MEATH shocked TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football champions Dublin by 0-10 to 0-9 in Sunday’s provincial semi-final at Naomh Mearnóg.
The Royal County had lost twice to Dublin already this year and were outclassed in the Bord Gáis Energy National League Division 2 final.
But the visitors scored a famous win to send Dublin through the back door in their quest for a second successive All-Ireland title.
And it was substitute Ger Doherty who made a sensational impact in the closing stages as her three points, including the winning score, edged Meath to victory.
Meath appeared the hungrier side from the start and at half-time, they led by 0-5 to 0-4.
Two points after half-time stretched Meath’s lead to three but Dublin fought back to level at 0-7 apiece.
Enter Doherty with 12 minutes of normal time remaining and two quickfire points from the supersub pushed Meath 0-9 to 0-7 clear.
But Dublin, missing influential trio Siobhan McGrath, Lyndsey Davey and Amy McGuinness, hit back to level with points from top scorer Sinead Ahern and Elaine Kelly.
The stage was set for a heroine to emerge and Doherty stepped up to the plate to set up a provincial final meeting with Laois on July 17.
Meath also had goalkeeper Irene Munnelly to thank for a crucial save in the 26th minute, which denied Lyndsey Peat a goal for Dublin.
Meanwhile, beaten Division 1 finalists Laois booked their place in the TG4 Leinster final with a narrow 0-17 to 1-13 victory against hosts Kildare in Newbridge.
Laois, managed by former county player Joe Higgins, started slowly and trailed by 0-1 to 1-4 after ten minutes but their response was impressive, as Tracey Lawlor led the charge.
The O’Moore County rallied to within four points at half-time – 0-5 to 1-4 – before producing a commanding second half performance to snatch victory.
Deirdre Gately’s goal in the tenth minute handed Kildare an early buffer but Laois settled and were very much in touch at the interval.
The visitors completely dominated the third quarter and didn’t let Sinead Doogue’s penalty miss, which sailed over the bar, deter them.
Lawlor top-scored for Laois with seven points on an afternoon when Martina Dunne notched five points.
But this was also a commanding defensive display from Laois, who will start as favourites in the provincial final against Meath.
TG4 Ladies Leinster SFC semi-finals:
Dublin 0-9 Meath 0-10
Kildare 1-13 Laois 0-17
Kildare scorers: T Noone, S Cannon & A Gatley 0-3 each, D Gatley 1-0, N Earley 0-2, A Holden & C O’Malley 0-1 each.
Laois scorers: T Lawlor 0-7, M Dunne 0-5, S Doogue 0-2, M Kirwan, G Weston & A Casey 0-1 each.
***
Meath scorers: E Duffy 0-5, G Doherty 0-3, K O’Brien & G Nulty 0-1 each.
Dublin scorers: S Ahern 0-5, E Kelly 0-2, L Peat & A Ring 0-1 each.
