Dublin and Meath name teams for All-Ireland final showdown
Dublin have made one change in personnel, with Orlagh Nolan replacing Caoimhe O'Connor, while Meath are unchanged.
Nolan is in line for a first inter-county start since the 2024 All-Ireland series after recovering from an ACL injury.
O'Connor suffered a hamstring setback in Dublin's All-Ireland quarter-final win over Galway, but she's fit enough to make the bench.
Nolan replaced O'Connor after 27 minutes on that occasion to make her return, capping an impressive substitute appearance with 0-1 — and an assist for Carla Rowe's brilliant back-heel goal in extra-time.
Meath have announced the same starting fifteen that dethroned Kerry in the semi-final — and for the seventh successive game — but key defender Katie Newe is a doubt after suffering a knee injury that day.
Rivals Dublin and Meath renew their rivalry in a repeat of the 2021 final, when the Royals ended the Drive for Five to win their first All-Ireland title.
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Throw-in at Croke Park on Sunday is 4.15pm, with the game live on TG4.
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)
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Laois and Tyrone, and Antrim and Louth, have also named their teams for the intermediate and junior finals. You can see them here.
Dublin's full matchday squad is available to view here.
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Irish Examiner
3 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
'Dublin were a little bit hungrier' - Meath manager reflects on slow start to All-Ireland final
Meath manager Shane McCormack clung to the positives after a punishing day at Croke Park. And there were some positives despite the double-digit, dozen point defeat to the old enemy. "We had 16 new girls onto the panel from last year and this year," said the Kildare man and former Armagh manager. "I think nine girls got their first ever senior start in an All-Ireland final today, so there are a lot of positives. Those things are healthy, and the U-20s winning the Leinster title the other night as well. That's all very positive for Meath ladies football." The former Kildare goalkeeper still bore the look of a soldier just back from war as he considered events on the field. "I'm just gutted for the girls, to be honest," he said. "We were always doubted, even at the start of the year before a ball was thrown in. And that was to even get to a quarter-final. "But we believed within our circle that we could achieve it. We played Dublin three times this year before today. We got a 16-point trimming in the league which wasn't good and we sat down that week and had a chat among ourselves and we kind of worked on different tactics. "And in fairness to the girls, obviously we lost to Dublin in the Leinster final but we were gutted that day because Dublin got the last eight points without reply from us. "So coming into today's game, we knew what they could do and what we wanted to do but unfortunately the game was nearly over at half-time. "In fairness to our girls, they battled to the end. I think we were 11 down at half-time. In the second-half, I was pretty pleased that we came out of the blocks quickly enough. We lost the second-half by a point. But overall just gutted for the girls because they're a fantastic bunch." Did Meath simply freeze in those opening 23 minutes? Because from then on, they actually outscored Dublin by 0-8 to 0-7. "Dublin were a little bit hungrier, to be honest," responded McCormack, reflecting on how they ran up a 2-9 to 0-2 lead. "In the first five or 10 minutes, they hit the ground running. There were a few passes that went astray with our girls. "Obviously if the goal chances went in...I'm not saying it would have changed the result but we would have been in a different position at half-time. It's very hard going in at half-time in an All-Ireland final when you're 11 points down."


