It’s All-Ireland Ladies final day in Croke Park, and the senior decider between old rivals Dublin and Meath will round off a brilliant day of action.

Louth have been crowned the Junior champions while Tyrone have just prevailed in the intermediate final.

But who will conquer the top tier today? 

It’s a repeat of the 2021 final when an emerging Meath side denied Dublin an All-Ireland five-in-a-row. The Royals went on to defend their crown the following year while Dublin were at the summit in 2023.

Throw-in is at 4.15pm and we will be taking you through all the action so do stay with us.

Happy Louth and Tyrone faces after winning the Junior and Intermediate All-Ireland finals respectively 

Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

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).

Meath

1. Robyn Murray (Navan O’Mahonys)

2. Áine Sheridan (St Michael’s), 3. Mary Kate Lynch (Summerhill), 4. Katie Newe (Ratoath)

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)

Meath change:
No.19 Shauna Ennis starts for No. 4 Katie Newe.

The usual helping of pre-match reading:

• Dublin and Meath renew rivalry, top stars, key battles – All-Ireland final talking points
• ‘I wasn’t in good form for a few months after. You’re so close to the players’
• The 2011 All-Ireland winner targetting more success with Dublin

Make your predictions here. Who will win today?

The teams are finishing up with the parade now. Almost ready to go!

Throw-In! Dublin v Meath

1 min: Dublin 0-0 Meath 0-0

Vikki Wall gets the first attack underway with one of her trademark runs. The ball comes to Ciara Smyth who attempts a palmed effort over the bar, but it’s wide.

3 mins: Dublin 0-1 Meath 0-0

Hannah Tyrrell draws first blood for Dublin, continuing her fine scoring form this season. Just a few seconds before that, Carla Rowe hit the post off her left boot.

Dublin lead

5 mins: Dublin 0-2 Meath 0-0

Wall takes on Leah Caffrey and throws off her challenge while trying to steer her shot into the corner of the net. She screws her shot wide and turns to referee Gus Campbell pleading for a free after her jersey was pulled. He’s not interested though.

Dublin come down the field from the next attack and Rowe wins a free which Tyrrell easily taps over.

GOAL! Dublin 1-2 Meath 0-0 (Nicole Owens ’7)

7 mins: Dublin 1-2 Meath 0-0 

Frantic few moments there.

Emma Duggan tried to open Meath’s account with a shot that dropped into the arms of goalkeeper Abby Shiels. From that attack, Dublin came down the field and Rowe fed the incoming Nicole Owens who booted the ball for the opening goal of the game.

Great start for Dublin in the first 10 minutes.

9 mins: Dublin 1-3 Meath 0-1 

Kate Sullivan curls the ball over the bar superbly and suddenly, Dublin are six points in front.

Meath have an easy free at the other end as Marion Farrelly is fouled by Éilish O’Dowd and Duggan pops the ball over. Meath have their first score just before the end of the opening 10 minutes.

13 mins: Dublin 1-4 Meath 0-1 

Great score from Carla Rowe!

Some really patient play from Dublin there to work the ball across and Rowe made her move to weave through the Meath bodies in front of her before driving her shot over the bar.

15 mins: Dublin 1-5 Meath 0-2

Another Duggan free gets Meath’s scoreboard moving again but a foul on O’Dowd by Sarah Wall allows Tyrrell to stretch Dublin’s lead once again.

17 mins: Dublin 1-5 Meath 0-2

Marion Farrelly draws the foul from Martha Byrne after a well worked Meath attack which included a strong carry from Vikki Wall.

Wall then comes over to take the free but her shot is wide.

18 mins: Dublin 1-5 Meath 0-2

Orlagh Nolan does all the hard work with a brilliant solo run along the sideline in front of the Cusack Stand. She cuts back in and tries to help the ball over but her shot is off target.

18 mins: Dublin 1-7 Meath 0-2

Orlagh Nolan and Kate Sullivan kick two quickfire scores to keep Dublin on top.

Nolan was up first to make up for that miss seconds earlier and Sullivan came bursting through in the next attack. She was going for a goal but her powerful kick goes over the bar instead.

Can Meath come up with a response to stay in this contest?

21 mins: Dublin 1-8 Meath 0-2

Goal chalked off!!

Niamh Hetherton thought she had scored Dublin’s second goal but referee Gus Chapman had already blown the whistle and brings the play back for a Dublin free which Tyrrell easily converts.

GOAL! Dublin 2-8 Meath 0-2 (Niamh Hetherton ’22)

23 mins: Dublin 2-8 Meath 0-2

Niamh Hetherton would not be denied a second time.

Meath are really struggling to contain this hard-running Dublin team and their net has already been shook three times. One of those goals may not have counted but they really need to shut up shop in that central channel. 

25 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-2

A Kate Sullivan shot was initially waved wide but Hawk Eye steps in to correct the error and it’s another point for Dublin.

25 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-2

Meath change: Katie Bermingham comes in to replace midfielder Marion Farrelly.

27 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-2

POST!

Emma Duggan’s free comes back off the post. Nothing is going right for Meath so far.

But as Dublin come bearing down to create another score, their defense get a brilliant turnover on Kate Sullivan. Maybe that’s the spark they need.

27 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-3

Aoibhín Cleary wins a free at the other end and Duggan drops it over the bar. Still no scores from play for Meath but Duggan’s frees are keeping them alive.

28 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-4

And that’s another free for Meath as Jess Tobin fouls Smyth and Duggan converts. The hooter is looming.

Half-Time! Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-4

Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-4

It’s all Dublin so far.

Those goals from Nicole Owens and Niamh Hetherton put them in the driving seat while Kate Sullivan, Orlagh Nolan, Carla Rowe and Hannah Tyrrell have been excellent so far too.

