Heartbreak for Westmeath as Tyrone finally prevail in thriller

Tyrone 4-17 Westmeath 4-14 (after extra-time)

By Daire Walsh

An extra-time goal from Sorcha Gormley was decisive at Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday as Tyrone ladies booked a return to the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate championship final following a thrilling encounter with Westmeath.

2024 finalists Tyrone had enjoyed a convincing group stage victory over Westmeath in June and they established a firm foothold in their latest meeting with the Midlanders by knocking over unanswered efforts through the boots of Sasha Byrne, Aoife Horisk, Cara McCrossan and Slaine McCarroll.

Yet the latter point in the seventh minute surprisingly proved to be the Ulster side’s final score of the opening period as their Lake County opponents subsequently grew into the contest. After complimenting white flag contributions from Lucy McCartan and Anna Jones (two) with a single effort of her own, the excellent Sarah Dillon knocked over a brace of points to propel Westmeath into a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

Despite being in arrears, Tyrone superbly regained the initiative on the resumption with points from half-time substitute Niamh O’Neill (two) and Gormley being supplemented by a 1-2 haul courtesy of Horisk. While this left Westmeath six adrift on 36 minutes, Frank Browne’s side remarkably found themselves three points to the good moving into the final quarter of normal time.

This was thanks in no small part to goals from Katie Kilmurray and Jones, whose successful penalty in the 44th minute directly preceded a missed spot kick by Gormley at the opposite end.

After Jones and O’Neill traded green flags in an increasingly goal-laden affair, Westmeath were on the brink of reaching a first intermediate decider since 2021 when Caoimhe Kilmurray rattled the net in advance of a Dillon score moving their side six points clear.

However, Tyrone refused to thrown in the towel and they fired 1-3 without reply – including an outstanding solo goal from Horisk – to leave the game tied at 3-13 to 4-10 by the end of normal time.

The teams remained inseparable at the midway stage in extra-time, before a successful Horisk free served as the precursor for Gormley’s 72nd-minute goal from close-range. A brace of unanswered Jones points kept Westmeath in contention, only for a place-ball effort from Horisk to help Tyrone set up an intermediate final showdown with Laois in Croke Park on August 3.

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).