Westmeath: 8-17
Offaly: 4-6
By Paul O’Donovan
The Westmeath minor ladies football team cruised into the Leinster ‘A’ final, following this emphatic and facile victory over Offaly at a wet and windy Lakepoint Park, Mullingar, last Saturday afternoon.
Both sides entered this game minus a number of strong players but it was Westmeath who emerged winners after a very comfortable victory.
Westmeath dominated this game from start to finish and four goals in the final ten minutes of the first half saw them go in leading by 6-8 to 1-1 at the break.
There was no let-up in the early stages of the second half as Westmeath went on to lead by 7-12 to 1-2. To their credit the Offaly girls managed a late rally and some goals in the third quarter put some respectability on the scoreline.
However it is Westmeath who now go forward to play Dublin in the Leinster final, but that final won’t be played for a number of weeks.
Westmeath settled early and goals from Aoife Connolly and the very impressive Ruth O’Connor helped them into an early lead of 2-5 to 0-1, with Roisín Clinton, Niamh Nolan and Ellie Conway amongst the early point scorers.
Offaly did pull a goal back when Ellee McEvoy scored from a penalty kick, although goalkeeper Grainne Byrne was very unlucky not to save it.
Westmeath responded with a volley of goals. Firstly, Amy Alford fired into the far corner of the net, then Alford burst through a number of tackles to score her second goal.
Moments later Ruth O’Connor weaved her way through the Offaly defence for goal number five and then just before half time Megan Ennis and Niamh Nolan combined for Katie Heffernan to set off on a long solo run that ended up with Heffernan scoring goal number six.
With Roisín Clinton and Ashley Ruane amongst the point scorers, Westmeath helped themselves to a half- time lead of 6-8 to 1-1.
Further points at the start of the second half from Ruane, O’Connor and Clinton stretched the Westmeath lead, before Amy Alford fired in goal number seven following a fine individual solo run.
Offaly never gave up though and a good goal from Ellen McLoughlin and two goals from Emily Bailey made the score line more respectable.
However, Ailish Green struck Westmeath’s eighth goal and points from Ashley Ruane and Ellen Cronin completed the 23-point victory for Westmeath.
Undoubtedly Westmeath will have a much tougher game in the final against Dublin but with a very strong midfielder partnership of Ellen Cronin and Megan Ennis and the goal threat from Ruth O’Connor and Amy Alford, the Lake County girls will have every chance.
Scorers-Westmeath: Amy Alford 3-1, Ruth O’Connor 2-2, Aoife Connolly 1-2, Ailish Green 1-1, Roisín Clinton 0-4, Katie Heffernan 1-0, Ashley Ruane 0-3, Niamh Nolan 0-2, Ellie Conway 0-1, Ellen Cronin 0-1.
Offaly: Ellee McEvoy 1-4 (1-0 from penalty, 0-2 frees), Emily Bailey 2-0, Ellen McLoughlin 1-0, Holly Ravenhill 0-1, Abbie Stafford 0-1.
Westmeath: Grainne Byrne; Louise Earley, Katie Heffernan, Melek Fagan; Ciara Heavin, Ellie Conway, Rachel Halligan; Ellen Cronin, Megan Ennis; Roisín Clinton, Ruth O’Connor, Ashley Ruane; Aoife Connolly, Amy Alford, Niamh Nolan. Subs used: Ailish Green, Becky Nolan, Elaine LeBault, Kate Brennan.
Offaly: Holly Ravenhill; Alisha Murphy, Sarah Cummins, Eimear Flynn; Emer Lawless, Nicole Farrelly, Niamh Glackin; Katie Kehoe, Ellee McEvoy; Shauna Sweeney, Sarah Bracken, Abbie Dunne; Abbie Stafford, Emily Bailey, Anna Grehan. Subs used: Holly Ryan, Roisin Finn, Ellen McLoughlin.
Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare).