Meath are very reliant on Emma Duggan’s frees and have failed to score from play so far. They will need a big response in the second half to stay in contention.

Today’s attendance is 48,089

Dublin are back out on the field.

And here come Meath. Almost ready for the second half

Second-half: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-4

32 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-4

Nicole Owens takes the first shot of the second half but it’s a wide.

33 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-4

Wall tries to eat into Dublin’s lead with a shot from a tricky angle and the tip of the post pushes the ball out wide.

Meath win a free from the next attack and Duggan will surely go for this one.

34 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-5

And she gets it over the bar to bring the difference down to 10 points.

35 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-6

Áine Sheridan wins a battle with Hannah Tyrrell and Meath start to build up the field. Kerrie Cole and Ciara Smyth combine well before Duggan comes across to kick a brilliant score. 

That’s their first from play. Meath will need plenty more of that.

37 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-6

Wall wins a free from a throw-up. Cole tries for a point but Leah Caffrey gets out in time for a brilliant block down.

38 mins: Dublin 2-9 Meath 0-7

Another little win for Meath as Rowe is penalised for overcarrying. Ciara Smyth carries the ball down the field and gets past Sinéad Goldrick. She’s fouled and Duggan decides to go short to Wall who comes around on the loop and curls the ball over.

Could it be game on here?

40 mins: Dublin 2-10 Meath 0-7

Orlagh Nolan wins a free off Megan Thynne. Rowe then earns another free from Mary Kate Lynch which Rowe takes and she converts.

42 mins: Dublin 2-10 Meath 0-7

Megan Thynne slips and is turned over by Jess Tobin. Meath win it back though but play is stopped as Vikki Wall is down after a collision with Sarah Wall.

Meath change: Marion Farrelly is back on and replaces Shauna Ennis.

44 mins: Dublin 2-11 Meath 0-7

Tyrrell points after taking a pass off Hetherton. Dublin just keeping their noses in front all the time restoring that 10-point advantage.

45 mins: Dublin 2-11 Meath 0-7

Farrelly goes for a point shortly after her reintroduction but she slices the kick and it’s well wide.

46 mins: Dublin 2-12 Meath 0-7

Sullivan again terrorising the Meath defence. She gets around Lynch and drills it over. We’re into the last 15 minutes now and Meath’s chances of a revival are slipping away.

47 mins: Dublin 2-12 Meath 0-8

Brilliant point from distance off the boot of Ciara Smyth. Meath really needed that one.

49 mins: Dublin 2-13 Meath 0-8

A misplaced pass sees Dublin launch a quick counter attack and it ends with a Hetherton point.

51 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-8

Niamh Crowley the latest to get on the scoresheet for Dublin as Nicole Owens makes way to a huge roar. She’s put in a huge shift today.

50 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-8

Meath are still trying to reduce that deficit but the scores just aren’t coming. Substitute Ella Moyles hits a shot that drops short before Sarah Wall kics a wide.

51 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-9

Aoibhín Cleary with a point for Meath but they need a lot more in the last few minutes to close in on Dublin now.

53 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-10

Duggan wins a free after she was surrounded by a wall of blue jerseys. She takes it herself and scores.

54 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-10

Niamh Donlon fetches the kickout but is injured in the process and there’s another stoppage. It feels like we’re just winding down to the inevitable conclusion.

55 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-10

Martha Byrne intercepts a pass to kill another Meath attack as the seconds trickle away.

55 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-10

Hannah Tyrrell is down. She looks to be in a bit of pain and the medics are coming on.

55 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-10

Laura Grendon is on to replace here and the cart is coming out to stretcher her off. It looked like she was holding her knee after she came down while trying to contest a ball in.

That’s a really unfortunate sight after another big performance from the star Dublin forward.

55 mins: Dublin 2-14 Meath 0-10

She’s up and says she doesn’t need the stretcher but she’s hobbling badly. She walks off to a mighty roar in the stands. Hopefully it’s not too serious.

56 mins: Dublin 2-15 Meath 0-10

Brilliant score from Rowe!

She uses her dummy bounce to create some space and pops the ball over with her left boot.

57 mins: Dublin 2-15 Meath 0-10

Rowe takes another shot at the posts but this time it’s a wide. It hardly matters now though as Dublin await their coronation. 

58 mins: Dublin 2-15 Meath 0-10

Meath try to drop the ball into the square from a Duggan free but Dublin deal with it and clear the danger as Marion Farrelly is penalised for pulling ther jersey.

59 mins: Dublin 2-15 Meath 0-10

Orlagh Nolan is selected for the Player of the Match award. Thoroughly deserved after her brilliant performance today.

60 mins: Dublin 2-16 Meath 0-10

Carla Rowe kicks a late free to put the cherry on top.

Full-Time! Dublin 2-16 Meath 0-10

Dublin 2-16 Meath 0-10

Well that is that!

A comprehensive performance as Dublin clinch their seventh senior All-Ireland crown. It’s revenge for 2021 when Meath snatched their five-in-a-row away and Dublin are back on top once more.

The damage was done in the first half following goals from Nicole Owens and Niamh Hetherton. They also had a goal chalked off after the play was called back for a Dublin free as Hetherton put the ball in the net.

Meath just never got into the game. They didn’t score from play in the first half and were relying on Emma Duggan’s frees to keep them in the game. A short purple patch developed in the second half when they brought it back to eight points but they couldn’t make any further inroads.

So that’s Louth crowned as Junior All-Ireland champions for 2025, Tyrone take the intermediate title and Dublin are senior winners this year.

Well, that’s all from us folks. Stay tuned for Emma Duffy’s match report live from Croke Park.

Until next time, all the best!