Irish Examiner
3 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Dublin delivered 'over and beyond' says joint manager Paul Casey
It's not often that it all comes together on All-Ireland final day but it did for Dublin. "Over and beyond" was joint Dublin manager Paul Casey's summary of how just about every single Dublin player delivered. Defensively, Dublin conceded just four points from play. At the other end, they had enough scores racked up to lead by 13 points after 23 minutes. And all in what was the very first final contested under the new joint management of former Dublin footballers Casey and Derek Murray. "We knew when we met them this morning that they were ready for it," said Casey. "They had a pep in their step and they came into Croke Park bouncing. But it's nothing like the way they're going to leave here tonight! "It's a day when you're hoping that all your big names and stars will turn up and give a performance and I think that they went over and beyond in terms of that. It was fantastic." Dublin joint manager Paul Casey celebrates with his children Luke, age seven, and Lucy, age 4. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile. Truth be told, Dublin were there for the taking at times in this year's Championship. Certainly they lived on their wits, requiring a late, late Kate Sullivan score to draw with Waterford in Dungarvan. Hannah Tyrrell bailed them out with her free from the edge of the men's 40m arc in the semi-final against Galway, forcing extra-time that evening. And back on Leinster final day, Dublin had to reel off eight late points in a row to secure a four-point win, and the 12-in-a-row, at Meath's expense. So this was by a long way their best display of the year. "I think it was, yeah, absolutely," said Casey. "We saw it in patches before this. When we played Meath in Parnell Park back in the league, we were really, really good in that one. "And I think the last game, the All-Ireland semi-final, brought us on a lot. We really had to dig deep that day. We probably didn't play the football we wanted to but we were just superb out there today. "At times, their composure on the ball, the scores they got, their conversion rate must have been up around 80 percent. It was excellent. "But I thought defensively, and when I talk about defensively I mean from number 15 back to Abby in goals, they were superb. The full-back line, Jess Tobin, Leah Caffrey, Niamh Crowley, all brilliant. Niamh Donlon we actually thought we had lost last weekend, she had a bit of a nick in her groin. So to go out and give that performance was superb. "But it was all over the pitch. I think everybody played close to their best. To do that on this day of all days is very, very satisfying." Casey had special praise for Player of the Match Orlagh Nolan. It was her first start of the year after an ACL injury last year. "When we were up in Clonshaugh and Craobh Chiarain, in the dark and the muck, Orlagh was in the gym and working so hard to come back. She always did it with a smile on her face. "Her composure on the ball out there at crucial times, she was superb. We saw that when she came on in the semi-final against Galway. She's a fantastic footballer, so hopefully she can put all those injury problems behind her."


The Irish Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Orlagh Nolan stars as Dublin storm to seventh All-Ireland crown with dominant win over Meath
Orlagh Nolan marked her long-awaited return to the starting line-up with a player-of-the-match display as Dublin blew away Meath to claim their seventh All-Ireland ladies senior football title Orlagh Nolan marked her long-awaited return to the starting line-up with a player-of-the-match display as Dublin blew away Meath to claim their seventh All-Ireland ladies senior football title TOO MUCH Orlagh Nolan stars as Dublin storm to seventh All-Ireland crown with dominant win over Meath ORLAGH NOLAN marked her first start in over a year by leading Dublin to seventh heaven. It has been a fairytale comeback for the Ballinteer St John's forward, who only returned from an ACL knee injury as a sub in the semi-final win over Galway. 2 Dublin players celebrate after their side's victory in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship final match vs Meath at Croke Park 2 Meath players dejected after Dublin dashed their All-Ireland dreams at GAA HQ on Sunday But she was quick to deliver a reminder of her importance to the cause with a player-of-the-match display as the Dubs took their tally of All-Ireland ladies SFC titles to seven. In front of 48,089 spectators at Croke Park, the Sky Blues were utterly dominant as they atoned for the 2021 defeat to Meath that cost them a fifth Brendan Martin Cup on the spin. Aided by goals from Nicole Owens and Niamh Hetherton, they were 13 points ahead by the 24th minute. The gap was briefly cut to eight after the change of ends but Dublin's prospects of regaining a crown they last won in 2023 were never in jeopardy. It was the perfect climax to the first year of the dual reign of Paul Casey and Derek Murray, who had big shoes to fill when they succeeded five-time All-Ireland-winning gaffer Mick Bohan last December. On Nolan's performance, Casey beamed: "When we were up at Clonshaugh and Craobh Chiaráin in the dark and the muck, Orla was in the gym and she was working so hard to come back. She always did it with a smile on her face. "We would love to have had her back playing full games, maybe in the quarter-final, but our medical team were very strict in terms of just easing her back into it. "But it fell perfectly for her to have her first start today." Aiming to avoid being beaten by their neighbours for the fourth time this season, Meath were buoyed by dethroning 2024 champions Kerry in their semi-final. Their chances of claiming a third title in five seasons were hindered by the unavailability of Katie Newe, who was ruled out with a knee injury sustained against the Kingdom. 