Mayo attack ignites after dire first half

It took a Meath goal late in the first half to bring any sense of purpose into this encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday, but when the sides eventually managed to make a game of it Mayo made it quite clear that they were the more confident and skilled outfit, and deservedly claimed a place in their first All-Ireland final.

A brief exchange of points and the goal from Meath's Eimear McAuley was all that distinguished a first half in which both sides had shot numerous wides.

Even Mayo's key scoretaker, Cora Staunton, took quite a while to settle, missing numerous opportunities to put her side ahead in the opening quarter of a hour.

The first score of the game came in the 13th minute when Meath's Roisin McNelis sneaked through to take a point from close range. Sabrina Bailey responded almost immediately for Mayo and from there until just before the break missed chances were again the pattern at both ends of the field, with Mayo reaching seven wides as the half ticked to a close.

Then McAuley completed an impressive goal-scoring run just before the half-time hooter, and the score was quickly followed by a free from Elaine Duffy, so that it was Meath who led, 1-4 to 0-3, at the interval.

This seemed to spark Mayo into the dominating mode they always appeared capable of, starting with a hard-earned point from Christina Heffernan and then a superb low-flying shot to goal from Staunton four minutes into the second half.

From there on, the corner forward never looked back and she helped inspire 16-year-old Sabrina Bailey in the other corner to new heights. Bailey claimed a second goal a minute later.

There was never any doubt over the result from there on as the Meath challenge all but collapsed. Staunton got her free-taking back on target as overall Mayo looked a different side from the one that started.

It was 18 minutes into this half before they hit a wide and by then they were six points up.

Christina O'Brien managed to put a respectable look on the scoreline for Meath with the most impressive goal of the game. But there was still time for Sinead Costello to have the final say for Mayo with the final three points.

Mayo: D Horan; N Lally, N O Se, H Lohan; I Mullarkey, Y Byrne, M Heffernon; C Egan (0-1), M Staunton; O Casby, D O'Hora (0-1, a free), S Costello (1-0); C Staunton (1-4, three frees), C Heffernan (0-2), S Bailey (1-4, one free). Subs: M O'Malley (0-1) for Casby (46 mins).

Meath: M Fox; J Quinn, P McNelis, D Shaw; D Mangan (capt), AM Dennehy, L McKeever; D O'Carroll, N McNelis; C O'Brien (1-2, two frees), D McGoldrick, M Maguire; E Duffy (0-1, a free), E McAuley (1-3), R McNelis (0-1). Subs: M Lucey for R McNelis (42 mins); B Dennehy for Shaw (49 mins); A Bennet for Duffy (75 mins).

Referee: P Molyneaux (Limerick).