Dowdall goal sets up final date
Leinster Intermediate Camogie Semi-Final
Westmeath 1-10, Meath 0-11
by John Dermody
The Westmeath camogie team booked their place in this year’s Leinster Intermediate Camogie final following a narrow, but deserved, two-point win over neighbours Meath in TEG Cusack Park on Saturday last.
It was a historic day in the Mullingar venue as this was the first time the Westmeath camogs and hurlers graced the fine pitch of Cusack Park for a championship double header. This game was played in front of a decent sized home support as several supporters arrived in good time to enjoy the two games. This win for Barry O’Meara’s charges sets them up for a chance of Leinster championship glory against an in-form Laois team on Sunday week, May 10 at TEG Cusack Park.
It was far from a straightforward victory for the Lake County, especially in a first half where Meath had the upper hand for most of the 30 minutes. The ability of the Westmeath camogs to stay in touch with Meath through their work rate and determination provided the platform for a huge second half performance and, ultimately, the winning result.
Westmeath were quickest out of the blocks when Simon Redmond threw in the ball to commence the first half. After winning the throw-in, Erin Core, Maria Kelly and Caoimhe McCrossan worked the ball into Megan Dowdall at corner forward. Dowdall was immediately put under pressure in possession but had the vision to pass the ball to Amelia Shaw who slotted the ball over the bar to give the Lake County an early lead. Meath responded to this opening score with four points without reply between the third and seventh minutes, with all four points converted off the stick of the accurate Clan na Gael forward, Roisin Heaney.
It was evident that Meath were in the ascendency at this stage as their movement and support play was impressive in the lead up to their scores. Caoimhe McCrossan stopped the rot for Westmeath in the eighth minute following a pass from the ever-available Megan Dowdall. On ten minutes, Westmeath scored a huge goal to take the lead, which was probably fair to say was against the run of play. Referee, Simon Redmond, played an excellent advantage when Amelia Shaw was fouled out near midfield. The ball eventually made its way to Sheila McGrath whose lobbed effort was gathered by Maggie Randle in the Meath goal. Randle was hooked when attempting to clear the ball by Megan Dowdall, and the Clonkill sharpshooter then pulled on the ball to score a goal to give Westmeath the lead.
The response from Meath was instant. Following a towering catch by Isabel O’Connor from the Meath puckout, Ellen Burke scored the equaliser from play for Meath, leaving the score Westmeath 1-2; Meath 0-5. Meath regained the lead in the twelfth minute with a Heaney free. It could have been so much more for Meath as Ciara Foley powerful shot at goal rattled back off the crossbar prior to Simon Redmond bringing play back for a free. Isabel O’Connor (Meath) and Caoimhe McCrossan (Westmeath) then exchanged points to keep the minimum between the teams.
A huge opportunity presented itself to Westmeath in the 22nd minute. Sheila McGrath was pulled down inside the large parallelogram, and a penalty was awarded. However, Megan Dowdall’s penalty was saved by Maggie Randle in the Meath goal. The final score of the half came in injury time when Ciara Foley pointed from close range to extend Meath’s advantage to two points at the break. Westmeath 1-3; Meath 0-8.
It was Meath who were first to score in the second half, with a Roisin Heaney free after 5 minutes, following a trip on Emma Regan by Westmeath substitute Aisling Doyle. Despite this, it was obvious that Westmeath were growing into this game and taking control of proceedings.
Between the sixth and 22nd minutes, Westmeath scored five unanswered points, with two from Megan Dowdall from placed balls, two from play from the hugely influential Amelia Shaw and a further point from play for Westmeath scored by Sheila McGrath. This left Westmeath in the lead by two-points, Westmeath 1-8; Meath 0-9. Another Heaney free for Meath cut the arrears to one point again with seven minutes to go in the second half, but Megan Dowdall restored the two-point cushion for Westmeath with a free from 45 metres out.
With just over a minute of normal time left in the second half, Amelia Shaw pushed Westmeath into a three-point lead with a point from play, after good interplay involving Karen Keegan and Erin Core. Meath continued to battle to the finish to erase the three-point gap. Roisin Heaney pointed another free in the first minute of injury-time, and Meath continued to probe at the Westmeath defence to try and create a goal chance. A short free from Heaney found its way to substitute Aoife Minogue, however, the goal bound shot was eventually blocked by Dearbhail McLoughlin, with Grace Coleman’s follow-up effort going wide. After almost four and half minutes of second half injury time, Simon Redmond blew the full-time whistle and the Westmeath players, management and supporters celebrated a hard fought, impressive win against a gallant Meath team.
Meath performed well in different stages of the game but will be very disappointed that they failed to register a score from play in the second half. This win was the second in a row for Westmeath following the emphatic win against Kildare the previous week in the Leinster championship quarter final in Hawkfield. Following a tough league campaign where this Westmeath team were within a puck of a ball of winning games they lost, the habit of winning matches is starting at the perfect time for this Leinster championship and upcoming All Ireland championship commencing on the weekend of May 23. A Leinster final win would be the perfect tonic for the team to face into the All-Ireland group stage with huge confidence and self-belief.
Scorers: Westmeath: Megan Dowdall 1-3 (0-3 frees); Amelia Shaw 0-4; Caoimhe McCrossan 0-2 and Sheila McGrath 0-1.
Meath: Roisin Heaney 0-8 (0-6 frees); Isabel O’Connor; Ciara Foley and Ellen Burke 0-1 each.
Westmeath: Fiona Keating; Katie Coleman; Dearbhail McLoughlin; Emily McCabe; Maria Kelly; Julie McLoughlin; Laura Doherty; Aoife O’Malley (Capt.); Erin Core; Ella Reilly; Caoimhe McCrossan; Amelia Shaw; Sheila McGrath; Ashley Ruane; Megan Dowdall.
Subs used: Aisling Doyle for Ella Reilly; Karen Keegan for Emily McCabe and Aine Newman for Ashley Ruane.
Meath: Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne; Maeve Clince; Rachel Moran; Leah Devine (Capt.); Abby Donnelly; Rachel O’Neill; Grace Connolly; Ellen Burke; Olivia O’Halloran; Isabel O’Connor; Roisin Heaney; Emma Regan; Ciara Foley; Ella O’Brien.
Subs used: Aoife Carey for Aoife Connolly; Grace Coleman for Ciara Foley; Aoife Minogue for Olivia O’Halloran and Kate Connolly for Ella O’Brien
Referee: Simon Redmond (Dublin).