Westmeath ladies bid to overcome Cavan at second attempt to claim All-Ireland title

The Westmeath ladies have another chance to win their first All-Ireland title when they face Cavan in this Sunday's intermediate championship final replay at Croke Park. In the aftermath of the drawn game - which finished Westmeath 2-5, Cavan 0-11 - many observers thought the replay would be played at a provincial venue. However, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association announced that Croke Park would host the junior and intermediate final replays as a double-header, giving all four teams the opportunity to win an All-Ireland title at the famed venue. Westmeath will face Cavan in the intermediate final replay at 4.15pm, with Wicklow taking on New York in the junior final replay at 2.30pm (both matches will be televised on TG4). Westmeath attacker and Glasson native Laura Walsh is delighted with the opportunity to return to Croke Park. "We're absolutely thrilled that the replay is in Croke Park. It was amazing to play in Croke Park the last day, it's where we've been trying to get to for years," she said. "It's where All-Ireland finals in the GAA should be played whatever code they're in. We now have another chance to win the All-Ireland in Croke Park and hopefully we'll take the cup this time." Laura actually had a last-gasp chance of scoring a winning point in the drawn match, albeit a difficult one from a tricky angle on the right. And, after the ball drifted wide, Laura couldn't help but think of the advice imparted by her dad, Charlie, from when she first started playing Gaelic football. "My dad always told me to aim for the far post when shooting from that angle, so I thought he was going to kill me when I hit it wide! Still, it was a real hit and hope effort, there were a couple of Cavan players on my tail and I knew I had to hit it. But at least the scores were level at that stage - if we were a point down, it would have been a much worse feeling to see that ball go wide," she told the 'Westmeath Independent'. With the hooter system in ladies football, Westmeath knew exactly how long was he left as they tried to engineer a winning point. Laura believes this system is "a lot more transparent" and that it prevents "referees getting embroiled in controversy" over timekeeping issues - as so often happens in the men's game. The former Garrycastle player believes experiencing "the atmosphere and occasion of playing in Croke Park" will stand to the team for the replay. "I think the girls will be able to concentrate more on the game than the occasion this time," she said. At the time of going to press, the Westmeath team for Sunday's final had yet to be named. And given the impact substitutes have been making throughout the season, it will be interested to see the selection decisions of co-managers Alan Mangan and Peter Leahy. "I think the competition for places is what has pushed us on this year. You know that if you're not performing in training or matches, there are girls clipping at your heels, and the subs know they will be given a chance," said Laura. Having first played football for Tubberclair, Laura took the opportunity of joining the progressive Garrycastle ladies football club, winning a senior championship with the green and red outfit. Laura now plays her club football with Dublin side Na Fianna, with whom she was won two senior championship medals. Na Fianna defeated old rivals Ballyboden in this year's Dublin final, having lost to the same opposition in last year's semi-final after a replay. The Westmeath JFC and IFC finals - which had been originally pencilled in for Sunday - will now take place on Saturday. Garrycastle face St Paul's in the junior decider at 3pm, while Coralstown/Kinnegad face Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall in the intermediate final (4.45pm). The decision to play those finals on Saturday will have been welcomed by the Foley in Kinnegad. Maud-Annie Foley is a key member of the Westmeath ladies team, while her brothers Ronan and Killian are part of the Coralstown/Kinnegad team. Meanwhile, the Westmeath SFC final replay between Garrycastle and Mullingar Shamrocks will be played on Sunday, October 23, and county secretary Pat Lynagh has confirmed that Pat Fox will once again act as referee.