Goldsmiths secure another county title as Valley ladies denied again
Goldsmiths 1-14 Loughnavalley 1-9
Goldsmiths found an extra gear in the Westmeath LGFA Intermediate Championship final in Ballynacargy last Saturday, overcoming a gallant Loughnavalley side who were left heartbroken for the second year in succession.
Loughnavalley entered the final as slight favourites and were hoping to make amends for last year’s disappointment. But Goldsmiths, riding a wave of momentum from their junior title success, proved a difficult side to contain as was evident on Saturday afternoon.
The winners will now take on St Fechin's of Louth in their Leinster LGFA Intermediate Championship quarter-final tomorrow (Saturday) in Tubberclair at 2pm.
Goldsmiths started last weekend's final brightly, racing into an early lead through the sharp shooting of Rebecca Higgins from placed balls and fine points from play by Sinéad Seery at midfield. However, a spirited Loughnavalley fightback in the final ten minutes of the half, capped by a brilliant goal from Ashley Ruane, brought the contest back to a single point at the interval.
Higgins continued to punish any indiscipline after the restart, adding three more frees to nudge her side clear. Loughnavalley refused to fade, though, with Emily McCabe and Niamh Mullarkey driving them forward and the half-back line working tirelessly to keep them in touch.
But when Ciara McManus finished smartly to the net midway through the half, the game swung decisively in Goldsmiths’ favour. They maintained control from there, running out deserved five-point winners to seal promotion to the senior ranks, a remarkable rise for a club playing junior football only 12 months ago.
The Tang/Drumraney/Tubberclair combination made the brighter start, taking an early three-point lead courtesy of Higgins’ accuracy from frees. Lisa and Sinéad Seery then combined for well-worked points each to open up a five-point cushion, while Loughnavalley struggled to settle. Sinéad was unlucky not to add another when her effort came crashing off the crossbar following a fine delivery from Lisa.
Loughnavalley eventually found their rhythm when a superb interception by Mullarkey launched an attack that ended with Lily Quinn slotting over their opening score in the 13th minute. Sinéad Seery responded immediately with another fine point before Charleigh Seery broke through the defence for an excellent score.
Loughnavalley rallied before the break, keeping matters close. Ashley Ruane combined with Caoimhe Clarke MacMahon to narrow the gap before Morgan Corcoran set up Pip Ruane for another point following strong work from wing-back Sarah Costello.
Then came the moment of the half. Clarke MacMahon turned over possession and released Ashley Ruane, who burst down the wing before rifling the ball into the top corner.
Quinn followed up with a fine interception and point to level matters, but Higgins had the final say of the half, sending over a neat point from play to make it 0-8 to 1-4 at the break.
Higgins maintained her influence early in the second half, converting three more frees to push Goldsmiths four clear. Loughnavalley carved out two golden goal chances, Corcoran setting up Aoife Murphy, who fired narrowly wide, before Pip Ruane’s effort also drifted past the post.
Ruane did hit a 42nd-minute point after linking well with Corcoran and Clarke MacMahon, but controversy followed moments later when a disputed sideline ball awarded against Mullarkey led to a Lisa Seery point that restored Goldsmiths’ momentum.
Substitute Éabha Cassidy pulled one back from a free in the 47th minute to keep Loughnavalley’s hopes alive, but Goldsmiths delivered the killer blow soon after. Gemma Guinane, fresh off the bench, played a clever pass to McManus, who calmly slotted to the net to open up a six-point gap entering the final ten minutes.
Both sides traded scores late on, Cassidy from a free along with Eleanor Murphy and Quinn from play for Loughnavalley, while Charleigh Seery and Rebecca Higgins added fine efforts for the victors. Fittingly, it was Higgins who had the final say, capping a superb display with a fine point to seal a 1-14 to 1-9 win.
After an entertaining battle between two promising young teams, it was Goldsmiths who claimed county honours and were duly presented with the intermediate trophy. They will now represent Westmeath in the Leinster club championship and look ahead to competing at senior level next season, an extraordinary achievement in their rapid rise through the ranks.
Player of the match: Rebecca Higgins (Goldsmiths). While the Seery sisters, Sinéad (who was chosen for the official award), Lisa, and Charleigh,were outstanding, each scoring 0-2 from play and making their mark across the pitch, Higgins stood out throughout. Her composure and precision from frees, combined with her lively presence in the full forward line, proved decisive. Her personal tally of 0-8 was instrumental in Goldsmiths’ victory.
Key moment: The Ciara McManus goal midway through the second half was the turning point. The centre-forward’s calm finish to the net swung the momentum firmly in Goldsmiths’ favour and left Loughnavalley with a steep hill to climb in the closing stages.
Scorers - Goldsmiths: R Higgins 0-8 (6f); C McManus 1-0; S Seery, L Seery and C Seery 0-2 each. Loughnavalley: A Ruane 1-1; L Quinn 0-3 (1f); P Ruane and E Cassidy (2f) 0-2 each; E Murphy 0-1.
Goldsmiths - Aisling English; Aisling Nally, Eva Fitzpatrick, Caoimhe Brady; Deborah Kenneally, Shona Neary, Megan Hanley; Sinead Seery, Laura Madden; Lisa Seery, Ciara McManus, Charleigh Seery; Ellen McCabe, Ciara Foxe, Rebecca Higgins. Subs: Gemma Guinane for Foxe (40 mins), Emma Tumelty for McManus (57), Ericka Higgins for C Seery (60).
Loughnavalley - Amy Donlon; Rebecca Monaghan, Ciara Gately, Roisín Curneen; Becca Ruane, Maisie Currams, Sarah Costello; Niamh Mullarkey, Emily McCabe; Pip Ruane, Morgan Corcoran, Ashley Ruane; Aoife Murphy, Lilly Quinn, Caoimhe Clarke MacMahon. Subs: Ellen Daly for Monaghan (inj., 33 mins), Eleanor Murphy for A Murphy (43), Eabha Cassidy for Clarke MacMahon (43), Sarah Thompson for Quinn (inj., 67).
Referee - Ray Farrelly (Ballycomoyle).