DUBLIN ARE ALL-IRELAND champions once again after a dominant, 12-point win over Meath.
The Sky Blues stormed to their second Brendan Martin Cup title in three years — and seventh in total — in a repeat of the 2021 All-Ireland final, when Meath ended their Drive for Five.
They exacted revenge in front of 48,089 fans in Croke Park, their biggest lead 13 points and the gap 11 at half time.
The one blemish on a memorable day for Dublin was Hannah Tyrrell limping off late on, the three-sport sensation indicating this was her Last Dance in the build-up.
First-half goals from Nicole Owens and Niamh Hetherton sent them on their way, with Player of the Match Orlagh Nolan; Tyrrell, Carla Rowe and Kate Sullivan among the other standout stars. That trio combined for 0-13.
Paul Casey and Derek Murray’s side made it four wins out of four in 2025 against their Leinster rivals. Meath will be hugely disappointed with their showing, the 2021 and 2022 champions suffering their first-ever final defeat.
Emma Duggan in possession for Meath. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Dublin had 1-3 on the board before Meath registered their first score just before the 10th minute. Owens scored the game’s opening goal after good work from Rowe, while Tyrrell and Sullivan started as they meant to go on before the posts.
Advertisement
Emma Duggan had dropped two efforts short before she scored her second free. Her place-kicking was Meath’s only source of scoring in the first half, 0-4 converted as Dublin’s defence stood strong and fouled around the ‘D’ where necessary. Vikki Wall dribbled an early goal chance wide, but that was as close as the wasteful Royals came.
Dublin were fast and furious, 13 points the widest margin in the opening half. The scoreline was 2-9 to 0-2 at that point in the 24th minute, Sullivan’s latest effort confirmed by HawkEye just after Hetherton raised their second green flag.
Having just seen a goal disallowed — it was called back for a free — the Clontarf powerhouse side-stepped Mary Kate Lynch and fired into the Canal End after a Meath kick out malfunction.
Tyrrell, Rowe and the industrious Nolan were others on target as the Dubs hit an unanswered 1-5. Duggan ended Meath’s 13-minute scoreless spell with two frees, leaving it 2-9 to 0-4 at the break.
Chasing an 11-point deficit, the Royals scored three on the bounce on the restart. Duggan hit their first from play five minutes in, before Wall followed suit.
But by the three-quarter mark, Dublin had restored their half-time lead after points from their attacking triple threat, Rowe, Tyrrell and Sullivan.
Vikki Wall crashed into her sister, Sarah, at one point, summing up Meath’s day, while Sinéad Goldrick and Leah Caffrey typically marshalled the Dublin defence. But for goalkeeper Robyn Murray things could have been worse for Meath.
Long a procession at this point, the champions outscored their hapless opponents 0-4 to 0-3 in a stop-start final quarter.
It featured a lengthy delay as Tyrrell received medical attention, and captain fantastic Rowe capped a huge Dublin performance with a free into Hill 16 after the buzzer.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
15 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Dublin dominate Meath to win second All-Ireland in three years
Dublin 2-16
Meath 0-10
DUBLIN ARE ALL-IRELAND champions once again after a dominant, 12-point win over Meath.
The Sky Blues stormed to their second Brendan Martin Cup title in three years — and seventh in total — in a repeat of the 2021 All-Ireland final, when Meath ended their Drive for Five.
They exacted revenge in front of 48,089 fans in Croke Park, their biggest lead 13 points and the gap 11 at half time.
The one blemish on a memorable day for Dublin was Hannah Tyrrell limping off late on, the three-sport sensation indicating this was her Last Dance in the build-up.
First-half goals from Nicole Owens and Niamh Hetherton sent them on their way, with Player of the Match Orlagh Nolan; Tyrrell, Carla Rowe and Kate Sullivan among the other standout stars. That trio combined for 0-13.
Paul Casey and Derek Murray’s side made it four wins out of four in 2025 against their Leinster rivals. Meath will be hugely disappointed with their showing, the 2021 and 2022 champions suffering their first-ever final defeat.
