Westmeath down the Dubs to claim camogie crown

All-Ireland Junior 'A' Championship Final Westmeath 1-14 Dublin 2-6 Four unanswered points in injury-time helped a well-drilled and tenacious Westmeath junior camogie side to All-Ireland glory in the resplendent Donaghmore Ashbourne grounds on Sunday afternoon last, edging out a fine Dublin side by a five-point margin in a thrilling encounter. September 2, 2012 brought a glorious day weather-wise, in sharp contrast to the preceding summer months, and the Lake County girls produced a performance to match the sunshine. They were forced to recover on two occasions when the metropolitans struck for what looked like they might be match-changing goals - both from Joeleen Hoary. However, in an overall analysis, the better-balanced outfit won with Noel Boyce's charges thereby going one better than last year when they lost to Armagh after a replay in the decider. A large Westmeath crowd travelled to support the team and it was obvious in the early stages that both sides were nervous with scoreable opportunities spurned at both ends. Dinah Loughlin opened the scoring in the sixth minute from a 30-metre free, the referee having whistled prior to Denise McGrath popping the sliotar over the bar. Avril Fagan's runs were causing problems for the Dublin defence without scores accruing, but in the 13th minute, Denise McGrath kicked Westmeath's second point from a tight angle. Fiona Keating did well to keep out Joeleen Hoary's goalbound shot, but the Cullion netminder was beaten by the same player in the 16th minute when the Dublin girl scooped the ball to the net having done well initially to keep it in play. The wind-assisted girls in sky blue and navy added three points without reply between the 17th and 30th minutes via Róisín Collins, Kirsten Farrell (a great long-range effort) and Collins again (availing of slack play by the Westmeath defence). Westmeath's best effort in that period came in the 28th minute when Denise McGrath almost poked the ball to the net following a Dinah Loughlin free. However, the winners' tenacity was rewarded with a brace of points in injury-time, both from the stick of Loughlin - a routine free and a tidy score from play after great approach work by Avril Fagan. The half-time whistle sounded moments after the latter score with Dublin ahead by 1-3 to 0-4. An opportunist point from Louise O'Connor halved the deficit in the 35th minute, but Dublin pounced for their second goal within two minutes, Joeleen Hoary doubling her haul with a palmed effort after receiving a long pass from Elaine Gallery. Pamela Greville (who had an outstanding second half) tapped over a free when Denise McGrath was fouled just outside the parallelogram, but the latter player was not going to be stopped in her next foray goalward when she blasted the sliotar low to the net after a long solo run. Westmeath hearts stopped momentarily in the 42nd minute when what could have been a Hoary hat-trick was correctly overruled by the referee and umpires for a 'square ball' offence. Pamela Greville (a tidy score) and Elaine Gallery (a free) traded points, as did Dinah Loughlin (a great 40-metre free) and Carol Anne Canning (a terrific point). The sides were now on level terms (1-8 to 2-5) with two minutes of normal time remaining, but the girls in maroon and white struck for two points before the end of the stipulated hour, courtesy of Pamela Greville (a great score, albeit with a suspicion of a 'steps' infringement) and Denise McGrath (a classy score from a tight angle). Five minutes of injury-time was announced and Shauna Duff left the gap at just the bare minimum in the first of these with a shot which just crept inside the upright. However, Westmeath's unquenchable spirit came to the fore at this juncture and they sealed a memorable win with four late points from Joanne McCormack (the substitute deftly adding to the ball in midair from a Dinah Loughlin free), Loughlin herself (two- a free and a '45') and Pamela Greville (a quality insurance score). Moments later, amid ecstatic scenes, the chairperson of the Leinster Camogie Council, Catherine Neary presented the Nancy Murray Cup to Westmeath captain Jemma Egan. Scorers Westmeath: D Loughlin 0-6 (4f, 1'45'), D McGrath 1-2, P Greville 0-4 (1f), L O'Connor and J McCormack 0-1 each. Dublin: J Hoary 2-0, R Collins 0-2, S Duff, C A Canning, K Farrell and E Gallery (f) 0-1 each. Westmeath: Fiona Keating; Sarah King, Jemma Egan, Eileen Murphy; Aoife Higgins, Aisling Conaty, Róisín Scally; Dinah Loughlin, Muireann Scally; Pamela Greville, Denise McGrath, Avril Fagan; Louise O'Connor, Laura Thompson, Joanne Walsh. Subs used: Nicola Fagan for Scally (h/t), Joanne McCormack for Thompson (48), Caitríona Murtagh for O'Connor (55), Lizzy Hannon for Scally (60), Caroline Kelly for A Fagan (inj., 60 + 6). Dublin: Stephanie Carthy; Gráinne Free, Gráinne Ryan, Clodagh McGough; Elaine Sherry, Shauna Duff, Claire Rigney; Niamh Drummond, Carol Anne Canning; Emma Flanagan, Kirsten Farrell, Joeleen Hoary; Mikaela Dunne, Elaine Gallery, Róisín Collins. Subs used: Laoise Quinn for Dunne (45), Gráinne Smyth for Flanagan (55). Referee: Sean McGuigan (Derry).