Kilmurray and Gorman swoop for goals as Westmeath prevail

LGFA: Leinster Minor ‘C’ Championship Final

Westmeath 2-15 Offaly 2-8

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Goals by Caoimhe Kilmurray and Sadhbh Gorman saw Westmeath power past Offaly in the Leinster LGFA Minor ‘C’ Championship final at Carbury GAA grounds last Wednesday evening.

This was expected to be a close affair between two neighbouring counties but Westmeath pulled away in the second quarter to lead at half-time, 1-9 to 1-4.

Offaly depended on Saorah Doyle for scores and she ploughed a lone furrow. Westmeath had the scoring power of Sadhbh Gorman, Caoimhe Kilmurray and Kate Whyte who found the target regularly.

The Lake County again pulled away in the fourth quarter to see off the Faithful girls. Westmeath’s goals came at crucial stages in the game. The first from Kilmurray in the 21st minute, and the second came courtesy of Gorman. The Milltownpass player was outstanding all through the game and her fortunate goal in the 50th minute was the score that laid the platform for the victory.

Westmeath got the opportunity for a perfect start. Straight from the throw-in, Caoimhe McCormack was fouled and the referee signalled for a penalty. Gorman scuffed the spot kick, but the ball still went over the bar for the opening score of the game.

Caoimhe Kilmurray had looked lively from the off and she was involved in the build-up that led to Lilly Quinn being fouled. Gorman tapped over the free for her second score. Moate Community School’s Kate Whyte tapped over their third and Westmeath were off to a flyer.

Offaly gradually grew into the game. Saorah Doyle (who demonstrated the dying art of kicking frees off the ground) was fouled and she tapped the resultant free over the bar.

Moments later, Aoife Murphy O’Connor showed the Westmeath defence a clean pair of heels, the wing-forward using her pace to breach the defence before playing in Doyle and the Ballinamere Durrow player beat Westmeath goalie Amy Donlon. The sides were level in the 10th minute.

Westmeath hadn’t scored for ten minutes but Whyte put the eventual winners back in the ascendancy. Then Westmeath got that crucial first goal. The excellent Philippa Ruane did the ground work before finding Kilmurray and the midfielder finished past Sheola Rosney in the Offaly goal. Kilmurray’s goal helped Westmeath to go in at the interval five points to the good.

Offaly got the dream start to the second half. Doyle was fouled and she took the free quickly, blasting the ball over the bar. Early warning signs for Westmeath on what Doyle’s intentions were when she got close-in frees. Overall, Doyle was exceptional for Offaly and she did all that could be expected from a player to drag her side back into the game.

Yet Westmeath were always able to respond to anything Doyle threw at them. Quinn kicked her second score, Westmeath’s first in the second half in the 41st minute. Rebecca Monaghan joined the attack from her corner-back duties and helped in the build up to Gorman’s next score. Kilmurray then kicked Westmeath’s next.

At that stage Athlone’s Aine Di Tullio, Ruane, Kilmurray, McCormack and Gorman were all prominent as Westmeath put the Offaly defence under pressure.

But Offaly were not prepared to give up without a battle. Doyle was fouled and again she took a quick free - this time she found the Westmeath net. Shortly afterwards, Doyle sent another free over the bar. Offaly had cut the arrears and were back in the game.

Westmeath were alarmed at that stage and they introduced Lisa Seery from the Goldsmiths club. Seery gave Westmeath a different direction in attack and she showed good composure in possession straight after her introduction.

Seery linked up with Kilmurray, receiving the return pass, only for her shot to hit the post and rebound back into play. Kilmurray collected the rebound and scored a point.

But it was Gorman’s goal that rocked Offaly and ended the game as a contest. Gorman went for a point but the flight of the ball deceived Rosney in goal and the ball nestled in the net behind her.

Gorman kicked another two scores before the final whistle signalled Westmeath celebrations. Both Monaghan and Kearney were sent to the sin bin in the last few minutes but it didn’t affect Westmeath's strong finish to the game.

Player of the match: The official accolade went to Offaly’s outstanding full-forward Saorah Doyle who scored 2-8, all of Offaly’s scores. A case could also be made for Westmeath’s Sadhbh Gorman, whose tally of 1-6 was crucial in deciding the destination of the trophy. Gorman showed a wide array of skills and could have ended up with a similar individual score to Doyle, if her early penalty had gone under the crossbar instead of over it.

Aine Di Tullio from Athlone looks a player with a good future and she was excellent in the basic skills of the game. In an impressive half-back line, Lara McCartan was swashbuckling in attacking with pace at every opportunity and Kayla McDonnell was calm and composed in the centre. Caoimhe McCormack showed leadership and Philippa Ruane’s workrate around the ground was effective. Sile Kearney played the covering role across the defence with great energy and Kate Whyte kicked crucial scores in the first quarter when the game was close.

Scorers - Westmeath: S Gorman 1-6 (0-2f); C Kilmurray 1-2; K Whyte 0-4 (1f); L Quinn 0-2; C McCormack 0-1. Offaly: S Doyle 2-8.

Westmeath: Amy Donlon; Ella Corcoran, Claire O’Donoghue, Rebecca Monaghan; Lara McCartan, Kayla McDonnell, Aine Di Tullio; Claire Gaffney, Caoimhe Kilmurray; Sile Kearney, Caoimhe McCormack, Philippa Ruane; Kate Whyte, Sadhbh Gorman, Lilly Quinn. Subs used: Lisa Seery for Quinn (45 mins), Ellen Foran for Ruane (58), Meabh O’Hara for Gorman (59).

Offaly: Sheola Rosney; Tara Tyrrell, Aine Maher, Saoirse Hoey; Hannah Doolan, Meabh Rouse, Eva Donlon; Sarah Flynn, Allie Butler; Aoife Murphy O’Connor, Caoimhe Lynam, Faith McDermott; Trasa Bracken, Saorah Doyle, Jane Maher. Subs used: Isabelle Lyons for Flynn (40 mins), Niamh Galvin for Butler (46), Fianait Dooley for Bracken (48), Grainne Foy for Lynam (51), Ella Cuskelly for Murphy O’Connor (60).

Referee: Michael Tarpey (Laois).