Second half Longford blitz too much for plucky Westmeath

A Longford blitzkrieg in the first four minutes of the second half in which they scored 2-3, put paid to Westmeath"s chances in this thoroughly entertaining game played in Bunbrosna on Sunday last.Trailing by just a point at the break, the Lake County girls had no answer to the onslaught and it was the deciding factor of a game that had started brightly for them.However, Longford"s size and overall balance were superior to Westmeath and they knew exactly what to do when in front of goal, none more so than Eimear Dooley and Denise Murtagh who scored 4-3 between them and really opened up the Westmeath defence with precision. They had their Westmeath opponents chasing shadows for long periods of this game.In the sweltering heat, Westmeath faded badly and Longford"s superior fitness was to the fore, but credit to Kenny McKinley"s charges they battled right to the very end and never threw in the towel despite being overwhelmed at times. This result sees them precariously close to exiting the Championship and results would have to seriously go their way for them to make progress in this competition.Longford got the first score of the game on three minutes when Mary Kiernan pointed after a superb run by centre forward Edel Quinn, but the game then became scrappy for a few minutes as the teams tried to cope with the heat and Westmeath equalised when Eimear Connellan converted a long-range free after a foul on Laura Walsh. Connellan was on hand again moments later when a great move involving Ruth Kearney and Laura Walsh ended with Connellan striking a super point for Westmeath to take the lead.It lasted barely a minute though as Eimear Dooley combined with Denise Murtagh and was clean through on goal, but luckily for Westmeath the ball went over rather than under the crossbar. Denise Murtagh put Longford ahead again after a high ball to the square was not dealt with by the Westmeath defence, but Westmeath did get a break when a high ball from Fiona Leavy hung up in the square and somehow Georgina Fagan got her fist to it and deflected it to the Longford net.The euphoria was not to last long though, as almost immediately Longford broke downfield and Denise Murtagh was brought down in the square. A penalty was awarded which the same player buried in the bottom corner of the net. Georgina Fagan and Fiona Leavy pulled two back for Westmeath as they hit the front once more, but their goal led a charmed life when only a despairing block by Edel Marshall stopped a certain Longford goal. However, it was merely a respite as moments later a powerful shot from Denise Murtagh rattled off the crossbar and when it fell it was into the arms of Michelle McElvaney who made no mistake from close range.Westmeath thought they had recovered from that when Georgina Fagan fisted to the net but the referee gave a square ball, but Eimear Connellan did get a point for Westmeath just on the stroke of half time to leave it 2-3 to 1-5 in favour of Longford.The first four minutes of the second half were a nightmare for Westmeath as they were rattled by a Longford onslaught that was clinical and thorough. Jacinta Brady came on at midfield for the Longford girls and her presence was immense. Points from Michelle Ross, Edel Quinn and Mary Kiernan were added to by two goals from Emer Dooley, one as good as the next and it seemed to rip the heart out of the Westmeath challenge.Westmeath brought on subs, but at this stage the game was gone from them and they were simply playing for pride. Longford continued to pressurise and after points by Michelle Ross and Edel Quinn the latter player was hauled down in the square by Westmeath custodian, Gemma Leahy and Denise Murtagh hit one of the sweetest penalties one could ever hope to see, giving Leahy absolutely no chance. The game was truly over as a contest at this stage but Westmeath would not just lie down and after a super goal from Katie Sommers, Fiona Leavy (2) and sub Sarah McManus added points to put a degree of respectability on the scoreboard.But Longford were in no mood for sentimentality and another goal from Edel Quinn after a superb passing movement pulled them even further ahead and finished the game as a contest. Niamh O"Mahony and Denise Murtagh swapped points before the final whistle but this game was long over as a contest before that point as the ladies of Longford outplayed and out-thought the Westmeath girls.Longford had many stars on the day, the pick of which was their full forward line that caused devastation in the Westmeath ranks, while centre back, Sharon Tracey was superb throughout, but their overall team play was far superior to Westmeath"s. For Westmeath, Fiona Leavy was immense and bust a gut for the full 60 minutes, while Katie Sommers, Eimear Connellan and Johanna Maher were others to impress, but they were simply plugging the dyke at times and it will take all manager, Kenny McKinley"s efforts to raise the spirits of the girls after this heavy defeat.Scorers - Longford: Denise Murtagh 2-2, Emer Dooley 2-1, Edel Quinn 1-2, Michelle McElvaney 1-0, Michelle Ross and Mary Kiernan 0-2 each. Westmeath: Georgina Fagan 1-1, Eimear Connellan 0-3, Fiona Leavy 0-3, Katie Sommers 1-0,Niamh O"Mahony and Sarah McManus 0-1 each.Longford: Michelle Kilkenny, Antoinette Brady, Lissie Brady, Adrenia Melia, Mary Brady, Sharon Treacy, Yvonne Barden, Alison Smith, Siobhan McGowan, Michelle Ross, Edel Quinn, Emer Dooley, Mary Kiernan, Michelle McElvaney, Denise Murtagh. Subs: Jacinta Brady for McGowan H/T, Susan Duncan for Kiernan 45 mins, Donna Leavy for Ross and Bronagh Farrell for Jacinta Brady 48 mins, Anne Marie Bratten for Quinn 57 mins.Westmeath: Gemma Leahy, Carol Finch, Lisa Burke, Edel Marshall, Elaine Finn, Johanna Maher, Joanne McCormack, Fiona Leavy, Laura Walsh, Emma Morris, Georgina Fagan, Ruth Kearney, Maud Anne Foley, Katie Sommers, Eimear Connellan. Subs: Laura Halligan for Morris H/T, Niamh O"Mahony for McCormack 35 mins, Aine Melody for Foley 40 mins, Sarah McManus for Fagan 51 mins, Karen McDermott for Connellan 60 mins.Referee: Tony Lennon, Dublin.