greatly to Meath’s nine points win, in Navan, on Bank Holiday Monday.
Whereas Saoirse Delaney and Bree Hession were late inclusions on the Mayo team, former TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year Wall was added to the Meath side for her first start since a TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-final defeat to Kerry in July 2023.
As they had done during a three points defeat to Dublin, Mayo acquitted themselves well for spells of this game too but ultimately were too reliant on Sinead Walsh to give them an attacking edge up front. In fact, at one stage it appeared as though Walsh was prepared to take the game to the Royals on her own, scoring two goals in an eight minute period either side of half-time.
Meath, however, had too much for a Mayo selection with which manager Liam McHale continues to experiment, given the experience that has been lost to the squad of late.
The Green and Red had endured a torrent of early pressure from the wind-assisted home side and were fortunate to only have conceded five points by the time Sinead Walsh opened their account in the 21st minute from a free. Marion Farrelly had already sent a goal attempt screaming across the face of Roisin Dyar’s goal when AFL and rugby star Vikki Wall smashed home her opening goal in the 22nd minute, receiving a pass from Farrelly who picked up on an error in the Mayo defence.
Ciara Smyth (two), Kerrie Cole and Meadhbh Byrne had all also raised flags for Meath at this stage, however, Mayo were back in contention when Walsh claimed a superb solo goal of her own on 26 minutes, taking on and beating Mary Kate Lynch, Aoibhin Cleary and Aine Sheridan before rolling the ball past goalkeeper Robyn Murray.
Mayo midfielders Erin Murray and Aoife Geraghty very nearly created a second goal chance moments later but Bree Hession’s handling let her down at the vital moment, under pressure, it must be said, by a Meath defender. Still, when Maria Cannon swung over a 29th minute free, Mayo trailed by only three points, 1-5 to 1-2, at the interval, with the breeze to aid them from hereon.
Better again, Meath would have to play with Vikki Wall for most of the opening 10 minutes of the second-half when yellow carded on the stroke of half-time for a robust charge into Sinead Walsh that led to the MacHale Rovers’ attacker temporarily leaving the action.
But Walsh was back in time to narrow the gap at the start of the second-half with a place-ball strike from distance, before Meath looked to have regained a firm stranglehold when a Smyth point was supplemented by a green flag finish from Kerrie Cole – who had bagged a brace of goals in her county’s opening round win over Tyrone.
However, Sinead Walsh was proving to be a real thorn in the side of the Meath defence and she rattled the net for a second time on 38 minutes via a neat one-two with Saoirse Delaney. This meant the Royals were three in front upon Wall’s return to the field of play and this cushion remained intact after Mayo midfielder Erin Murray and Smyth traded points.
This advantage was then doubled when Wall hammered home from a tight angle in the wake of Mayo defender Ella Brennan being sin-binned for a foul on the Dunboyne ace, and even though Walsh continued to lead the way for the visitors, a fourth goal off a counter-attack by raiding wing-back Niamh Gallogly helped Meath to ease over the line.
Mayo are back in action next Sunday, February 9 when they host Tyrone. The game in Swinford Amenity Park is at 2pm and will be refereed by Anthony Marron.
Scorers – Meath: Vikki Wall 2-1 (0-1f), Ciara Smyth 0-6 (3f), Kerrie Cole 1-1, Niamh Gallogly 1-0, Meadhbh Byrne 0-1.
Mayo: Sinead Walsh 2-4 (0-4f), Maria Cannon (f) and Erin Murray 0-1 each.
Meath: Robyn Murray; Aine Sheridan, Sarah Wall, Nicole Troy; N Gallogly, Mary Kate Lynch, Clodagh Millington; Aoibhin Cleary, Vikki Wall; Megan Thynne, Orlaith Sheehy, Ciara Smyth; Meadhbh Byrne, Marion Farrelly, Kerrie Cole. Subs: Katie Bermingham and Ella Moyles (for Sheehy and Thynne 41), Katie Newe (for Troy (46), Olivia Callan (for Farrelly 53), Ciara Lawlor (for Byrne 58), Megan Collins (for Cole 59).
Mayo: Roisin Dyar; Ella Brennan, Saoirse Lally, Danielle Caldwell; Saoirse Delaney, Sherin El Massry, Hannah Reape; Erin Murray, Aoife Geraghty; Lucy Wallace, Annie Gough, Ciara Durkin; Maria Cannon, Sinead Walsh, Bree Hession. Subs: Kayla Doherty (for Walsh 30-ht), Doherty (for Wallace 36), Kathryn Sullivan (for El Massry 46), Ciara Whyte (for Hession 47), Alannah Fitzpatrick (for Gough 48), Millie Sheridan (for Delaney 53), Siomha McNulty (for Sullivan 55), Jenna Mortimer (for Murray 58).
REF: Kevin Phelan (Laois)
