Injury-time goal earns win for Westmeath ladies

By Gerry Buckley -- A dramatic goal from substitute Maud Annie Foley in the fourth minute of added-time proved decisive for Westmeath, as the girls in maroon and white edged out Fermanagh in Cusack Park on Saturday afternoon last in the first round of the TG4 Ladies Football Intermediate Championship.Foley is a regular in the Westmeath starting team and her late introduction in Saturday's game proved to be a master stroke by manager Peter Leahy, even if the winners were fortunate that match referee Mags Doherty (who replaced original choice P.J. Rabbitte, who had been delayed in traffic) played what seemed a very generous period of injury-time from a Westmeath perspective. However, the home side's persistence was admirable and it was a great boost for the squad to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The game was enjoyable throughout despite the inclement weather, albeit not nearly as bad as what transpired for the main feature on the programme, the men's game between Derry and Westmeath.Westmeath's Laura Walsh, who vied with corner back Aileen Martin for the distinction of being her side's outstanding player over the hour, gave her side an early lead with a brace of points, a 30-metre free after only 90 seconds and a superbly-curled shot from the same distance from open play, some five minutes later. Fermanagh captain Caroline Little responded in kind with a well-worked score from play and a converted free from 25 metres, to level the contest with ten minutes elapsed. The home side got a lucky break shortly after the midpoint of the first moiety when the Ernesiders had a 'goal' disallowed after Gemma Leahy fumbled Sharon Little's free. In the 18th minute, Caroline Little pointed a 40-metre free which would have done justice to any male footballer, given the conditions. Laura Walsh shot the Lake County's first wide in the 21st minute from a free, which was probably a case of poetic justice as the award had appeared harsh. The winners' profligacy continued with three further wides in quick succession, the last coming from the fist of skipper Carol Finch, after Lisa Rigney's shot had been blocked. With six minutes of normal time remaining, Laura Walsh equalised from a 25-metre free. Both defences were called into action in the closing minutes, Westmeath full back Aoife O'Brien producing a fine block from Marcella Connolly and Fermanagh netminder Donna Gilroy advancing well off her line to keep her goal intact following Johanna Maher's through ball. In the third minute of added-time, Gilroy saved Laura Walsh's lobbed free, leaving the sides tied at 0-3 apiece at the break.Sarah Dolan was wide from a good opportunity for the girls in maroon and white some 80 seconds after the restart. The visitors made the most of this let-off by scoring two quickfire points from the boots of Marcella Connolly (after a long solo run) and Sharon Little (from a left-footed free from 25 metres). Laura Walsh responded with two converted frees of her own in the ninth and 13th minutes, sandwiched between which the same player almost scored an unlikely goal from another placed ball. Just after the midpoint of the second half, the girls in green and white edged two points ahead with a fine point from Marcella Connolly (after playing a one-two with Aisling Moane) and a first score from midfielder Shauna Hamilton (struck with the outside of her boot). It could have got worse for the home team when Aileen Moane's dipping shot went just wide of the target. Wing back Elaine Finn compensated for an earlier miss with a fine point in the 22nd minute. Both sides spurned chances before another pointed free from Sharon Little looked like it would be the insurance point for the Ulster side, with just two minutes of normal time remaining. The losers could have extended their two-point lead but, deep into injury-time, they were caught for a sucker punch when a patient Westmeath build-up ended with Maud Annie Foley's low-trajectory shot going over Donna Gilroy's outstretched arms and into the top of the net. In the 5th minute of added-time (in truth, it was hard to see why so much additional time was allocated), Laura Walsh fittingly sealed a precious win with a successful 30-metre free. Final score: Westmeath 1-7, Fermanagh 0-8.Westmeath: Gemma Leahy; Aileen Martin, Aoife O'Brien, Aoife Brady; Elaine Finn (0-1), Jenny Rodgers, Fiona Claffey; Johanna Maher, Laura Walsh (0-6, 0-5 from frees); Carol Finch (capt), Triona Durkan, Aoife Donoghue; Sarah Dolan, Lisa Rigney, Kelly Boyce. Subs: Karen McDermott (for O'Brien, 48 mins), Maud Annie Foley (1-0) (for Rigney, 53 mins), Karen Hegarty (for Donoghue, 58 mins).Fermanagh: Donna Gilroy; Róisín Carroll, Orla Reihill, Adele Gallagher; Nuala Curran, Patricia Melanaphy, Naoimhín Daley; Shauna Hamilton (0-1), Catherine Murphy; Marcella Connolly (0-2), Caroline Little (capt) (0-3, 0-2 from frees), Sharon Little (0-2, both from frees); Áine McBrien, Aisling Moane, Aileen Moane. Subs: Michelle Burke (for Daley, half-time), Lynne McFrederick (for Aileen Moane, 53 mins).Referee: Mags Doherty (Wexford).