Westmeath ladies capture historic All-Ireland crown

Sunday October 9, 2011 will forever remain a red-letter day in the history of ladies Gaelic football in Westmeath. And rightly so, after a fantastic late rally which saw the totally committed Lake County girls pounce for an unanswered 1-3 in the closing stages, to win the All-Ireland intermediate title for the first time in a truly dramatic replay in Croke Park. While Cavan imploded following the sin-binning of their influential left half-back Donna English in the 54th minute, at which stage the Breffni girls led by 1-8 to 0-6, Westmeath still needed to put the scores on the board and duly did so with Laura Brennan's excellent strike from the penalty spot indicative of the skill level in this outstanding side. For joint managers Peter Leahy and Alan Mangan, as well as mentors Michael Reynolds and Daniel McDermott, liaison officer Claire Brady and physio Susie McKnight, this was a victory to savour. Indeed, it is a fitting reward for the countless hours of hard work and unselfish dedication of many unsung heroes in the ladies game in the county over many years. After a colourful pre-match parade led by the Artane Boys Band, proceedings got under way and the girls in blue and white displayed some early nerves when missing three good chances, including a free taken, surprisingly not by Aisling Doonan, but by Claragh O'Reilly. However, Doonan - the star of the drawn encounter - soon stamped her undoubted class on the game with a brilliant point from 40 metres and a great left-footed free from 30 metres, sandwiched between which Laura Walsh (who worked tirelessly, despite some wayward shooting) shot a bad wide for the winners and Johanna Maher was unlucky to see an improvised fisted effort come back off the crossbar. Maud Annie Foley, who ran herself to a standstill from start to finish, was off target from a brace of tricky frees before Aisling Doonan increased her side's lead with two more converted frees in the 17th and 20th minutes respectively. After struggling with earlier placed balls, Maud Annie Foley then elected to take a quick free and a one-two with Ruth Kearney paid dividends when the Coralstown/Kinnegad girl slotted over her side's first point. Laura Brennan followed up with a tremendous solo point and Maud Annie Foley eventually found the range from a free deep into added-time to narrow the gap to the bare minimum. At the break, the scoreboard read: Cavan 0-4 Westmeath 0-3. Within 90 seconds of the restart, Aisling Doonan doubled the Breffni County's lead from a 35-metre free. However, they suffered a body blow when Bríd Boylan was yellow-carded for a foul on the strong-running Johanna Maher (who had an outstanding second half). Brónagh Sheridan's shot then came back off the upright, allowing a determined side in maroon and white to draw level courtesy of a point apiece from Maud Annie Foley (a fine score from 25 metres) and Fiona Claffey (the latter wisely opting to take a point when a half-chance of a goal beckoned). Despite their numerical disadvantage - as it transpired, Boylan never actually returned, with impressive sub Daena Clerkin taking her place - Cavan rallied. They were rewarded with a pair of rapid-fire points just before the midpoint of the second moiety, via substitute Gráinne Smith and full forward Claragh O'Reilly. A great Westmeath move soon ended with Laura Walsh finding the range via the upright, but a very poor wide from a free by Maud Annie Foley ensued. The losers made the most of Westmeath's profligacy when they struck for a quickfire 1-1. Daena Clerkin pointed neatly in the 52nd minute and her fellow-sub Gráinne Smith then took Claragh O'Reilly's pass and duly sent an unstoppable shot past Gemma Leahy. In truth, it looked a case of 'game, set and match' to Cavan at this juncture, but what followed was a joy to behold for the huge contingent of Westmeath fans in the vociferous crowd of 6,910 and the thousands at home watching the game on TG4. Donna English was sin-binned for a cynical foul on the ever-dangerous Johanna Maher and Westmeath set about eating into Cavan's five-point lead with fantastic spirit and unquenchable pride in the maroon and white jersey. After another missed free from Maud Annie Foley, the ball made its way back to the teak-tough midfielder and she did well to kick a vital point. Within two minutes, an obstructed Johanna Maher's cross was added to by Laura Walsh but the 'goal' was disallowed and a penalty awarded. Laura Brennan came forward from defence to coolly slot home a superb spot-kick and when substitute Sarah Dolan (Garrycastle) pointed after a one-two with Johanna Maher, the sides were level and normal time was running out. It was then left to Elaine Finn to play a captain's part by firing over what proved to be the winning score after taking Laura Walsh's pass and soloing goalward. A very tense six minutes remained on the countdown clock on the giant scoreboard, but a resolute winners' rearguard, where Aileen Martin and Jennifer Rogers starred throughout, held firm. Late frees from Brónagh Sheridan and Aisling Doonan (when just 25 seconds was left) failed to find the target and the referee, the appropriately-named (from a Westmeath perspective) Seán Joy, blew the full-time whistle to signal wonderful scenes of celebration from Westmeath players, mentors and supporters. Moments later, an overjoyed Elaine Finn was presented with the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup by Pat Quill, Uachtarán Cumann Peil Gael na mBan. Scorers - Westmeath: L Brennan 1-1 (1-0 pen), M A Foley 0-4 (1 free), E Finn, L Walsh, F Claffey and S Dolan 0-1 each. Cavan: A Doonan 0-5 (4 frees), G Smith 1-1, Claragh O'Reilly and D Clerkin 0-1 each. Westmeath: Gemma Leahy; Aileen Martin, Grace Kearney, Triona Durkan; Laura Brennan, Jennifer Rogers, Michelle Malone; Maud Annie Foley, Elaine Finn (capt.); Laura Walsh, Ruth Kearney, Johanna Maher; Jennifer Byrne, Karen Hegarty, Fiona Claffey. Subs: Kelly Boyce Jordan for Byrne (half-time), Emma Morris for Hegarty (54), Sarah Dolan for R Kearney (56). Cavan: Christine McCutcheon; Ciara O'Reilly, Gráinne McGlade, Claire Kearns; Reneé Murphy, Pamela Crowe, Donna English; Rosie Crowe, Ailish Cornyn; Róisín O'Keeffe, Brónagh Sheridan, Elaine Costin; Bríd Boylan, Claragh O'Reilly, Aisling Doonan (capt.). Subs: Gráinne Smith for Costin (half-time), Daena Clerkin for Boylan (50), Ciara Gray for O'Keeffe (57). Referee: Seán Joy (Kerry).