Derry’s composure crucial as Lake County denied

Derry 0-12, Westmeath 0-10

By John Dermody

Multyfarnham GAA was the venue for this third round Centra National Camogie League Division 2A clash between Westmeath and Derry on Saturday last, February 28. The teams previously contested the 2024 Division 2A National League Final in Croke Park, with the maroon and whites coming out on top on that occasion, so it was fair to say the teams were familiar with each other.

What started out as a bright day perfect for camogie, unfortunately ended dull and disappointing from the perspective of the weather and for the home team. Derry were full value for their win as they converted their chances when they needed to most. The Derry team were also a statistician’s dream, as they made countless hooks, blocks and tackles right through the team, from corner-forward to goalkeeper. In a game full of tough, full-blooded camogie with both teams trying to gain the advantage on the day to secure their second win of the 2026 league campaign, it was the Oak Leaf County who secured the victory. This was due, in no small measure, to the influence of centre-forward Carla Collins. Westmeath will, however, rue the fact that they did not convert the possession they had in the second half into scores on the scoreboard.

Westmeath started the game showing great intent right from the throw-in. Following a couple of rucks, Westmeath came out with possession on both occasions, with Julie McLoughlin bursting out with the sliotar in hand each time. The first score of the game came in the second minute. Caoimhe McCrossan’s fine cross field pass completely switched the play and found Sheila McGrath into the bargain. The St. Munna’s stalwart neatly stroked the sliotar over the bar to give Westmeath the lead. Derry responded, to their credit, almost immediately from long range to level matters. They then took the lead on six minutes with a point from play off the stick of vice-captain Rachel McAllister from 45 metres out. In the 11th minute, Derry goalkeeper was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the large parallelogram and John Dooley signalled for a penalty. This came after a superb goal chance for Sheila McGrath, however her effort was blocked. The penalty would have put Westmeath into a two-point lead if a major resulted. However, Caoimhe McCrossan’s powerful shot grazed the top of the crossbar, and a point was scored to level the match at 0-2 a-piece.

Westmeath regained the lead in the 15th minute, when fine interplay between Sheila McGrath and Megan Dowdall led to a point for Dowdall. Derry, with the aid of an ever-increasing breeze, then claimed the ascenency. Despite this, Westmeath worked a fantastic goal opportunity on 22 minutes. Niamh Gribbin in the Derry goal had other ideas and made an excellent save from a Megan Dowdall shot. Two pointed frees from Carla Collins, and another point from midfielder McAllister put Derry into a two-point lead. Westmeath and Derry then exchanged points on 23 and 26 minutes respectively, with Caoimhe McCrossan pointing a 45-metre free for Westmeath and Aoife Shaw pointing from play for Derry after astutely intercepting Dearbhail McLoughlin as she was about to clear her lines.

In the final six minutes of play in the first half, Derry were very much on top, however they were quite wasteful in front of the posts. Despite scoring six points in the opening half, they also shot six wides when playing with the advantage of a strong breeze. The half-time score was Westmeath 0-4, Derry 0-6.

In almost the reverse of the first half, Derry won the throw in and sent the ball forward into the attacking third. Derry stretched their lead to three points with the opening score of the half, following a fine effort by Emma Wilson from a very tight angle. The Lake County responded with a point of their own to restore the two-point gap, with Megan Dowdall striking over on her left side from 30 metres out. Aoife O’Malley scored arguably the score of the match in the 36th minute of the match to put the minimum between the sides. Following patient play by Westmeath, where Meadbh and Julie McLoughlin, Erin Core and Caoimhe McCrossan all recycled the ball to players in better positions under pressure from the Derry defending. The ball eventually found its way to O’Malley who struck the ball confidently over the bar. The momentum had well and truly shifted in favour of Westmeath playing with the aid of the strong breeze. Two pointed frees in the 37th and 38th minutes from Lough Lene Gaels sharpshooter McCrossan put Westmeath into the lead 0-8 to 0-7. Collins equalised dead on 40 minutes for Derry.

Play at this stage of the game became very attritional and this was not helped by substitutions and hold up in play for carding of players. Westmeath really needed to maintain the momentum and the stop start nature of this period of the match was not helpful. Derry took the lead through another pointed free by Carla Collins, and they stretched their lead to three points following two very well taken points by Slaughneil’s Clíodhna Ni Mhiánain. A pointed free by Aoife O’Malley was responded to by another free for Derry converted by Carla Collins right on 60th minutes to give Derry a 0-12 to 0-9 lead. O’Malley pointed another free for Westmeath with over two of the four minutes still remaining in injury time. Westmeath endeavoured to fashion a goalscoring opportunity, but it was not to be. On John Dooley’s final whistle, Derry emerged from this battle.

Following this defeat, Westmeath will only have seven days to try and get themselves back on track. They travel to Tralee to take on an unbeaten Kerry team, following an opening round draw with Laois and narrow wins over Meath and Carlow respectively. It appears that the margins are very tight in this division, so if Westmeath can convert their chances on the scoreboard, there is every possibility they can gain a positive result against the Kingdom. A win next Saturday, and a positive final round result against Laois could leave Westmeath still in with a chance of making a league final, assuming other results go their way.

Scorers - Westmeath: Caoimhe McCrossan 0-4 (0-2 frees; 0-1 ’45 metre award; 0-1 pen); Aoife O’Malley 0-3 (0-1 free; 0-1 ’45) Megan Dowdall 0-2, Sheila McGrath 0-1.

Derry: Carla Collins 0-6 (0-5 frees); Rachel McAllister 0-2; Clíodhna Ni Mhiánain 0-2; Emma Wilson and Aoife Shaw 0-1 each.

Westmeath Team: Aoife Corcoran; Katie Coleman; Dearbhail McLoughlin; Áine Newman; Maria Kelly; Ellen Flanagan; Laura Doherty; Aoife O’Malley (Capt.); Erin Core; Meadbh McLoughlin; Julie McLoughlin; Caoimhe McCrossan; Sheila McGrath; Caoimhe Coogan; Megan Dowdall. Subs: Ashley Ruane for Caoimhe McCrossan and Olivia Kellaghan for Caoimhe Coogan.

Derry: Niamh Gribbin; Éabha Mullan; Paige Bell; Eimear McCloskey; Sinéad McGill; Niamh Quinn (Capt.); Áine McGill; Sinéad Mellon; Rachel McAllister; Clíodhna Ni Mhiánain; Carla Collins; Emma Wilson; Éabha McElhinney; Aoife Shaw; Connie McBride.

Subs: Aoife McGuckian for Eabha McElhinney; Amy McKenna for Connie McBride & Jackie Donnelly for Aoife Shaw.

Referee: John Dooley (Tipperary).