Westmeath denied in opener as Donegal dominate final quarter

Donegal 2-11 Westmeath 1-6

By Dáire Bonnar

Westmeath suffered defeat in their first Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 2 match away to Donegal at O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny last Sunday.

In a tight first half, with both teams getting a feel for the new rules in a competitive environment, a brace of points from Katie Kilmurray and one from Lucy McCartan left Frank Browne’s side a point down, before they got a penalty.

Anna Jones put it away expertly before a 12-minute stoppage as Donegal captain Róisin Rodgers had to be stretchered off with the teams level at the break.

Susanne White’s goal for Donegal on 39 minutes had them four ahead, and while Westmeath got back to within two points, Donegal really kicked on in the final quarter, outsourcing their opponents by 1-4 to 0-1, with all the home side's scores coming from the bench.

The hosts started well with Katie Dowds pointing inside 30 seconds, while Susanne White added another two minutes later after Dowds utilised the newly introduced ‘tap and go’ rule to good effect.

The hosts almost hit the net as Mia Bennett’s shot dropped short, and Aoife Temple did well to punch clear with White lurking. Katie Kilmurray got Westmeath off the mark with a curling effort after a couple of previous attempts had dropped short.

The new rules gave plenty of chances for long balls into the full forward line, and a Jones effort was diverted towards goal by Lucy McCartan, but Friel made a fingertip save and caught at the second attempt to deny a goal.

Ciara McGarvey played a good ball into Mia Bennett, who pointed on the turn, and as Ava Caulfield won the kickout, Katie Dowds kicked over from range for a three-point lead.

But a good one-two between Lucy and Lara McCartan allowed Lucy to get in for a point, and a Kilmurray free made it a one-point game.

A good bursting run and cut back allowed Dowds in for a third score, but as Sarah Dillon played in Anna Jones, she was fouled by Bláthnáid McLaughlin, with Gus Chapman signalling for a penalty.

Jones stepped up on 29 minutes and fired perfectly into the bottom left, giving Friel no chance despite diving the right way.

A bad collision straight afterwards saw the game stopped for twelve minutes as Donegal captain Róisín Rodgers was unfortunately stretchered off. Shortly after play was restarted, White kicked a free to make it Donegal 0-6 Westmeath 1-3 at the break.

The second half started a bit slower as White got the first score after eight minutes, but she soon added a goal as McLaughlin’s high ball in was palmed down and caught by White, with the Killybegs woman firing to the net.

Westmeath had chances of their own for another goal, with Jones hitting the post, and while the whistle went for a foul, the ball had come out to Dillon, who hit the post also to spare Chapman’s blushes.

Jones’ free was flicked on by Lucy McCartan towards goal, but Evelyn McGinley blocked it over for a point.

The Donegal substitutes were going well, and Eva Gallagher added two good scores either side of an Aoife McDermott point, with Jones responding with a free at the other end.

And with just four minutes to go, James Daly’s side got the crucial score as Feena McManamon burst through the middle and found Cáit Gillespie, who made no mistake as she was one-on-one with Aoife Temple.

Gallagher added another impressive score in added time, to give a convincing scoreline at full-time.

Player of the match: Susanne White (Donegal). A toss-up between the number 11s in the first half as Katie Dowds and Anna Jones impressed, but White really showed her quality over the full 60, ending with 1-3. Tracey Dillon had a good battle with Mia Bennett and Sarah Dillon also impressed.

Talking point: With the new rules in place, there did seem to be a lot more space and goal chances arrived in spades at both ends.

Scorers – Donegal: S White 1-3 (0-1f); Cáit Gillespie 1-0; K Dowds and E Gallagher 0-3 each; M Bennett and A McDermott 0-1 each. Westmeath: A Jones 1-1 (1-0 pen,1f); K Kilmurray 0-2 (1f); L McCartan 0-2; P Ruane 0-1.

Donegal - Clare Friel; Niamh Carr, Evelyn McGinley, Sophie McFeely; Tara Hegarty, Feena McManamon, Ava Caulfield; Clodagh Brennan, Róisín Rodgers; Bláthnáid McLaughlin, Katie Dowds, Niamh Boyle; Susanne White, Mia Bennett, Ciara McGarvey. Subs: Abigail Temple Asokuh for Rodgers (32 mins), Cait Gillespie for Boyle (h-t), Eva Gallagher for Bennett (43), Nicole Gordon and Aoife McDermott for McGarvey and Hegarty (48), Rhíana McColgan for Caulfield (59), Jodie McFadden for White (60).

Westmeath - Aoife Temple; Lara McCartan, Tracey Dillon, Fiona Coyle; Chloe Kelly Gonoud, Ashley Ruane, Sandra McWade; Vicky Carr, Caoimhe Kilmurray; Niamh Mullarkey, Anna Jones, Aoife Keegan; Sarah Dillon, Lucy McCartan, Katie Kilmurray. Subs: Philippa Ruane for Keegan (h-t), Francesca Walshe and Niamh Nolan for McWade and Mullarkey (48 mins).

Referee - Gus Chapman (Sligo).