Valiant Westmeath ladies denied as Tyrone find a bit extra

Tyrone 4-17, Westmeath 4-14 (After Extra-Time)

In what was a thrilling rollercoaster, Westmeath eventually fell to an agonising defeat at the hands of Tyrone in this LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final at Carrick-on-Shannon last Sunday.

Westmeath let a six-point lead slip away in added time at the end of the regulation 60 minutes, and Tyrone took advantage of the reprieve in extra-time. Ultimately, Sorcha Gormley's goal in the second period of extra-time settled this enthralling contest in Tyrone's favour.

Having lost to Tyrone by 22 points in their group game four weeks previously, Westmeath went into this game as clear underdogs. But Frank Browne's charges made light of such expectations with a hugely committed performance featuring plenty of quality football. Anna Jones scored 2-5 (including a goal from a penalty), the outstanding Sarah Dillon kicked seven points from play and the youthful Kilmurray cousins (Katie and Caoimhe) contributed a goal apiece.

Westmeath were within touching distance of a coveted All-Ireland final place and a meeting with Laois at Croke Park, but they just couldn't hold on to their lead in a frantic finish to normal time.

The momentum swayed in different directions in an incident packed contest featuring more twists than an Agatha Christie mystery. There were eight goals, a penalty for each side (one scored and one missed), some splendid points, missed chances and players going down with cramp in extra-time. On a warm and sunny day at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, both sides deserve huge credit for serving up such an entertaining spectacle.

Tyrone appeared to have the benefit of a tricky crossfield breeze in the first half and they surged into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead inside the opening six minutes. The formidable Tyrone midfield pairing of Aoibhinn McHugh and Sláine McCarroll started strongly, giving the Ulster side a platform.

Sasha Byrne (who started instead of the listed Niamh O’Neill), Aoife Horisk (a free), Cara McCrossan and McCarroll (her effort could have been a goal) were the players on target in that early salvo.

Westmeath fans were probably fearing the worst at this stage, but a spirited group of players paid little heed to such a script. And remarkably, Tyrone did not score again for the remainder of the first half.

A hard-earned point by Lucy McCartan got Westmeath off the mark and boosted confidence levels. At the other end, Sarah Murphy (whose brother Paul was on the Kerry men's team which defeated Tyrone the previous day) produced a timely block to prevent a possible goal.

Two pointed frees from Anna Jones, either side of a fine individual point from Sarah Dillon, saw Westmeath level matters at 0-4 each by the 19th minute.

Westmeath captain Fiona Coyle showed determination to win a free, underlining the spirit in the team on the day. Brilliant work by young defender Lara McCartan, who played a one-two with Lucy Power, created the chance for Dillon to fire Westmeath into the lead (23rd minute). Dillon's third point gave Westmeath a 0-6 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

Before the half-time whistle was blown, Westmeath had an amazing let-off. McCrossan won the ball ahead of Aoife Temple, accidentally knocking the Westmeath keeper to the ground in the process. The Tyrone forward looked certain to find the net only for the vigilant Lara McCartan to get back and block the ball on the line.

Having overcome a shaky start and ridden their luck with some Tyrone goal chances, the Westmeath camp had to be very pleased with the state of affairs at half-time.

Within six minutes of the restart, however, the game was turned on its head. Substitute Niamh O'Neill, a hugely influential figure in Tyrone's eventual victory, clipped over a point after a few seconds. Then two Westmeath kickouts went awry, leading to the concession of 1-1, the goal scored by the always threatening Horisk.

Two pointed frees followed from O'Neill and Horisk; suddenly, Westmeath were six in arrears (1-9 to 0-6).

To their credit, Westmeath refused to wilt with an outstanding point by Dillon lifting spirits. Gráinne Byrne then raised a white flag after sterling work by Anna Jones.

Better was to come in the 39th minute when 16-year-old substitute Katie Kilmurray found the net after good work by Chloe Gonoud. The impact of the richly talented Katie belied her tender years.

After Jones pointed a free to level matters (1-9 each), Westmeath struck for their second goal. It came after a foul on Dillon who went on to kick the ball over the bar, but referee Gus Chapman brought play back for a free. Any frustration over that decision was wiped away when, after Jones's effort dropped short, Katie Kilmurray won the ball inside and was adjudged to have been fouled. A penalty was duly awarded and Jones took the 44th-minute spot kick, her low shot beating Amelia Coyle.

Tyrone were soon awarded a penalty of their own, with Aoife Temple pinged for overcarrying under pressure. Sorcha Gormley's penalty was well struck but the Athlone netminder redeemed herself with a terrific save. The typically industrious Tracey Dillon thwarted a Tyrone attack with an interception, before O'Neill sent over a free to reduce the gap.

Westmeath struck what seemed a major blow when Sarah Dillon won a Tyrone kickout and set up Jones to clinically fire to the net (52nd minute). A couple of minutes later, however, Darren McCann's side replied with their second goal. McCarroll's shot was well blocked by Fiona Coyle, but the irrepressible O'Neill swept the rebound to the net.

