Higgins fires Goldsmiths to Division 2 win over Kinnegad ladies

Goldsmiths 4-9, Coralstown/Kinnegad 1-10

A wonderful display from Rebecca Higgins set Goldsmiths on their way to victory over Coralstown-Kinnegad in Shandonagh GAA grounds last Sunday as the southern outfit won the Westmeath LGFA Division 2 League title.

The game began at a fast pace and despite a vast number of frees throughout, neither side shied away from taking aim at the target. In the end, the four goals were the difference as the Kinnegad ladies were left to rue a missed penalty along the way.

It was Kiera Giles who got the Kinnegad side up and running with the first of her six points on the day. The unpredictable and strong wind proved no match for the star forward as she curled over the first score in the third minute.

Rebecca Higgins got her own opener before having a hand in earning the penalty on ten minutes for Goldsmiths which was converted by Gemma Guinane. Coralstown-Kinnegad tried to keep pace and a wonderful score from Emer Fogarty brought the score back to 1-1 to 0-2.

A mini scoring spree from Higgins changed the complexion of the contest as the marquee forward hit 2-2 in a short space of time. Her first goal came from an underhit effort which opposing goalkeeper Jenny Doyle could not keep out, before adding two frees in quick succession. Incredibly, the Higgins show continued when she found the net again, this time with Guinane teeing her up.

The drama continued as Coralstown-Kinnegad, looking for a reply, found the perfect moment to find a goal of their own, with Kirsten Massey finishing brilliantly to the bottom corner. A lovely curling free from Chloe Carney was a further boost to the Kinnegad side.

Things could have been even better when Kiera Giles was fouled in the act of shooting and a penalty was awarded. With Goldsmiths goalkeeper Aisling English doing her best to distract on the line, Giles saw her low shot drift wide of the post.

Each side tagged on further points but at the midway point, Goldsmiths had a two-goal lead, 3-4 to 1-4.

Coralstown-Kinnegad controlled the opening of the second half, outscoring their opponents by 0-4 to 0-1 with Giles (two frees), Massey, and Maeve Walsh landing points. Sinéad Seery supplied the response for the Tubberclair/Drumraney/Tang outfit.

The eventual victors were not to be pegged back and pushed for more scores. Higgins missed a free but to the bemusement of the Kinnegad contingent on the sideline, the referee deemed them to have infringed on the kicker and the free was moved in closer. There was no mistake from Higgins at the second time of asking. Goldsmiths introduced Ciara McManus and a point from her and one from Charleigh Seery wrapped the tie up with time elapsing.

Both sides finished with 14 players with Marie Cooney's involvement ended due to dissent towards the referee, before her opposite number Laura Madden was sent to the sin bin for a trip. A last-minute penalty from McManus sealed the win.

Afterwards, Goldsmiths captain Aisling English accepted the trophy from Westmeath LGFA chairperson Geraldine Giles.

Player of the match: Rebecca Higgins just about pips her Goldsmiths colleague Sinéad Seery for the accolade.

Scorers – Goldsmiths: R Higgins 2-5 (5f), C McManus 1-1, G Guinane 1-0 (pen), S Seery 0-2, C Seery 0-1. Coralstown-Kinnegad: K Giles 0-6 (5f), K Massey 1-1, C Carney (f), E Fogarty, M Walsh 0-1 each.

Goldsmiths - Aisling English; Aisling Nally, Eva Fitzpatrick, Ellen McCabe; Ciara Irwin, Laura Madden, Lisa Seery; Megan Hanley, Deborah Kenneally; Shona Neary, Rebecca Higgins, Sinéad Seery; Charleigh Seery, Gemma Guinane, Maisie Tormey. Subs used: Ciara McManus for Tormey (38 mins), Zoe Guinane for G Guinane (48), Aoibhinn McKiernan for C Seery (58)

Coralstown-Kinnegad - Jenny Doyle; Áine Brannock, Amie Giles, Donna Kiernan; Therese Walsh, Marie Cooney, Maeve Walsh; Shannon Lyon, Emer Fogarty; Claire Taaffe, Kirsten Massey, Aoife McGrath; Lucy Cassidy, Kiara Giles, Chloe Carney. Sub used: Tally Flynn for Walsh (57 mins).

Referee - Paul McCaughey (Milltown).