Keegan's double helps St Joseph's to fine victory

St Joseph's 2-16, Killucan 3-8

Super St Joseph’s stormed to a five-point victory over Killucan in a top of the table clash at Streamstown on Thursday evening, in the Westmeath ladies senior football championship.

A terrific first-half performance laid the foundation for victory, St Joseph’s leading by 1-8 to 0-2 after 20 minutes following Karen Keegan’s fisted goal. Playing with pace and purpose, the home side got some impressive scores to establish a commanding lead.

A resurgent Killucan side got back into the game before half-time, Sian Weir-Hall and Meadbh Monaghan scoring excellent goals to cut the lead to just two points, but a Karen Keegan major before half-time left it 2-9 to 2-4 in St Joseph’s favour. It proved a crucial moment in this thrilling encounter.

A wonderfully entertaining second-half ensued and both sides traded scores, but St Joseph’s still led by six points at the end of the third quarter. By the time Killucan got their third goal via Sian Weir-Hall, the gap was 10 points and despite finishing the game with 14 players - Joyce Conway sin-binned near the end of normal time - St Joseph’s were resounding winners.

Fine sunny weather made for ideal conditions and the slick movement and impressive energy levels the hosts brought to this game put Killucan on the backfoot from an early stage, setting the tempo. Andy Meares’ charges took firm control with Sile Kearney and Laura Conlon setting up Karen Keegan for a fisted goal in the seventh minute.

Kearney’s point put the Streamstown ladies six clear (1-3 to nil) and Killucan, who had enjoyed victories over Mullingar Shamrocks and Garrycastle, looked off the pace. Caoimhe McCrossan, injured in the previous round against Garrycastle, was an obvious loss but they regrouped impressively, Meadbh Monaghan getting them off the mark in the 10th minute.

St Joseph’s, who won back-to-back junior and intermediate titles, and survived in the premier grade last year, were chasing a hat-trick of wins and looked in firm control when Sile Kearney’s point put them 1-8 to 0-2 clear on 20 minutes.

Killucan hit back with an unanswered 2-2 - the first goal from Sian Weir-Hall, created by Aoife O’Malley, the second a fine strike by Meadbh Monaghan, after Ellen Shaw’s pass. In the blink of an eye it was 1-8 to 2-4, the saffrons back in contention.

But St Joseph's added 1-1 before half-time, Caoilinn Elliffe soloing clear to point before Karen Keegan’s drive found the corner of the net when Sinead Robbins’ free landed in the danger area.

A minute after the restart, Caoilinn Elliffe’s left-footed point pushed St Joseph’s six clear again (2-10 to 2-4) and Killucan were forced to dig deep once more. It was a case of having to go to the well once too often, though, a superb point by strong-running midfielder Aoife Keegan underlining just how difficult St Joseph’s were to handle in this game.

By the time Sian Weir-Hall got her second goal in the 58th minute, the game looked beyond even a team of Killucan's character. Meadbh Monaghan and Amelia Shaw notched late minors, but it was St Joseph’s who claimed the victory and they showed enough to suggest they will be a handful for any opposition at this level.

Scorers - St Joseph’s: K Keegan 2-0, S Robbins 0-5 (5f), C Elliffe 0-5, S Kearney 0-2, L Conlon 0-2, E Killian and A Keegan 0-1 each.

Killucan: M Monaghan 1-7 (0-6f), S Weir-Hall 2-0, O Quinn 0-1.

St Joseph’s: Aine Maxwell; Ellie Conway, Orla Robbins, Kayla McDonnell; Joyce Conway, Roisin Killian, Keelin Robbins; Shannan Lehane, Aoife Keegan; Lauryn McDonnell, Sinead Robbins, Karen Keegan; Caoilinn Elliffe, Laura Conlon, Sile Kearney. Subs: Ciara Daly for L McDonnell (35), Leanne Daly for K Keegan (55), Claire Conlon for K McDonnell (60).

Killucan: Laura Doyle; Caoimhe Brady, Hannah Borthwick, Rachel Darby; Michelle Doyle, Aisling Doyle, Ellen Mulvaney; Cathay Doyle, Aoife O’Malley; Orla Quinn, Amelia Shaw, Erin Core; Ellen Shaw, Meadbh Monaghan, Sian Weir-Hall. Subs: Rebecca O’Neill for H Borthwick (h-t), Lucy Kennedy for C Doyle (40), Emily Spollen for E Core (41), Rebecca O’Neill for E Mulvaney (41), Dayna Duffy for M Doyle (48).

Ref: Paul McCaughey (Milltown).