While the All-Ireland champions added two immediate points on the resumption to move six clear (0-8 to 0-2), it was the visitors who then thundered into proceedings, aided by the stiff breeze to their backs. A third stunning save from goalkeeper Robyn Murray seemed to ignite their charge. Five points-in-a-row, three from Emma Duggan, reduced the deficit to the bare minimum, with Meath then hitting the front, courtesy of the game’s only goal – Vicki Wall and Katie Newe involved before Meadhbh Byrne buried the ball in the Kingdom net (1-7 to 0-8). Entering the last 20 minutes, and with the elements firmly in their favour, Meath would have been favourites to drive on. However, a yellow card issued to goalscorer Byrne stalled their momentum, and Kerry found their second wind. The likes of Roisín Rahilly, Niamh Carmody and Caoimhe Evans were working like Trojans, and with substitute Rachel Dwyer making a significant impact off the bench, the home team fired over five of the last six points to record their fifth successive victory. Meath dug in bravely against the wind in the opening half. Indeed, they led (0-2 to 0-1) at the end of the first quarter, with Kerry unfortunate not to find the net on two occasions. Firstly, Jadyn Lucey was denied by Murray, and then Danielle O’Leary had a punched goal disallowed for a square ball. Murray was in the thick of the action again in the 16th minute, making another excellent reflex save, this time from Carmody, and while the hosts notched the first half’s last five points, their lead (0-6 to 0-2) at half-time appeared to be precarious. That was certainly the case by the 40th minute when Meath went into the ascendancy but, as stated, the sin-binning of Byrne, and Kerry’s ability to raise their collective performance levels, turned the tide to set up a repeat of last year’s Division 1 final decider against Armagh. Scorers for Kerry: S O’Shea 0-6 (0-5fs), N Carmody, R Dwyer 0-2 each, D O’Leary, A O’Connell, A Galvin 0-1 each. Scorers for Meath: E Duggan 0-5 (0-2fs), M Byrne 1-1, N Gallogly, C Smyth 0-1 each. KERRY: ME Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; K Cronin, A O’Connell, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; C Evans, N Ní Chonchúir, N Carmody; J Lucey, S O’Shea, D O’Leary. Subs: R Dwyer for Lucey (44), C McCarthy for Dillane (55), L Boyle for Evans (59), J Curtin for Carmody (60). MEATH: R Murray; A Sheridan, S Wall, A Gaffney; K Newe, MK Lynch, C Millington; N Gallogly, E Moyles; M Thynne, O Sheehy, C Smyth; M Byrne, V Wall, E Duggan. Subs: M Farrelly for Moyles (21), K Kealy for Millington (34), N Troy for Gaffney (49), M Collins for Newe (56). REFEREE: S Curley (Galway).