Goals decisive as Westmeath edge out wasteful Derry side

By Gerry Buckley

Westmeath were deservedly crowned as Camogie League Division 2A champions in cold but pleasant conditions at a sparsely-attended Croke Park last Sunday afternoon, three goals in the opening quarter of an hour proving crucial against a profligate Derry side who could have reversed the outcome of their round robin tie had they been more accurate throughout.

In the latter regard, a wide tally of 13-4 ‘in favour’ of the losers tells its own story. Overall, however, there is no denying that the ladies in the maroon jerseys were the better-balanced outfit. Poachers supreme, Sheila McGrath and Megan Dowdall, both scored a brace of goals, with the second strike by the latter – named as official player of the match after the game – giving her team a little breathing space late in the contest, the Oak Leaf girls having got the gap down to just two points with 54 minutes played.

Amelia Shaw was wide from a first-minute ‘45’ for Westmeath, before Megan Dowdall and Dervla O’Kane traded points. The ever-threatening Áine Barton nudged the losers ahead in the fifth minute after soloing goalward, but Westmeath responded in the best possible fashion when Hannah Core fed Sheila McGrath who flashed the sliotar to the net in the seventh minute. Padraic Connaughton’s charges were never headed thereafter.

Core and Barton (a wonderful score) exchanged points, but the Lake County ladies went on to score 2-1 without reply by the end of the opening quarter. Dowdall cut in from the right and duly gave Niamh Gribbon no chance in the tenth minute. The Clonkill star then added a point (after being picked out by her sister Holly) before Gribbon did well to keep out a Core shot. However, she was powerless to prevent McGrath from doubling her goal tally on the quarter-hour mark, the St Munna’s lady finding the net after side-stepping the goalie. The gap was now three clear goals (3-3 to 0-3).

A long delay ensued as Lauren McKenna was treated for an injury prior to being replaced, but Derry put this setback behind them to score four unanswered points in second quarter from the sticks of Barton (three frees) and Bríd Rodgers (a neat score from play in the first minute of added-time). The half-time deficit was five points (3-3 to 0-7), but it could have been much less had the girls in red and white been less wasteful from open play and placed balls.

With net-minder Fiona Keating always solid when called upon, Westmeath stretched their lead on the change of ends with two points from Amelia Shaw (under pressure from open play, and a very tricky free). However, Derry refused to capitulate and they fired over four unanswered points from O’Kane, Aoife Shaw, Rodgers (after Hawkeye intervened to over-rule the umpire’s initial call), and Barton (a free).

Amelia Shaw converted two more Westmeath frees, but points from Aoife Shaw (a free) and Barton (two – the second from a 45’) left the Ulster team just two points in arrears (3-7 to 0-14) with six minutes of normal time remaining. Dowdall soon scored an inspirational point before she all but sealed the win with a 57th-minute goal, finding the net at the second attempt after Gribbon had kept out her initial effort. Derry – who never really looked like getting in for a goal throughout the game – plugged away to the end and were rewarded with consolation points from Barton and Rodgers.

After the match, Brian Molloy, Cumann Camógaíocht Uachtarán, presented the cup to the victorious Westmeath captain, Julie McLoughlin.

Scorers – Westmeath: M Dowdall 2-3, S McGrath 2-0, A Shaw 0-4 (3f), H Core 0-1. Derry: Á Barton 0-9 (4f, 1‘45’), B Rodgers 0-3, D O’Kane, A Shaw (1f) 0-2 each.

Westmeath: Fiona Keating; Emily McCabe, Julie McLoughlin, Jade McKeogh; Maria Kelly, Muireann Scally, Áine Newman; Aoife O’Malley, Hannah Core; Holly Dowdall, Caoimhe McCrossan, Sheila McGrath; Megan Dowdall, Amelia Shaw, Meadbh McLoughlin. Subs used: Meadbh Scally for McCrossan (48), Niamh Horan for H Dowdall (59), Aisling Egerton for McCabe (60+2), Emma Broughan for McGrath (60+3).

Derry: Niamh Gribbon; Ceat McEldowney, Leah Lennon, Aoife Ní Chaiside; Rachel Downey, Niamh Quinn, Lauren McKenna; Áine McGill, Rachel Donnelly; Áine Barton, Dervla O’Kane, Bríd Rodgers; Olivia Rafferty, Jackie Donnelly, Aoife Shaw. Subs used: Megan Kerr for R Donnelly (15), Cliodhna Ní Mhianain for McKenna (inj., 26), Anna Cassidy for J Donnelly (37), Orlaith Hull for Rafferty (45), Eimhear McGuigan for McGill (52).

Ref: Cathal McAllister (Cork).

Player of the match: Megan Dowdall (Westmeath). Her 2-3 was significantly less than her astonishing 4-4 tally in the round robin game, but it was still very much a match-winning contribution. Áine Barton was outstanding for the losers, if inconsistent in her free-taking.

Key moment: Dowdall’s second goal in the 57th minute was badly needed from a Lake County perspective after Derry had eaten into the winners’ lead with a string of points.

Stats watch: Wides - Westmeath 4 (first half, 3); Derry 13 (8). ‘45’s - Westmeath 1 (1); Derry 1 (0). Yellow cards - Westmeath 0; Derry 1 – Á Barton

Ref watch: It was a trouble-free afternoon for Cathal McAllister.

Talking point: While all players love the Croke Park experience, the crowd was unquestionably extremely small.