Westmeath ladies edge Roscommon to reach All-Ireland final
Westmeath Ladies footballers will play Meath in the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Final in Croke Park after a narrow victory over neighbours Roscommon this afternoon.
Westmeath held on amidst late Roscommon pressure to win the semi-final in Glennon Bros Pearse Park this afternoon by 2-9 to 0-13.
Goals in the first and last minutes of the first half were pivotal for Sean Finnegan’s team with Ciara Blundell finishing from close range in the opening minute before Karen Hegarty’s effort just before the interval left Westmeath in front 2-6 to 0-8.
In between the two goals, it had been nip and tuck with Michael Finneran’s Roscommon outscoring Westmeath in that first-half period sandwiched by the two green flags.
After the break two frees by Laura Fleming and a point by Aimee O’Connor had Roscommon within just a point of the eventual victors four minutes in before Westmeath rallied and were three points up at the water break.
Scores were scare in a tight second half and Roscommon were back within a point of Westmeath with seven minutes left. However, a great long range free from Leanne Slevin extended Westmeath’s lead in what was to be the final score of the game.
Under pressure later on from Roscommon, despite the sin-binning of Johanna Maher, Westmeath held on to secure a place in the final against Meath – with the opportunity to bounce straight back to senior ranks at the first time of asking.
Scorers – Westmeath: C Blundell 1-2, L Archibold 0-4 (1f), K Hegarty 1-1, J Maher 0-1, L Slevin 0-1 (1f). Roscommon: L Fleming 0-8 (6f), A O’Connor 0-2 (1f), J Cregg 0-1, J Higgins 0-1, N McHugh 0-1.
Westmeath: L McCormack; N Spellman, L Power, R Dillon; F Claffey, L Duncan, A Roche; J Maher, T Dillon; L McCartan, V Carr, A Jones; K Hegarty, L Archbold, C Blundell. Subs: L Slevin for T Dillon (47), S McCormack for Hegarty (52), J Rogers for Roche (57).
Roscommon: H Cummins; H Ennis, S Kenny, E Murren; N Watson, E Irwin, R Wynne; C Conway, J Higgins; L Fleming, N McHugh, J Cregg; A O’Connor, A Gavin, S Glennon. Subs: L O’Rourke for Gavin (40), R Fitzmaurice for O’Connor (49), K Nolan for Cregg (49), L Brady for Glennon (60+2).
Ref: John Devlin (Galway).