Bright start proves false dawn for Westmeath girls

Galway 4-11 Westmeath 3-9

Despite making a very promising start, Westmeath fell to defeat at the hands of Galway in this LGFA All-Ireland U-16 ‘B’ Championship semi-final at the Pádraig Pearses GAA grounds last Thursday night of last week.

Westmeath surged into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead inside the opening eight minutes and Lake County supporters in the good-sized attendance must have been feeling optimistic at that admittedly early stage. Lucy Martin was the scorer of the goal while team captain Alex Kelly contributed the early trio of points.

Galway also had to contend with the absence for ten minutes of midfielder and team captain Grace McGrath for what appeared to be an incredibly harsh yellow card. But the Connacht outfit gradually gained a foothold in the contest with Lábhaoise Keane’s goal putting them right back in contention. And Chloe Flynn’s 24th-minute green flag gave Galway a lead they never relinquished.

It was an evening when Westmeath had some tough setbacks to cope with. Amelie Henson was unable to start and although the Garrycastle player was introduced at half-time, she was clearly impeded by injury despite managing to score two goals. In addition, influential attacker Chloe Malone had to be carried off the field with what seemed a serious injury.

The Westmeath starting team contained five players from the Moate CS team which won the All-Ireland Schools Junior ‘A’ title earlier in the year. On an overcast and showery evening in Woodmount, close to Ballinasloe, Alex Kelly of Cill Óige pointed two frees as Westmeath applied early pressure.

Better was to come when Westmeath took advantage of a Galway kickout which went awry. After good work from Chloe Malone, Lucy Martin of St Joseph’s found the net.

As Westmeath continued their early onslaught, Kelly was rewarded for her persistence when scoring a point from play. Chloe Flynn got Galway off the mark with two points in quick succession, before Kelly worked a one-two from a free and raised another white flag.

Impressive Galway midfielder Ella D’Arcy Devine lifted her side with a fine individual point, but this was negated by a splendid point from Malone. But Galway had now found some rhythm and points from Niamh Ní Ghionnáin (just inside the near post) and Flynn (a free) left it 1-5 to 0-5. In between those points, Westmeath keeper Sally Ryan was called on to save a goal attempt from Kyilah Maloney.

At the other end, Galway were struggling somewhat from kickouts and Kate Coyne took advantage of one example by sending over a point. The score which turned the game came when Keane found the Westmeath net after Galway intercepted Ryan’s clearance. D’Arcy Devine followed up with a point, before Ní Ghionnáin set up Flynn for Galway’s second goal.

Considering their early dominance, it was frustrating for Westmeath to now find themselves three points in arrears. Kelly’s point attempt from a free came off the crossbar and Galway managed to scramble the ball away. The returned McGrath, who had been off target a couple of times, then found the range after a strong run.

The prominent Martin hit a much-needed Westmeath point just before half-time, at which stage Galway led by 2-7 to 1-7.

Shortly after the restart, Galway’s Ali O’Toole was twice denied a goal, with defender Katie McDonnell and goalkeeper Sally Ryan blocking her shots. It seemed a double let off for Westmeath but the relief was merely temporary as they were unable to get the ball safely away and Maloney struck for Galway’s third goal in ensuing play. This 32nd-minute goal seemed a crucial moment and so it proved.

Points from Galway’s formidable midfield pairing of McGrath and D’Arcy Devine came either side of a pointed by Kelly at the other end. Galway’s fourth goal, scored by Niamh Ní Ghionnáin at the far post after Maloney played the ball across, put Paul Jordan and Eugene Kearney’s charges 4-9 to 1-8 ahead.

Alan Quinn’s side now had a mountain to climb and needed a goal to ignite a comeback. Galway keeper Erika Diskin denied Malone (the Moate player’s involvement was soon ended by injury), but substitute Amelie Henson found a gap in the Galway defence before sweeping the ball to the roof of the net (45th minute). Kelly followed up with a pointed free, leaving two goals between the teams (4-9 to 2-9).

An unmarked Nicole Miskell crashed a shot off the upright which left Westmeath’s hopes just about alive. Yet with Erin Ó Faoláin then sent to the sin bin on a yellow card and McGrath adding two more points, the outcome no longer looked in doubt.

Henson’s low shot from a free was deflected to the net for a late Westmeath goal, but it was too late to turn the tide at this stage.

Player of the match: Ella D'Arcy Devine (Galway). Part of a strong midfield pairing alongside Grace McGrath, the Moycullen player scored three points from play. D'Arcy Devine and McGrath were high calibre opponents for the Westmeath midfield duo of Emma Killian and Erin Ó Faoláin. Alex Kelly, Lucy Martin and Chloe Malone never stopped trying to make things hapLpen for Westmeath, while Amelie Henson did her best to lift her team when introduced for the second half.

What's next: Galway will now meet Armagh in the All-Ireland final on Wednesday, July 16. For their part, Westmeath can look back on a progressive campaign which yielded a Leinster title.

Scorers - Galway: C Flynn 1-3 (0-1f); N Ní Ghionnáin 1-1; G McGrath 0-4 (2f); L Keane and K Maloney 1-0 each; E D’Arcy Devine 0-3. Westmeath: A Henson 2-0 (1-0f); A Kelly 0-6 (4f); L Martin 1-1; C Malone and K Coyne 0-1 each.

Galway - Erika Diskin; Aoibhin Hartigan, Roisin Conroy, Grace Duggan; Siobhán Conneely, Allanah Hughes, Caoimhe Ní Ghionnáin; Ella D’Arcy Devine, Grace McGrath (captain); Chloe Flynn, Lábhaoise Keane, Nicole Miskell; Ali O’Toole, Kyilah Maloney, Niamh Ní Ghionnáin. Subs: Neasa Garvey for Flynn; Ruby McGuire for O’Toole; Ava Whyte for Miskell; Eimear Fallon for Hartigan.

Westmeath - Sally Ryan; Katie McDonnell, Jane Byrne, Alesha White; Ericka Higgins, Sophie Padden, Lucy Martin; Emma Killian, Erin Ó Faoláin; Chloe Malone, Alex Kelly (captain), Niamh Purtill; Kate Coyne, Evie Kilmurray, Eleanor Corcoran. Subs: Amelie Henson for Purtill; Molly Conlon for Malone (inj.); Niamh Purtill for White.

Referee - Angela Gallagher (Meath).