Lough Lene Gaels defeat Crookedwood

Lough Lene Gaels won the final of the first competition to be concluded in the 2009 Westmeath Club Camogie Competition calendar at Ringtown.The Purple and Gold"s played themselves into a winning position in the first half of last Saturday"s decider, at the end of which they were in front by a margin of 16 points. Crookedwood though would look back at not obtaining any scores during a spell of pressure on the Lough Lene Gaels rearguard midway through the first half with regret. That said, Lough Lene Gaels were worthy of their half time lead.There was no major trend change in terms of the playing pattern of the contest during the second half, Lough Lene Gaels adding to their half time lead, despite the best efforts of a gallant Crookedwood team, Lough Lene Gaels were worthy winners of this Westmeath 2009 Feile na nGael decider. Following last Saturday"s final, Elizabeth Shaw, Chairperson of the Westmeath Camogie Board, presented the Martina Poynton Memorial Perpetual Cup to the joint Lough Lene Gaels team captains, Avril and Nicola Fagan.In winning six Westmeath Feile na nGael camogie titles in succession, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, out of their overall total of eight, Lough Lene Gaels have set a county record for successive Westmeath Feile na nGael title wins in camogie, overtaking Raharney"s five successive title wins of 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984.Lough Lene Gaels wasted no time in this contest in bringing pressure to bear on the Crookedwood rearguard. The Purple and Gold"s hitting two early wides before taking the match lead when Orla Lynch struck the ball low to the Crookedwood net from a acute angle.For what remained of the opening quarter of play thereafter, much of the attacking play in the contest came from Lough Lene Gaels. But the Meath border club were very wasteful when it came to turning scoring opportunities into actual scores, striking a number of wides in rapid fire like succession.Crookedwood had the Lough Lene Gaels rearguard under pressure during a phase of the contest that straddled the midway point of the first half. The attacking spell of play failed to result in any scores for the Tricolours. Having successfully endured Crookedwood"s spell of attacking play, Lough Lene Gaels quickly turned defence into attack, with a very swift attacking move. That attacking move finished with a second goal for Lough Lene Gaels, Caoimhe McCrossan, the goal scorer.That particular score was the signal for Lough Lene Gaels to step up their efforts in their search for further scores. They were quickly rewarded with a smashing goal from Avril Fagan. Within moments, Lough Lene Gaels were quickly back on the offensive and scored a fourth goal via Orla Lynch. The Purple and Gold"s further added to their lead prior to half time with a goal that was scored by Caoimhe McCrossan and a excellent point that was scored by Nicola Fagan.Half time score: Lough Lene Gaels 5-1, Crookedwood 0-0.Early attacking play from Crookedwood in the second half went unrewarded for the Tricolours in terms of obtaining scores, before Lough Lene Gaels swept into attack. An intense attacking spell of play that followed from the Purple and Gold"s eventually rewarded them, via the scoring of a goal by Kelly Dobson.Lough Lene Gaels kept up the pressure on the Crookedwood rearguard in the minutes of action that followed thereafter, but could not add to their lead during that phase of play, the ball drifting wide of the Crookedwood uprights via a number of scoring attempts.Lough Lene Gaels continued to keep pressure up on the Crookedwood defence, and were rewarded for that pressure when Kelly Dobson rifled the ball to the back of the Crookedwood net, via a first time from close range. A scoring lull then followed, during which the bulk of the attacking play came from the Purple and Gold"s. It was Lough Lene Gaels who eventually ended that scoring lull, Caoimhe McCrossan striking over a point from a 45m award.Although Crookedwood were making every effort to play themselves back into contention, it was Lough Lene Gaels who looked more likely to increase their already useful match lead. That is in fact what eventually did happen, Nicola Fagan firing over a splendid point. With the contest in its closing quarter, Nicola Fagan fired over another point for Lough Lene Gaels.In the match action that remained thereafter, and up to and including the final whistle, there was no further change in the match scoreline.Final score: Lough Lene Gaels 7-4, Crookedwood 0-0.Lough Lene Gaels: Sarah Fagan, Laura Coyle, Maria Henry, Saoirse Farrelly, Shannon Farrelly, Yvonne Malone, Amy McNicholas, Avril Fagan (1-0), Nicola Fagan (0-3), Anna Henry, Kelly Dobson (2-0), Ann Marie Kennedy, Orla Lynch (2-0), Caoimhe McCrossan (2-1, 0-1 45m award) and Linda Healy. Subs used; Shauna Coughlan, Emma Carter and Bridget O"Reilly.Crookedwood: Emily Monaghan, Sinéad McCarthy, Michaela Monaghan, Moira Joyce, Rebecca Hackett, Róisín Scally, Shonagh Savage, Julie McLoughlin, Holly Foley, Rachel Shaw, Kate Weir, Deirdre Lynch, Michelle Duffy, Sabina McLoughlin and Sinéad Doyle. Subs used; Tara Foley and Sarah Daly.Referee: Jimmy Nolan - Raharney Camogie Club.