Dillon hits 1-6 but defeat relegates Westmeath ladies

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies’ Senior Football Championship relegation play-off: Cavan 1-13, Westmeath 1-9

On Sunday afternoon last at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford, Westmeath and Cavan went head-to-head for their senior status for 2023.

Conditions were perfect in the Longford venue as both sides looked to put behind a disappointing group campaign in the senior championship to date.

Cavan came into the game on the back of three defeats at the hands of Dublin, Mayo and Tipperary while Westmeath, in a three-team group, lost out heavily to Kerry and Galway. Westmeath, All-Ireland intermediate champions last year, desperately fought against demotion, while Cavan were determined to hold onto senior status won in 2014.

Westmeath’s desire was evident early on in the game as star forward Sarah Dillon showed great pace to round Erin Longair for the opening point of the game. A quick free by Dillon saw Westmeath full forward Karen Hegarty punt the ball over the bar doubling the Lake County’s advantage.

Hegarty then turned provider in the seventh minute, as Ciara Blundell pointed giving Michael Finneran’s side a three-point lead. Kelly Boyce Jordan then combined with Sarah Dillon in the 12th minute for Westmeath’s fourth point of the game, as Cavan’s chances at the other end went continued to rack up.

In the 13th minute, Cavan’s Geraldine Sheridan drove at the Westmeath defence and with her first step inside the 13-metre line was taken down, resulting in a penalty. Lauren McVeety stepped up to face Ciara Faulkner, but her shot was well saved as Faulkner dived to her right, batting the ball away.

Cavan’s missed chances continued until the 21st minute when Aisling Gilsenan won a free and converted herself. Sarah Dillon replied with a free at the other end of the field after referee Gus Chapman spotted some pulling off the ball 13 metres from the Cavan goal.

With six minutes remaining in the first half, Lauren McVeety crucially sent over a free for Cavan’s second score of the game. As the Cavan defenders began to get on top, Gilsenan again won a free and converted herself on the 29th minute to leave the half-time score Westmeath 0-5, Cavan 0-3.

Cavan’s half-time teamtalk was simple, as they just needed to take more of the scoring opportunities having missed a goal and 11 points. Westmeath showed far more efficiency in the opening half, with just four missed scoring opportunities from their nine shots.

Cavan came out focused after the break, and points from frees by Aisling Gilsenan and Lauren McVeety had the sides level after four minutes. Westmeath full forward Karen Hegarty restored the Lake County’s lead with a well-taken right footed point. A minute later, Cavan substitute Cara McCaffrey sent the ball over the bar from 30 metres after a nice side step.

The game’s first goal came in the 11th minute of the second half, as the outstanding Sarah Dillon’s shot under pressure lobbed across the goals before dropping into the top corner of the net. Westmeath now held a three-point lead, but came under pressure as Cavan raised the temple of the game.

After Geraldine Sheridan’s shot was well saved by Faulkner, Sinead Greene reduced the gap to two points. In the 46th minute, after sub Ally Cahill’s shot came off the post, Lauren McVeety left just a single point between the side with her trusted left foot.

Once again, when Westmeath needed someone to step up, Sarah Dillon obliged as she sent over her fourth point of the game. From the resulting kick out Cavan gathered possession and sent a speculative ball towards the Westmeath goal mouth. Geraldine Sheridan used her power to win possession and with ball in hand, rounded Faulkner and stuck it in the back of the net to give Cavan the lead for the very first time.

However, Westmeath came back battling, and after Dillon was fouled in the left corner forward position, she played a short one-two before splitting the posts. Cavan dual star Niamh Keenaghan then edged the girls in blue in front on the 19th minute with her first point of the game.

In the 53rd and 54th minutes, Geraldine Sheridan and a Sarah Dillon free were traded, leaving just a point between the sides with five minutes remaining. As the full-time whistle approached, Cavan hammered home their advantage with a second well-taken left-footed point by Niamh Keenaghan.

Gerry Moane’s girls, knowing all about the dangers of holding a two-point lead from last weekend’s battled with Tipperary, showed that they weren't going to make the same mistake again, as Lauren McVeety left three points between the sides with a free after Cara McCaffrey was fouled.

The final score of the game came a minute later, as the impressive Aisling Gilsenan finished off her account with a fourth free, leaving Cavan four points to the good when the final whistle sounded.

Cavan: Elaine Brady; Kate McIntyre, Shauna Lynch, Erin Longair; Sinead Greene (0-1), Laura Fitzpatrick, Mona Sheridan; Nessa Byrd, Annie Deneher; Niamh Keenaghan (0-2), Lauren McVeety (0-4, 3f), Aisling Walls; Geraldine Sheridan (1-1), Áine Reilly, Aisling Gilsenan (0-4f). Subs used: Ally Cahill for A Reilly, Cara McCaffrey (0-1) for A Walls.

Westmeath: Ciara Faulkner; Melek Fagan, Muireann Scally, Aoife O’Malley; Niamh Nolan, Amy Alford, Fiona Coyle; Vicky Carr, Tracey Dillon; Chloe Kelly, Sarah Dillon (1-6, 0-2f), Kelly Boyce Jordan; Ciara Blundell (0-1), Karen Hegarty (0-2), Lucy Power. Subs used: Susanna Buckley for A O’Malley, Shannon Lyons for K Hegarty.

Ref: Gus Chapman (Sligo).