Cahill: pre-match ‘nerves’ exorcised by solid display
New Westmeath camogie manager Diarmuid Cahill is delighted with how his charges kicked off their All-Ireland intermediate camogie championship campaign with a comfortable win over Dublin in Mullingar on Saturday last.
The Tipperary native said that Westmeath have overcome a tough few months and have really bought into the developing project to get the Lake County back to senior grade.
“From the last day even, against Dublin seniors [in the Leinster championship], they trained extremely hard and we’ve got a really strong panel at the moment,” Cahill said after the 4-13 to 1-9 over the Metropolitans’ second string.
“More girls have come back from injuries. The fifteen girls that were there finished strong. A few girls came in to help in at the end. It took the nineteen of them in the end. They’re just a great bunch of girls, and really buying into what we’re doing this year.”
A 12th minute goal from Dublin’s Niamh Comerford made for a shaky end to the first quarter, and while Cahill admits that his troops were nervous at the outset, they responded well, going on to dominate the second half.
“The first half was tricky. Much of it was probably to do with nerves. They had a lot of uncertainties about themselves, which they shouldn’t have, because they’re a great bunch of girls,” he said.
“Again, they’ve trained so hard for the past couple of weeks since I’ve come on board. They’re taking on all the drills, and they’ve put every drill that we’ve done into use – the passage of play, coming off the shoulder and moving into corners. And it’s not just the one style of play – there’s more to come as well.
“Maybe I’m wrong in saying this, but I think there’s just a bit of nerves because the panel had dropped for a while. There was a transition period. Girls were maybe doubting themselves, which they shouldn’t have.
“I came in nervous myself; I had butterflies in my stomach before the game started today, but once it started it’s a different story. Once the ball is thrown in then and you cross the white line, it’s all go then.”
Megan Dowdall (1-8), Denise McGrath (1-3) and Emma Broughan (1-1) were hugely impressive up front for Westmeath, while the returning Caoimhe McCrossan and Róisín Scally were superb additions to the vanguard. Sheila McGrath, normally part of the vanguard, was particularly excellent at wing back, drifting in and out of the attack while never neglecting defensive duties.
“They’re all great players, and Sheila stood out at training. She’s great to come onto the ball, and she proved today that she can play anywhere,” Cahill stated. “She tracked up and she got a score, and was well able to track back as well.
“Her defending skill is just brilliant, along with all the other girls. The defending started from corner back. We got three hooks in [on Dublin players], and that’s as good as a score for anyone.
“I’ll praise all the girls, the nineteen girls who came in. Caoimhe [McCrossan] had a fine game; she got a nasty little injury there at the end, so hopefully she’ll be ok. Róisín [Scally] as well started at corner forward. She did exactly what I wanted players to do, and that’s to get in on top of the goalie and make it hard for them.
“Look, everyone performed well, all nineteen of them. And the girls who didn’t get game time today, it’s them driving on the other 15-20 girls that you use on any given day. What you want is competition within your camp.”
Galway are up next, and then Carlow in the second and third of three consecutive home games. Cahill was asked if the target is to get the maximum from that home advantage.
“Without a doubt, but every game we’ll have to make count. We’ll take it game by game. Next week is Galway, who are very strong and have a big panel between senior and intermediate, just like Dublin as well,” he concluded.