Four second-half goals ensure emphatic Westmeath victory

Westmeath 6-12, Roscommon 1-5

Westmeath produced a fine performance to overwhelm Roscommon and reach the Leinster Minor Camogie ‘C’ final at Lakepoint Park, Mullingar on Saturday afternoon.

In relentless rain, Westmeath played superbly, building up a lead of 2-6 to 1-2 at half-time and in truth, the gap could have been even greater. Four second-half goals underlined a dominant display by Jimbob Baker's young charges, who will now take on either Wicklow or Louth in the final.

Prior to that, Westmeath will move into the All-Ireland series and meet Armagh in their next game.

Wet conditions made it difficult for players on both sides and on a weekend when inclement weather forced the cancellation of several club games in the county, it was fortunate that the all-weather facility was available for this tie. Westmeath established a foothold in the game and led by 0-5 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter, but they missed opportunities to put real daylight between themselves and Roscommon.

The visitors got back into the game with a sucker-punch goal in the 20th minute, centre-forward Isobel Kenny finding the net with a shot from distance. However, goals from Roisín Connaughton and Ruth Hynes gave Westmeath a healthy lead at the break.

Eleanor Corcoran grabbed the Lake County’s third major five minutes into the second half and they led by 3-10 to 1-4 at the end of the third quarter. While Roscommon battled on, Westmeath always held the upper hand and Rachel Molloy got their fourth goal with 12 minutes remaining. The home side were rewarded with two late goals from Molloy and substitute Jessica Smyth as they secured their place in the final.

EARLY TEMPO

Westmeath made an assertive start and were off the mark inside the opening minute when corner-forward Eleanor Corcoran split the posts. Two minutes later Ellen Mulvaney added a well-struck free from midfield, and by the third minute wing-forward Roisín Connaughton had raised a third white flag as the Lake County side set the early tempo.

Roscommon opened their account on five minutes through midfielder Hollie McDermott, but they missed a gilt-edged opportunity two minutes later when a free came back off the upright. Westmeath continued to press and Katie McDonnell pointed on eight minutes after fine blocking work by Connaughton created the opening. Connaughton then converted a free in the 11th minute to extend the lead.

Westmeath were unlucky not to goal in the 19th minute when Mulvaney’s long delivery from a free caused panic in the Roscommon defence, but Connaughton’s effort at the back post drifted wide. Roscommon made the most of that let-off and struck for a goal against the run of play, centre-forward Isobel Kenny’s shot finding the net for what will be viewed as a soft concession from a Westmeath perspective.

The response was emphatic. On 21 minutes, Westmeath grabbed the goal their dominance merited when Connaughton finished to the net after McDonnell’s long-range effort had been tipped onto the crossbar by Roscommon goalkeeper Moya Kelly. Two minutes later they struck again, McDonnell delivering a high ball into the danger area and centre-forward Ruth Hynes showing sharpness to get her stick to it in mid-air and guide it to the net.

Westmeath threatened another major soon after, Connaughton again getting a touch at the back post from a McDonnell delivery, but the ball went wide. A Julieanne Moore point for Roscommon in the 27th minute left the half-time score at 2-6 to 1-2 in Westmeath’s favour.

Westmeath resumed with purpose and Rebecca Ward opened the second-half scoring two minutes in. On five minutes, Corcoran whipped the ball to the net for her side’s third goal after excellent build-up play from the influential McDonnell, and Connaughton followed with a converted free. Abbie McCauley added another point on eight minutes as Westmeath’s grip tightened.

Roscommon replied through wing-forward Elizabeth Coyle on 13 minutes, but Connaughton restored momentum with a free a minute later.

Kenny added a point for Roscommon in the 15th minute after good work from Coyle, yet Connaughton again punished a foul with a pointed free on 16 minutes.

Westmeath’s fifth goal arrived on 18 minutes when full-forward Rachel Molloy reacted quickest to McDonnell’s pass and booted the ball to the net. McDonnell also slotted over a free on 20 minutes, while Kenny replied with a point for Roscommon on 24 minutes.

There was still time for further gloss on the scoreboard. On 30 minutes, Keelin Kavanagh’s shot was cleared by Moya Kelly, but Molloy pounced in the ensuing scramble to boot home her second goal.

Two minutes into added time, Jessica Smyth put the seal on a comprehensive victory when she fired a crisp shot past Kelly for Westmeath’s sixth goal.

Scorers - Westmeath: R Connaughton 1-5 (0-4f), R Molloy 2-0, E Corcoran 1-1, J Smyth 1-0, R Hynes 1-0, K McDonnell (1f) and R Ward 0-2 each, A McCauley and E Mulvaney (free) 0-1 each.

Roscommon: Kenny 1-2, E Coyle 0-2, J Moore 0-1.

Westmeath: Laura Jane Doyle; Aoife O’Connor, Grace Murtagh, Sara Shaw; Anabel Hynes, Katie Muldoon, Maggie Bartley; Ellen Mulvaney,Rebecca Ward; Katie McDonnell, Ruth Hynes, Roisín Connaughton; Abbie McCauley, Rachel Molloy, Eleanor Corcoran. Subs used: Keelin Kavanagh, Erin O’Faoláin, Jessica Smyth, Emma Wiseman, Carolann Downes, Carla Gaffney, Claire Loughrey, Anna Reilly, Rebecca Clarke, Anjali Gopalakrishnan.

Roscommon: Moya Kelly; Roisin Costello, Ruth King, Rachel Sweeney; Orla Callaghan, Sarah Jane O’Connor, Rachel Campbell; Hollie McDermott, Julieanne Moore; Gráinne Sweeney, Isobel Kenny, Elizabeth Coyle; Caitlin Kennedy, Saoirse O’Driscoll, Aisling Faughnan. Subs used: Grace Gannon, Grace Loughnan, Ciara Fannon, Sorcha Miley, Mia Nally, Grace Cullen, Anna Fallon, Alisha Connaughton, Katie Hannon.

Referee: Jason Buckley (Dublin).