Yet a 57th-minute goal from Caoimhe Kilmurray, who finished to the net at the back post after Lucy McCartan played the ball across, put the Lake County ladies on the verge of the final. A classy point followed from Dillon, leaving Westmeath 4-10 to 2-10 ahead with less than two minutes of normal time left.

Two points from O'Neill (one free), either side of a goal attempt from the same player, left Westmeath clinging on to a four-point lead. Horisk gave Tyrone a precious lifeline when her shot from the right close to the 13-metre line squeezed inside the near post.

Westmeath paid the price for coughing up possession from a free out, allowing sub Chloe McCaffrey to send over the equaliser as the contest ticked into the sixth minute of stoppage time, leaving a full-time score of 4-10 to 3-13.

The teams equally shared four points in the first period of extra-time, making it 4-12 to 3-15 at the break. The strong running McCaffrey accounted for Tyrone's points either side of a brace from Dillon, the second of which was a superb score.

Having been forced off through injury earlier, Fiona Coyle returned to the fray, while Westmeath midfielder Vicky Carr showed her high level of fitness by continuing to run at the Tyrone defence. Yet but it was hardly surprising to see players on both sides suffering from cramp in the sweltering conditions.

Sorcha Gormley hit the butt of the post after weaving her way through the Westmeath defence. The referee was playing advantage and Horisk pointed the ensuing free. The classy Gormley soon struck for the crucial last goal (73rd minute), finishing to the net from close range after going around Temple, having been set up by sub Emma Conroy.

Now four points down, Westmeath needed to produce something miraculous once more. With Caulry's Kate Stuart Trainor joining the action, the Leinster champions certainly didn't give up as two pointed frees from Jones cut the deficit in half. Horisk pointed another free, bringing her tally to 2-5 and giving Tyrone a three-point cushion.

Due to stoppages, the second period of extra-time reached 15 minutes, but Westmeath just couldn't conjure a goal which would have forced a freetaking shootout to decide the outcome. Jones blasted a last-gasp free high and wide, leaving a relieved Tyrone outfit looking forward to an All-Ireland final against Laois, whom Westmeath defeated in this year's Leinster intermediate decider.

Player of the match: Sarah Dillon (Westmeath). She may have finished on the losing side but the LGFA player of the month award winner for May again showed her class, scoring seven points from play. Some of the Milltown attacker's points were from the very top drawer and David Clifford himself would be happy to claim them.

Talking point: Despite the bitter disappointment of their eventual defeat, Westmeath can take a lot of positives from their performance. If this group of players stays together and the panel is supplemented with some more options to add greater depth, Westmeath will surely be strong contenders for the All-Ireland intermediate title next year. And with five teenagers featuring for Westmeath in this game - Lara McCartan, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Katie Kilmurray, Pip Ruane and Kate Stuart Trainor - there seems to be plenty of talent coming through.

Scorers – Tyrone: A Horisk 2-5 (0-5f); N O’Neill 1-5 (0-3f); S Gormley 1-1; C McCaffrey 0-3; S Byrne, C McCrossan, S McCarroll 0-1 each. Westmeath: A Jones 2-5 (1-0pen, 0-5f); S Dillon 0-7; K Kilmurray, C Kilmurray 1-0 each; Lucy McCartan, G Byrne 0-1 each.

Tyrone - Amelia Coyle; Jayne Lyons, Gráinne McKenna, Eimear Quinn; Caitlín Campbell, Méabh Mallon, Claire Canavan; Aoibhinn McHugh (captain), Sláine McCarroll; Elle McNamee, Sorcha Gormley, Aoife Horisk; Sasha Byrne, Cara McCrossan, Méabh Corrigan. Subs: Niamh O’Neill for Byrne (h-t); Emer McCanny for McNamee (41 mins); Chloe McCaffrey for McCrossan (44); Áine Strain for Lyons (47); Katie Rose Muldoon for Campbell (53); Aine Grimes for Quinn (66); Emma Conroy for McCarroll (half-time, extra-time).

Westmeath - Aoife Temple; Lara McCartan, Sarah Murphy, Fiona Coyle (captain); Chloe Gonoud, Lucy Power, Ashley Ruane; Vicky Carr, Ayesha Roche; Lucy McCartan, Sarah Dillon, Tracey Dillon; Gráinne Byrne, Anna Jones, Caoimhe Kilmurray. Subs: Katie Kilmurray for A Ruane (35 mins); Philippa Ruane for C Kilmurray (56); Susanna Buckley for Coyle (inj., 60); Fiona Coyle for Buckley (67); Caoimhe Kilmurray for Byrne (half-time, extra-time); Kate Stuart Trainor for T Dillon (inj., 74); Ashley Ruane for P Ruane (77).

Referee - Gus Chapman (Sligo).