Dublin had 1-3 on the board before Meath registered their first score just before the 10th minute. Owens scored the game’s opening goal after good work from Rowe, while Tyrrell and Sullivan started as they meant to go on before the posts.
Emma Duggan had dropped two efforts short before she scored her second free. Her place-kicking was Meath’s only source of scoring in the first half, 0-4 converted as Dublin’s defence stood strong and fouled around the ‘D’ where necessary. Vikki Wall dribbled an early goal chance wide, but that was as close as the wasteful Royals came.
Dublin were fast and furious, 13 points the widest margin in the opening half. The scoreline was 2-9 to 0-2 at that point in the 24th minute, Sullivan’s latest effort confirmed by HawkEye just after Hetherton raised their second green flag.
Having just seen a goal disallowed — it was called back for a free — the Clontarf powerhouse side-stepped Mary Kate Lynch and fired into the Canal End after a Meath kick out malfunction.
Tyrrell, Rowe and the industrious Nolan were others on target as the Dubs hit an unanswered 1-5. Duggan ended Meath’s 13-minute scoreless spell with two frees, leaving it 2-9 to 0-4 at the break.
Chasing an 11-point deficit, the Royals scored three on the bounce on the restart. Duggan hit their first from play five minutes in, before Wall followed suit.
But by the three-quarter mark, Dublin had restored their half-time lead after points from their attacking triple threat, Rowe, Tyrrell and Sullivan.
Vikki Wall crashed into her sister, Sarah, at one point, summing up Meath’s day, while Sinéad Goldrick and Leah Caffrey typically marshalled the Dublin defence. But for goalkeeper Robyn Murray things could have been worse for Meath.
Long a procession at this point, the champions outscored their hapless opponents 0-4 to 0-3 in a stop-start final quarter.
It featured a lengthy delay as Tyrrell received medical attention, and captain fantastic Rowe capped a huge Dublin performance with a free into Hill 16 after the buzzer.
Scorers for Dublin: Hannah Tyrrell 0-5 (3f), Kate Sullivan 0-4, Carla Rowe 0-4 (2f), Niamh Hetherton 1-1 Nicole Owens 1-0, Orlagh Nolan 0-1, Niamh Crowley 0-1.
Scorers for Meath: Emma Duggan 0-7 (6f), Vikki Wall 0-1, Ciara Smyth 0-1, Aoibhín Cleary 0-1.
Dublin
1. Abby Shiels (Lucan Sarsfields)
2. Jess Tobin (Cuala), 3. Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), 4. Niamh Donlon (St Oliver Punkett ER)
5. Sinéad Goldrick (Foxrock-Cabinteely), 6. Martha Byrne (Cuala), 7. Niamh Crowley (Fingallians)
8. Éilish O’Dowd (Na Fianna), 9. Hannah McGinnis (Skerries Harps)
10. Nicole Owens (St Sylvester’s) 11. Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire — captain), 12. Orlagh Nolan (Ballinteer St Johns)
13. Hannah Tyrrell (Na Fianna), 14. Niamh Hetherton (Clontarf), 15. Kate Sullivan (St Sylvester’s).
Subs
Meath
1. Robyn Murray (Navan O’Mahonys)
2. Áine Sheridan (St Michael’s), 3. Mary Kate Lynch (Summerhill), 19. Shauna Ennis (Na Fianna)
5. Aoibhín Cleary (Donaghmore Ashbourne, captain), 6. Sarah Wall (St Peter’s Dunboyne), 7. Karla Kealy (Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels)
8. Orlaith Sheehy (Dee Rangers), 9. Marion Farrelly (St Michael’s)
10. Megan Thynne (Dunsany) 11. Niamh Gallogly (Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels), 12. Ciara Smyth (Skryne)
13. Emma Duggan (St Peter’s Dunboyne), 14. Vikki Wall (St Peter’s Dunboyne), 15. Kerrie Cole (Na Fianna)
Subs
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
*****
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Dublin GAA Ladies Football LGFA Match Report Meath