'Aged like milk on a windowsill in July' - Watch BBC's GAA pundits ALL predict Donegal to beat Kerry Nevertheless, there was no stopping the blue wave as Dublin produced a performance that Casey rated as their best of the season. The joint-manager said: "I thought they were just superb out there today. At times, their composure on the ball, the scores they got – their conversion rate must have been up around 80 per cent. It was excellent. "But I thought defensively, and when I talk about defensively, it's from number 15 back to Abby in goals. They were superb. "But it was all over the pitch. I think everybody played close to their best. To do it on this day of all days is very, very satisfying." Casey was thrilled with the contribution of his mean rearguard, who restricted Meath to just four points from play. At the other end of the pitch, the input was equally impressive as Hannah Tyrrell, Carla Rowe and Kate Sullivan combined for 0-13. With 8-38 to her name, Tyrrell ends 2025 as the Championship's leading scorer. But there was an unfortunate ending to her last act as an inter-county footballer. The Na Fianna woman, who turns 35 next week, limped off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the closing stages. Still, it is unlikely to tarnish her triumphant swansong. Dublin committed nine first-half fouls within scoring range, yet Meath had just 0-4 on the board by half-time. Emma Duggan frees were responsible for that entire tally as the Royals failed to score from play while attacking the Hill 16 end. A dismal first half, which they ended with a 40 per cent conversion rate, was epitomised when a relatively straightforward effort by Duggan's standards came back off the post. The pace and power of Vikki Wall always resembled Meath's most likely source of progress. She dragged an early goal chance wide, though the 2024 AFLW Premiership winner was unhappy that Leah Caffrey was not penalised for grabbing her jersey before she pulled the trigger. It did not take long for things to look ominous for Meath. After Tyrrell got Dublin up and running with a pair of points, their first goal arrived via Owens. Niamh Hetherton did well to keep the ball in play, before Rowe fended off Mary Kate Lynch. The Dublin skipper teed up Owens, who neatly tucked the ball away to leave her side 1-2 to 0-0 in front after six minutes. Hetherton had the ball in the net on 21 minutes, only for the score to be ruled out as ref Gus Chapman had already blown for a free that was converted by Tyrrell. But Hetherton did get her goal just a minute later. With the Dubs making inroads from their press on the Meath kickout, Hetherton was released by Éilish O'Dowd. The Clontarf powerhouse expertly turned inside Lynch and unleashed a ferocious shot that left Meath goalkeeper Robyn Murray with no chance. Sullivan followed up with the third of her four points, leaving Dublin in a 2-9 to 0-2 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. A couple of Duggan frees put a slightly better complexion on the scoreboard for Meath at the interval. She added two more after the restart and Wall also chipped in as their outlook seemed somewhat more promising at 2-9 to 0-7. If the winds of change were blowing, Meath's resurgence was more of a moderate breeze than a storm. In any case, it was sufficiently weathered. A free from Rowe ended a 15-minute barren spell for Dublin. Tyrrell and Sullivan then added to their tallies and the 12-in-a-row Leinster champions remained in the driving seat down the stretch. Meath boss Shane McCormack said: "Dublin were a little bit hungrier, to be honest. In the first five or ten minutes, they hit the blocks running. "Dublin got ahead with the two goals and when any Dublin team get ahead, they're very hard to claw back. "But credit to Dublin today, they're a super team with multiple All-Stars and All-Ireland medal winners. "But we had 16 new girls onto the panel from last year and this year. I think nine girls got their first ever senior start in an All-Ireland final today, so there are a lot of positives. "It is healthy, even with the Under-20s winning the Leinster the other night as well. So it's very positive for Meath ladies football." Meath 0-10 - 2-16 Dublin DUBLIN: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, N Donlon; S Goldrick, M Byrne, N Crowley 0-1; E O'Dowd, N Hetherton 1-1; N Owens 1-0, H McGinnis, O Nolan 0-1; H Tyrrell 0-5, 3f, C Rowe 0-4, 2f, K Sullivan 0-4. Subs: S McIntyre for Owens 49 mins, A Kane for McGinnis 51, H Leahy for Donlon 54, L Grendon for Tyrrell 55, C Darby for Sullivan 57. MEATH: R Murray; K Kealy, MK Lynch, A Sheridan; S Ennis, S Wall, A Cleary 0-1; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth 0-1; E Duggan 0-7, 6f, V Wall 0-1, K Cole. Subs: K Bermingham for Farrelly 25 mins, Farrelly for Ennis 42, E Moyles for Sheehy 42, N McEntee for Cole 49, C Lawlor for Kealy 51. REFEREE: G Chapman (Sligo)