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Kepak SFC FINAL - Terrific treble for Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels
- Oct 04,2025
KEPAK LADIES SFC FINAL - Terrific treble for Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels
Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels 4-11, Dunboyne 2-8
Dynasties in Meath LGFA are not rare, but Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels third successive SFC final win over Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday marks them as one of the great sides in Meath Ladies history. This was the fourth time in succession these two sides met in the Joe Breen Cup decider and ever since their first win in 2023 Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels have been seriously dominant. Dunboyne are also a fine team, but after shipping three goals when playing against a near gale force wind in the opening period there was no way back as Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels defended superbly. Niamh Gallogly was outstanding throughout. Her workrate from front to back provided the platform for Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels to perform. When her team needed defensive fortitude it was Gallogly who offered great assistance to the outstanding Sarah Duffy, Keva McTigue and Rachael Doonan.
In a dominant opening half Gallogly added to a fired-up attack where Meadhbh Byrne, Ella Moyles and Ciara Gorman excelled. It was a complete performance from the champions. Their pace, power and fitness was magnificent and their determination to dampen the impact of Dunboyne's key players made life very difficult the challengers. Dunboyne burst from the traps and despite playing against the wind they moved the ball superbly with Sarah Wall firing over. Royal Gaels responded with a point from Byrne and from the resultant difficult kickout into the wind Anna Moyles won possession and fed Byrne who set up Gorman for a simple finish to the net. Ella Moyles added a point, but Dunboyne continued to be a threat and Anna Kane showed her prowess when she fielded a high ball brilliantly before rifling to the net to make it 1-1 to 1-2. Gorman responded with a free and in the eighth minute Doonan converted Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels' second goal following a fine move involving Petra Reilly, Niamh McEntee and Gallogly. Gorman bagged her side's third goal when her short free slipped through a defenders hands and in the 11th minute Byrne made it 3-4 to 1-1 with a point from play. Even losing McEntee to a yellow card sin-bin for 10 minutes early in the second quarter didn't knock Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels out of their stride as Gorman palmed over the bar with the goal gaping, while Byrne, Gallogly and two more frees from Gorman made it 3-9 to 1-1 before McEntee returned. McEntee did miss a great goal chance in the last play of the half, but Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels led by 14 points at the interval.
Dunboyne needed the boost of a bright start to the second-half with the wind in their favour, but they struggled to get going with Emma Duggan uncharacteristically wide from a great goal chance before she finally opened her account in the 35th minute with a point. Annie Moffat also fired over a point and even though they lost Sarah Wall for 10 minutes following a yellow card for an accumulation of fouls they continued to claw their way back with Duggan pointing before brilliantly setting up Moffat for a fine goal to make it 2-4 to 3-9 with 16 minutes remaining. However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed inside a minute as Gallogly's point attempt dropped short and over the head of Alison O'Sullivan for Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels fourth goal. The remainder was academic.
Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels defended brilliantly as Fiona O'Neill fired over a goal chance for Dunboyne. Anna Moyles restored Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels cushion before a brace of Duggan frees made it 2-7 to 4-10. Kristina Troy marked her introduction with a point. Katie Bermingham's lively performance for Dunboyne was capped with a point, but it was never going to trouble Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels who emulated their club's men's team from the early 2000s who also won a historic three-in-a-row. This team will now also go down in history as one of the greatest.
Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels - Michelle O'Hare; Sarah Duffy, Ava O'Brien, Keva McTigue; Karla Kealy, Sadhbh O Muiri, Rachael Doonan (1-0); Grace Summerville, Ella Moyles (0-1); Anna Moyles (0-1), Niamh Gallogly (1-1), Petra Reilly; Ciara Gorman (2-4 1-3 frees), Niamh McEntee, Meadhbh Byrne (0-3). Subs - Kristina Troy (0-1) for McEntee 39m, Elena Kennedy for Reilly 43m, Laura Quinn for Summerville 51m, Leah Sheridan for Gorman 61m.
Dunboyne - Alison O'Sullivan; Rachel McDermott, Lea Davey, Niamh Williams; Sarah Wall (0-1), Hannah Nolan, Caragh McCarthy; Aoife Delaney, Kate Griffin; Saoirse Quinn, Katie Bermingham (0-1), Rachel Norman; Emma Duggan (0-4 two frees), Fiona O'Neill (0-1), Anna Kane (1-0). Subs - Annie Moffat (1-1) for Griffin 27m, Aoife Donohoe for Norman half-time, Elizabeth Comerford for Quinn 62m.
Referee - Henri Clifford (Ballivor).
Linespersons: Ian Dowdall and Sean Clarke
4th Official: Frank Heavey
Thanks to Fergal Lynch and Meath Chronicle for the Report