Goals drive Goldsmiths to victory over Athlone ladies

Goldsmiths 3-8 Athlone 0-8

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Goldsmiths remain unbeaten in their Westmeath LGFA Intermediate Championship campaign after this victory over Athlone at Tang GAA grounds last Thursday evening.

The Tubberclair/Tang/Drumraney outfit had already seen off local rivals Caulry and they continued their winning run with an impressive win against another neighbouring outfit, Athlone. And they won this game without their one of their key players, Rebecca Higgins.

The biggest difference in this game was Goldsmiths’ ability to score goals. They also missed a penalty and hit the crossbar.

Athlone had a good first quarter, however. Niamh Byrne, Lucy Allen and Ciara Murphy were causing Goldsmiths plenty of problems. But they ran out of ideas as the game progressed and couldn’t make enough use of their possession.

The visitors opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Lucy Allen was fouled and Ciara Murphy scored the free. Goldsmiths responded immediately with a goal from hardworking midfielder Sinead Seery, who kept her side in this game in the first quarter.

Athlone were then unlucky after Allen played in Byrne but her attempt went off the post and wide. After Murphy took a short free, Allen kicked Athlone’s second score of the game, leaving just the bare minimum between them.

Then Gemma Guinane and Sinead Seery combined before Seery was impeded and a penalty awarded. Gemma Guinane took the resultant penalty but her effort was saved by Aoife Temple in the Athlone goal.

Down at the other end, Murphy then equalised with her second score of the game. Athlone were on top in the early exchanges but that Sinead Seery goal kept Goldsmiths very much in the game.

Goldsmiths went for the jugular again, but this time Lisa Seery hit the crossbar going for goal in what was a let-off for Athlone. But they were beginning to take some control with Sinead Seery, in particular, to the fore. She was fouled again and Ciara McManus kicked the free for Goldsmiths, making it 1-1 to 0-3.

As Athlone looked to reply, Byrne passed to Murphy and she kicked her third point of the game to level the contest. But Goldsmiths responded and after Seery was fouled again, McManus kicked the free, leaving it 1-2 to 0-4. Then the hardworking Deborah Kenneally was fouled and McManus scored another free for Goldsmiths to extend their lead.

To their credit, Athlone kept battling. Murphy scored her fourth point and Athlone’s fifth of the game from a free, making it 1-3 to 0-5. Kenneally and Lisa Seery combined and Gemma Guinane kicked a point for Goldsmiths. Goldsmiths held the ascendancy at half-time, 1-4 to 0-5.

After the resumption Gemma Guinane was fouled and McManus showed she was up to replacing the absent Higgins on the frees when she kicked another free for Goldsmiths. Then Gemma Guinane and Sinead Seery combined, the latter adding another score to make it 1-6 to 0-5

Athlone needed a goal and they did come close. Jilly Begley looked as though she was fouled when heading for goal but the play was waved on and the chance was gone.

The ball soon went down to the other end and Goldsmiths had no such issues. Zoe Guinane passed to Lisa Seery and she scored their second goal in the 45th minute.

Immediately after Seery’s goal, Laura Madden scored Goldsmiths' third goal and it now looked game over when the score 3-6 to 0-5 into the fourth quarter.

Áine DiTullio and Allen combined for substitute Brionna Geoghegan to score for Athlone, their first point in some 20 minutes, but in general they were finding it difficult to find any rhythm in their play.

Goldsmiths had no such difficulty scoring and that player again Sinead Seery kicked a score over her shoulder surrounded by a number of Athlone players, leaving the home side leading 3-7 to in the 52nd minute.

Eimear Galvin and substitute Lorna Mulvihill combined and Begley kicked a score for Athlone as time ran out. Sinead Seery wasn’t finished though and she kicked another score for Goldsmiths in the 60th minute.

Begley then turned creator for Athlone, passing to Geoghegan who kicked a score, but it was too little too late and the final whistle went soon afterwards.

Athlone will hope to bounce back when they host Moate tonight (Thursday) at Páirc Chiaráin (7pm).

Player of the match: Sinead Seery (Goldsmiths). Seery was almost a lone soldier in the first quarter when Athlone were dominating possession and they were struggling without their star player Rebecca Higgins. Seery time and again carried the ball and was fouled for scores and her early goal kept Goldsmiths very much in the tie in the early stages. She also contributed on the scoreboard in the second half. Gemma Guinane also played a pivotal role. Niamh Byrne, Lucy Allen and Ciara Murphy tried hard to bring Athlone back into the game.

Scorers – Goldsmiths: S Seery 1-3; C McManus 0-4 (4f); L Madden, L Seery 1-0 each; G Guinane 0-1. Athlone: C Murphy 0-3 (2f); B Geoghegan 0-2; L Allen, N Byrne (f), J Begley 0-1 each.

Goldsmiths - Aisling English; Ellen McCabe, Caoimhe Brady, Ciara Irwin; Aoibhinn McKiernan, Megan Hanley, Ella Claffey; Sinead Seery, Laura Madden; Lisa Seery, Ciara McManus, Deborah Kenneally; Charleigh Seery, Gemma Guinane, Emma Tumulty. Subs: Zoe Guinane, Eabha Reilly, Aoife Irwin, Erika Reid.

Athlone - Aoife Temple; Alannah Reynolds, Katie Henshaw, Anna Redmond; Lucy Allen, Eimear Galvin, Áine DiTullio; Gemma Mannion, Niamh Byrne; Leah Nugent, Ciara Murphy, Grace McGlynn; Ava Martin, Jilly Begley, Keeva Reid. Subs: Lorna Mulvihill, Brionna Geoghegan, Eva Gregg.

Referee - Michelle Mulvey.