Deserved draw for Westmeath U16 girls against Dublin
Westmeath 0-6, Dublin 1-3
An impressive second half display ensured Westmeath U16 side a thoroughly deserved draw against Dublin, in the Leinster Ladies football championship at Lakepoint Park GAA grounds on Saturday.
Dublin led by 1-3 to 0-3 at the interval but were well and truly outplayed by a competent Westmeath side when the action resumed. Ultimately a solid save by Dublin 'keeper Martha Whelan to deny Jayne Charles a goal on 56 minutes proved the key moment in what was a very tight, tactical encounter and Westmeath were full value for the point gained on the day.
Conditions were dreadful as rain fell relentlessly and a cross-field breeze favoured neither side. The opening 10 minutes provided end-to-end action and sides shared four scores: Dublin led through a Molly Bourke point after a minute, before Andrea Goggins levelled matters.
A Katie Murray free put the home side ahead for the first (and only) time after nine minutes, but Dublin got the next two scores via Zara Flood and Phoebe Macken to regain the advantage.
Orla Collins set up Shannon Breslin for a Westmeath point in the 28th minute, a score that came after a bout of Dublin pressure. Defensively, Westmeath were disciplined and we'll organised. However, further Dublin pressure led to a foul on Phoebe Macken in injury-time, resulting in a penalty and Zara Flood finished neatly to Keira Kelly's left side for the only goal of this contest.
At the break, Dublin held that three-point lead, but Westmeath got the first two points when play resumed. Orla Collins took a pass from Shannon Breslin and shot over with the left boot, while Katie Murray traded passes with Shannon Breslin and pointed.
Westmeath enjoyed a surge and controlled possession but found the Dublin defence an uncompromising unit. And when Jayne Charles got through on goal, Martha Whelan stood firm to produce a good save. Hannah Hogan, on as a temporary substitute for Shannon Breslin, earned a 58th minute free which Katie Murray converted to ensure a draw. Dublin's Aoibhín Malone missed a free to win it, while Katie Murray was also off target during a protracted period of added time. In truth neither side deserved to lose on the day and they could meet again at a later date in this competition.
Player of the match. Orla Collins (Westmeath). Dashing wing back Orla Collins was excellent and had a hand in a few scores, while she kicked a lovely left-footed point in the second half.
Score of the match: A nice move led to a point for Katie Malone on 34 minutes: Jayne Charles made the initial break and Malone played a one-two with Shannon Breslin before firing over.
Match officials: There were too many stoppages allowed and it led to an unnecessary amount of added time, while a throw-in early in the second half when Orlagh O’Brien was denied a goal seemed quite bizarre.
What it means: There was confusion afterwards regarding extra-time, but the teams take a point apiece and move on to the next game in this round-robin competition.
Scorers - Westmeath: K Murray 0-3 (2 frees), L Allen 0-1, A Goggins 0-1, O Collins 0-1. Dublin: Z Flood 1-1 (1-0 pen.), M Bourke 0-1, P Macken 0-1.
Westmeath: Keira Kelly; Rebecca Ward, Eimear Doonan, Grace Shortall; Áine Bracken, Aoibhinn Berry, Orla Collins; Jayne Charles, Charlotte Butler Clyne; Lucy Allen, Shannon Breslin, Orlagh O'Brien; Andrea Goggins, Gráinne Cleary, Katie Murray. Subs: Maisie Tormey for O O'Brien (43), Charleigh Seery for G Cleary (45), Orla Rijksen for A Goggins (48), Hannah Hogan for S Breslin (inj., 59), S Breslin for H Hogan (59).
Dublin: Martha Whelan; Isabelle Hayden, Roisín Newman Reid, Ellen Morgan; Cara Coffey, Keeva O'Donovan, Rèka Kiss Kalló; Sophie McDonnell, Eilise Stuart; Isabelle Kilcommons, Aoibhín Malone, Ellie Reen; Molly Bourke, Zara Flood, Phoebe Macken. Subs: Kate Keaney for P Macken (h-t), Clara Woods for I Hayden (h-t), Ella Jenkins for I Kilcommons (43), Grace McCoy for M Bourke (48).
Referee: Henri Clifford (Kildare).