Ladies football legend Cora Staunton has claimed that big day experience could tip the scales in Meaths favour in today’s All Ireland final against Kerry.
The long-time Mayo star told the independent.ie ‘Eamonn Murray can call on some of the best talent in the country, they are well drilled and notoriously difficult to break down – Galway’s 1-11 is the greatest tally they have conceded across 12 games in league and championship – but they aren’t without their weaknesses.
‘They have been winning games – a Leinster final reverse to Dublin was the only outlier – but some of their big names haven’t been motoring as well as they were last year.
‘Emma Duggan has been their saviour this year, bailing them out when they were under the pump against Galway in the last eight and Donegal the last day. Without the 20-year-old, their All-Ireland defence wouldn’t have made it to the final hurdle.
‘But, heading into this match, Meath has the know-how. And their real quality endures. The likes of Vikki Wall, AoibhÃn Cleary and Máire O’Shaughnessy could easily find their groove around the middle again; Niamh O’Sullivan, Kelsey Nesbitt and Stacey Grimes might ease the burden on Duggan with the kind of scores from play they were picking off last year. Then Kerry would be in real trouble.’
