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Sporting hits of 2021: Emma Duggan the star as Meath stun Dublin

Underdogs shock five-in-a-row chasing Dubs to win the All-Ireland title at Croke Park

Emma Duggan celebrates with Aoibhin Cleary after Meath’s shock win over Dublin. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Philip Reid's face
Philip Reid
Mon Dec 27 2021 - 14:00

All-Ireland Women’s Senior Final - Meath 1-11 Dublin 0-12, Croke Park, September 5th.

Her curly hair tied up in a trademark ponytail, Emma Duggan stood out as she covered every blade of grass on the pitch.

But there was more to the teenager, much more; for - in orchestrating one of the biggest upsets of the sporting year as Meath, competing in their first ever senior final, ended Dublin’s quest for a five-in-a-row - Duggan showcased so many brilliant attributes, of skill and speed and hunger.

Ahead of the match, Duggan had remarked: “It’s 15 v15, anything can happen. We trust ourselves, we back ourselves, so we’re quietly confident. Playing Dublin in the final puts fire in the belly. We’ll relish every minute of it.”

Actions speak louder than words and so it proved, with the 19-year-old claiming a central role in a team performance for the ages.

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In seventh minute, Dublin goalkeeper Ciara Trant held the ball on the 20 metre line and looked one way and another at where her kickout would be aimed. In the end, she settled on finding Hannah Tyrrell. But the kick was overhit beyond her teammate and, instead, it was the vigilant Duggan who claimed the ball.

All-Ireland champions Meath celebrate their win over Dublin. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

What happened next became the match-winning moment, even so early in the game.

Rather than retain possess or look to feed off the ball, Duggan’s brain was thinking faster than anyone else’s. She looked up towards the goal, saw Trant back-tracking towards her goalline and, from almost 30 metres, let fly. The kick was performed with swiftness of mind and executed to perfection, Trant falling over the line as the ball hit the net.

Did she mean it?

“Of course . . . we wanted to turnover their kickouts and punish them for it. She was off her line,” said Duggan, adding: “Goals were going to win games.”

That audacious effort proved to be the only goal of the game, the difference in Meath’s historic 1-11 to 0-12 win over Dublin. “I have never been involved in something like this before. It’s like noise I have never heard.

“The atmosphere was absolutely unbelievable . . . I don’t think a single person in the country (gave us a chance), the odds were against us. By god, did the backroom team believe in us, and the players had confidence and belief.”