Goldsmiths continue with Senior Championship winning ways

Goldsmiths 3-13 Killucan 2-7

Goldsmiths continued their winning ways in the Westmeath LGFA Senior Championship when they clinically overcame a Killucan team that continued to fight right up to the final whistle.

The Tubberclair/Tang/Drumraney combination side employed a fast paced and concise passing strategy that was just too much for the home side last Thursday night.

Killucan had a bye in the opening round and this may have contributed to a slow start at the commencement of both halves. For their part, Goldsmiths' first ever senior championship outing outing (a win over Coralstown/Kinnegad) had honed the skill set of the amalgamation team into a formidable unit.

The team sheet for the visitors had scores attributed from the half back line to the forward line at the conclusion of the 60 minutes, while the majority of the Killucan scores came from their half forward line. Indeed, the home team's reliance on the boot of Maedbh Monaghan is something that will need to be ironed out as the campaign progresses.

The opening nine minutes of the game were played in perfect conditions, yet it was a tough watch for the locals gathered in the stands. Points from Lisa Seery, Charleigh Seery and a shot on target by Deborah Kennelly saved by Killucan netminder Laura Doyle hinted at things to come before even five minutes had elapsed.

Then lovely interplay between Laura Madden and Sinead Seery which saw the midfielder in enough space to rifle the ball to the top of the net. That first goal came with a degree of ease and although Killucan could comfortably knit together passes, their threat fizzled out the closer they came to goal.

The home side's first score came thanks to a violation of the 'three up rule. Monaghan took the place kick and with nine minutes on the clock the scoreboard read 1-2 to 0-1. The half forward followed this up with a goal chance that was stopped by Goldsmiths' keeper Aisling English, but she then shortened the gap thanks to another free kick.

Two successive scores for the visitors reasserted dominance; one well worked from the back resulted in an Ericka Higgins point, the other from an intercepted kickout that yielded another score for Lisa Seery.

Killucan's reply was from Monaghan. She showed physical prowess to cut through the opposition defense before manoeuvring to an advantageous position. Maria Kelly joined her half forward partner onto the scoring roll with a sweet long range shot; then immediately doubled her tally thanks to a clever assist from Aoife O'Malley.

Hopes of a rally were stymied by Goldsmiths' half back Laura Madden. Her goal before the break was the result of a strong attack through the heart of the Killucan defence. Sarah Murphy added another point just before the short whistle to leave it 2-5 to 0-5.

The two goals that separated the sides at half time may only have been two scores, but the comfort the ladies in maroon and green displayed as they moved the ball across the pitch was very apparent.

The second half started with the visitors notching up 1-4 without reply in a 10-minute period, yet even as the game started to unravel there was a refusal by the ladies in saffron to take their beating.

While Goldsmiths transitioned from defence to attack with ease; Killucan's hesitation in the final third killed their hopes. As attackers paused to consider options the westerners swarmed in to smoother passing or shooting choices.

Points early in the second period from Murphy (two), Higgins, and Lisa Seery came before Sinead Seery goaled for a second time in the contest. In reply O'Malley pointed a free after dragging her companions into the Goldsmith red zone.

Substitute Gemma Guinane entered the fray with great determination. Her point was the result of the concise passing that Goldsmiths had executed all evening, with Guinane then chipping over. Teammate Charleigh Seery got her name on the score sheet when she pirouetted out of a tackle and clipped over to leave it 3-11 to 0-6. The grimness of the position did not dampen the Killucan fight.

A goal by Lucy Kennedy stirred up the home team's pride. They conceded another score to Lisa Seery, but sub Amelia Shaw replied with a point of her own.

Goldsmith corner forward Higgins got another score, but the riposte by Killucan was truly impressive. Monaghan scythed through the Goldsmith defence and planted the ball in the goal with just minutes left to play.

As the clock wound down the half forward would again try for goal, but at this stage Goldsmiths' defensive meanness had returned. As the game played out in the evening sun, the final score of 3-13 to 2-7 was a fair reflection of an entertaining contest.

*Leading the way

Killucan's Meadbh Monaghan and Aoife O’Malley gave a great account of themselves, but Goldsmith’s teamwork, exemplified by the likes of Sinead and Lisa Seery, was the main reason for dominance.

Scorers - Goldsmiths: S Seery 2-0; L Seery 0-4; L Madden 1-0; E Higgins and S Murphy 0-3 each; C McManus, C Seery and G Guinane 0-1 each. Killucan: M Monaghan 1-3; L Kennedy 1-0; M Kelly 0-2; A O'Malley and A Shaw 0-1 each

Goldsmiths - Aisling English; Caoimhe Brady, Eva Fitzpatrick, Ellen McCabe; Sarah Murphy, Laura Madden, Megan Hanley; Sinead Seery, Deborah Kennelly; Lisa Seery, Ciara McManus, Charleigh Seery; Ericka Higgins, Shona Neary, Ciara Fitzpatrick. Subs used: Gemma Guinane, Ciara Foxe, Ellen McCabe, Aisling Nally.

Killucan - Laura Doyle; Rebecca O'Neill, Cathy Doyle, Aising Doyle; Ellen Mulvaney, Fiona Leavy, Michelle Doyle; Caoimhe McCrossan, Aoife O'Malley; Orla Quinn, Méadbh Monaghan, Maria Kelly; Ellen Shaw, Lucy Kennedy, Aoibheann Kennedy. Subs used: Sian Weir-Hall, Rachel Darby, Amelia Shaw, Jessica Smyth, Grace Park.