Key derby clash now looms for Westmeath
Westmeath ladies will have to recover quickly after a four-point defeat against Antrim, in the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship, at Home Instead Lakepoint Park last Sunday.
A thrilling contest produced late drama as Anna Jones netted for Westmeath in the sixth minute of added time before Antrim replied with their second major to seal victory. Manager Michael Finneran said his players will have to show character to recover for next Sunday’s midlands derby against Longford.
“I think any championship game will be tough and you have the added measure of a local derby. It’s going to be a massive game, no matter what stage it’s at. Westmeath and Longford coming up against each other – you’re always going to have that local rivalry element to it, which is a great leveller,” he remarked.
“The challenge for us now is to pick ourselves up very quickly. We talked about it there; we have to switch on to Longford very quickly because you can get caught on the hop if you don’t rebound. We have a big game on Sunday and we’re looking forward to it.” Longford are managed by Rosemount’s Alan Mullen, someone who will be very familiar with the Westmeath players.
Westmeath would have been regarded as favourites in advance of Sunday, but Antrim were the more impressive side on the day.
“It’s a very good Antrim team and I’m proud of the way the girls played,” said Finneran.
“Any time you’re in a game and you look in real trouble with five or six minutes to go, and you still keep plugging away: we got the goal and we didn’t sit back; we tried to turn over the next kick-out which was brave – maybe a bit naive, when we look back on it.
“We got turned over and we let them out a bit too easy and they ended up getting a late goal, which was a real kind of killer blow. They worked hard and kept at it until the end, but it's shocking disappointing to lose the game like that.”
BEARING
With Antrim leading by three points on the hour mark, Westmeath’s Aoife Connolly was bundled over the square, but no penalty was awarded which baffled Finneran. Connolly had earlier served a lengthy spell in the sin-bin (stoppages extending it well beyond 10 minutes) after her dismissal in the 32nd minute.
“It did seem a definite penalty. I don’t know what Aoife Connolly did wrong because equally the yellow card had a big bearing on the game: she got it for going in with the fist, but from where I’m standing, it’s the kind of tackle you see hundreds of times in games. I think the fact the girl got injured played a part in the decision,” observed Finneran.
“But these things happen: we were a bit short in the end and we probably would have liked to have put more on the scoreboard when we sit back and analyse it. We have 11 scores; we would have liked a bit more.”
He wasn’t surprised at the level to which the Glens County ladies performed on the day.
“Antrim shouldn’t be written off: it varies with the teams coming up from junior and how well they do. But definitely, looking at Ulster – Monaghan and Tyrone would have to think they’re in the mix at intermediate All-Ireland level and Antrim beat both of them. They beat Tyrone well in the final, so we knew they were a serious team: there was no surprise element. They’re strong all over and have some great score getters,” he noted.
“Considering they are just up from junior, they might look like a surprise packet, but they won’t fear anyone at all.”
Finneran was satisfied his team contributed greatly to a thrilling contest, but he would have liked a higher conversion rate.
“There were a lot of chances and we created plenty, so when we reflect on it, we didn’t keep the scoreboard ticking over. Antrim were very good in that regard. But it’s fine margins: if we won the last kick-out there would have been a different finish to the game,” he added.