Galway and champions Meath had to settle for a share of the spoils in a tight and tense Lidl NFL division one clash on Sunday.
Galway can thank sub Aoife O’Rourke, who scored a last-minute free in this 0-9 to 0-9 draw at Páirc Tailteann.
A "huge learning curve", said Galway joint-manager Fiona Wynne after the final whistle.
"It was a big challenge coming up here to face the All-Ireland champions. We will have learned an awful lot, how to react and respond in a pressure environment. There was a huge crowd here from Meath, and they cheered on every point.
“It was difficult to hear and difficult to get messages on to the players, so to actually experience a game like that will stand to us in the future.”
It was enthralling match with the home crowd right behind Meath in their first game at home this year. And when All Star Emma Duggan, who had kicked three points, put Meath ahead after 56 minutes, the home fans looked set to go home happy.
The opening half was a tense affair with both sides showing their defensive solidity.
The hosts started with an incisive attacking move which culminated in wing back Niamh Gallogly scoring, and Maghnus Breathnach and Fiona Wynne’s side survived a scare when Olivia Callan’s shot almost deceived Alannah Griffin in the Galway goal.
Galway produced a move of real quality as Olivia Divilly and Kate Slevin combined to set up Shauna Brennan to point the equaliser, and when Meath’s restart failed to travel the required distance, Slevin slotted the resulting Galway free.
With the boisterous Meath fans providing loud support, Davy Nelson’s players were boosted when Galway’s Leanne Coen was sent to the sin-bin. However, Galway responded well with Slevin converting a placed ball after Megan Glynn was fouled.
Meath needed a score and after the home side won a turnover deep in their own territory, they countered quickly with Meadhbh Byrne kicking as Galway led 0-3 to 0-2 at the break.
Eva Noone and Slevin scored early in the second half, but Meath responded through Stacey Grimes and Ciara Smyth. Three Slevin efforts helped Galway inch ahead, with Duggan kicking two of her own. The nip and tuck conntinued with Grimes, Gallogly and Duggan, putting their side ahead, but O’Rourke stepped up to ensure a draw.
Scorers:Galway: K Slevin 0-6 (3f ), A O’Rourke 0-1 (1f ), S Brennan 0-1, E Noone 0-1. Meath: E Duggan 0-3 (1f ), S Grimes 0-2 (2f ), N Gallogly 0-2, M Byrne 0-1, C Smyth 0-1.
GALWAY: A Griffin; K Geraghty, S Ní Loingsigh, E Gavin; C Cooney, L Ward, A Molloy; A Davoren, L Coen; S Brennan, O Divilly, C Miskell; M Glynn, K Slevin, L Noone.Subs: E Noone for Glynn (ht ), H Noone for E Noone (47 ), J Burke for Brennan (47 ), A O’Rourke for Miskell (56 ).
MEATH: M McGuirk; K Newe, MK Lynch, A Sheridan; N Gallogly, S Ennis, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, A Minogue; M Thynne, M Byrne, N O’Sullivan; O Callan, S Grimes, C Smyth.Subs: E Duggan for Callan (ht ), A Leahy for Smyth (47 ) A Sherlock for Byrne (47 ).Ref – Gavin Finnegan (Down ).
