THIS WEEKEND MEATH retained their All-Ireland crown by beating Kerry 3-10- 1-07.
The Royals won their last and first All-Ireland crown in 2021 and came up against a Kerry side that had won it 11 times previously.
Kerry scored the opening goal when Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, who already had a point, managed to squeeze the ball past Monica McGuirk.
Soon after Meath's Emma Troy got Eamonn Murray's side back within a point moments later and for the rest of the half Meath took control of the game.
The All-Ireland champions led by three points at halftime, 1-08 1-05.
Niamh O'Sullivan would get Meath's second goal in the second half which would extend their lead over Kerry to five points.
A third goal would come three minutes later with Meath fully in the driving seat now. The score on 48 minutes was Meath 3-09 Kerry 1-07.
FT: Meath 3-10 Kerry 1-07
🏆 @meathladiesMLGF are champions again as they retain their All-Ireland title #rtegaa https://t.co/UscnsjcV0j— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) July 31, 2022
The final point came from Niamh O'Sullivan and moments later history was made for Meath with the final whistle ending proceedings.
Meath now will look to join the likes of Kerry, Cork, and Dublin in doing the threepeat, but know that it will be hard without players Orlagh Lally and Vikki Wall. who have both left to play AFLW in Australia.
Murray wished the pair well but admitted that a third All-Ireland will be very difficult for his side without Lally and Wall.
"You're probably good enough to win three or four in a row, but we won't." We'll worry about that next week, Murray said."
"It was the perfect send off, and that's why it was a bit emotional for us all - it won't be easy.
"They've two All-Irelands in their pocket so they can go with pride, and their heads up. We wish them (Lally and Wall) luck and look forward to them coming back - they will be back, I know they will."
Kerry's joint-manager Darragh Long congratulated his Meath and his opposite number after the game."
“Fair play to Meath, I think Eamonn [Murray] said during the week that they’ve timed their run to perfection."
"They kicked 3-10 in the end. They’re All-Ireland champions for a reason, but hugely proud of our group of girls."
"I think we’ve come an awful long way in 12 months, from Mallow last year and a relegation battle. Just hugely disappointed."
Meath’s Emma Troy shoots to score her side's first goal (Image: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Teams
Kerry: Ciara Butler; Julie O'Sullivan, Kayleigh Cronin, Eilis Lynch; Aishling O'Connell, Emma Costello, Ciara Murphy; Lorraine Scanlon, Cait Lynch; Niamh Carmody, Siofra O'Shea, Anna Galvin (capt.); Paris McCarthy, Danielle O'Leary, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh.
Meath: Monica McGuirk; Shauna Ennis (capt.), Mary Kate Lynch, Katie Newe; Aoibheann Leahy, Emma Troy, Aoibhin Cleary; Maire O'Shaughnessy, Orlagh Lally; Megan Thynne, Emma Duggan, Kelsey Nesbitt; Vikki Wall, Stacey Grimes, Niamh O'Sullivan.
