Westmeath prevail in second half goal fest

Leinster Minor ‘B’ Championship: Westmeath 5-18, Longford 2-10

In blistering sunshine, Westmeath made a splendid start to assert control and establish a 10-point lead, which left Longford with too much ground to make up, in this entertaining Leinster Minor ‘B’ Championship clash at Lakepoint Park on Saturday.

It was 0-10 to 0-3 in Westmeath’s favour at the interval and impressive centre-forward Katie Kilmurray pushed them 10 points clear with a converted free before Longford produced a gritty fightback. There were seven goals in the final 32 minutes, which included a protracted period of added time amounting to 10 minutes. Longford got the first of those through corner-forward Shona Madden, but Westmeath produced a slick move through the hands for full-forward Shannon Breslin to find the net from close range in the 48th minute to make it 1-15 to 1-7.

That goal failed to stymie Longford’s spirited revival: the visitors swooped for their second major when full-forward Michaela Hand showed balance and strength to finish to the net via the inside of the post in the 50th minute.

However, Westmeath produced an instant reply when Eva Kilmurray set up Amelie Henson for a goal and they remained eight points clear (2-16 to 2-8) when Eva Kilmurray joined a flowing move to score a point in the 55th minute. Three minutes later, Katie Kilmurray scored a stunning goal after a neat move, her powerful shot finding the roof of the net.

That was the start of a great spell for the Lake County girls, which yielded an unanswered 2-2: the other goal came from Eva Kilmurray, who cleverly flicked the ball home after Chloe Malone’s fisted pass. Katie Kilmurray (free) and Alex Kelly added the points during this prolific spell.

That made it 4-18 to 2-8 entering added time and the action wasn’t yet finished. Both sides took the opportunity to introduce a raft of substitutes and Longford got two points from Michaela Hand (free) and Emma Feeney, before a goal from Amelie Henson put the seal on a fine Westmeath victory.

Longford also played for 10 minutes with 14 players after wing-back Lauren Killian was sin-binned (yellow card) for a heavy tackle on Katie Kilmurray.

The second half was highly entertaining – Westmeath scoring 5-8 and Longford registering 2-7 – but it was their healthy half-time lead that ensured the home side had the cushion when their opponents hit a purple patch. And it could have been better.

Westmeath almost had a first-half goal when Erica Higgins’ shot came off the upright and the Longford goalie, Emma Dowd, did well to tip Amelie Henson’s shot over the crossbar in the 17th minute.

Westmeath will be pleased with their victory and there is a fine group of players moving forward in this competition, with the prospects for success pretty strong.

Scorers – Westmeath: K Kilmurray 1-9 (0-5f), A Henson 2-1, S Breslin 1-1, E Kilmurray 1-1, A Kelly 0-3, E Higgins, C Malone and O Collins 0-1 each. Longford: S Madden 1-4 (0-2f), M Hand 1-1 (0-1f), E Feeney 0-2, L McGuire, M Kiernan and A Mulligan 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Keira Kelly; Aoibhinn Berry, Grace Shortall, Rebecca Ward; Áine Bracken, Orla Collins, Erica Higgins; Jayne Charles, Eleanor Corcoran; Chloe Malone, Katie Kilmurray, Amelie Henson; Eva Kilmurray, Shannon Breslin, Alex Kelly. Subs used: Niamh Purtill, Gráinne Cleary, Eimear Doonan, Orlagh O’Brien, Grace Gavin, Aoife Murphy, Sarah Thompson.

Longford: Emma Dowd; Lauren McGuire, Bronagh Reilly, Rachel McGann; Elizabeth Kearney, Orla McGann, Lauren Killian; Mia Kiernan, Zara Drake; Mia Campbell, Mia Glynn, Emma Feeney; Ailbhe Mulligan, Michaela Hand, Shona Madden. Subs used: Gemma McHugh, Leah Kenny, Aoibhe Lynch, Lisa Kiernan, Sinead O’Sullivan, Saoirse Kiernan, Gráinne McKenna, Ally Tiernan.

Referee: Henry Clifford (Meath).