Westmeath ladies trio honoured for key role in historic triumph

Three of the local players who helped the Westmeath ladies to All-Ireland glory this year - Laura Walsh, Michelle Malone and Laura Brennan - have been honoured with the October award in the Westmeath Independent/Hodson Bay Hotel Sports Awards. All three played key roles in Westmeath's remarkable success as the Lake ladies defeated Cavan in the All-Ireland intermediate championship final in a dramatic replay at Croke Park. The Westmeath ladies had won the Division 4 league title and the Leinster intermediate crown earlier in the season. Moate's Michelle Malone was a steady influence on the team throughout the year from her wing-back position. Michelle also helped Moate to reach the Westmeath intermediate championship final, in which they were narrowly defeated by local rivals Kilbeggan. Michelle (30), who worked as a fitness instructor with Athlone Regional Sports Centre for a number of years, now works with Elite Marketing in Athlone. A past-pupil of Moate Community School, Michelle is a daughter of Pat and Esther Malone. Laura Walsh (26) was a leading light in the Westmeath attack during the season and her ability to create chances and take scores proved highly valuable. A daughter of Charlie and Pauline Walsh, the Glasson native also had a year to remember at club level. A former Garrycastle player, with whom she won a Westmeath senior title, Laura transferred to Na Fianna of Dublin some years ago. In 2011, she helped Na Fianna to win the Dublin county title and they went on to claim the Leinster title. Laura was denied a remarkable All-Ireland double by Carnacon of Mayo. Despite scoring a goal in the All-Ireland club final, Laura couldn't prevent her side from losing out to a Cora Staunton inspired Carnacon. A PE teacher at Cabinteely Community School, Laura is a former pupil of St Joseph's College, Summerhill, Athlone. In just her season with the Westmeath ladies panel, Laura Brennan showed nerves of steel to convert a vital penalty which helped to turn the tide in the All-Ireland final replay. The Garrycastle player blasted the spotkick to the net with aplomb during the nail-biting closing stages, and Westmeath went on to edge out their Cavan counterparts by a single point. Laura (21) started the drawn final at wing-forward but was moved to wing-back for the replay. Laura's club Garrycastle were going for their fourth senior county title in a row this year but they were denied at the semi-final stage by Coralstown/Kinnegad. A psychology through science student at NUI Maynooth, Laura from Retreat Park, Athlone, is a daughter of Anne and Michael Brennan. Laura is a past-pupil of Our Lady's Bower, Athlone.