Westmeath championship hopes dashed by clinical Laois

Laois 3-12, Westmeath 1-9

Westmeath's hopes of progressing in the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship came to an end on Saturday afternoon as they suffered a nine-point defeat to Laois in their final group game in Kinnegad.

While the Lake County produced a spirited display and remained competitive for long periods, a clinical Laois side, inspired by full-forward Aimee Collier, proved too strong. Collier finished with an impressive tally of 2-5 and was the key figure in ensuring the visitors finished top of the table in group two.

Westmeath recovered well after a sluggish start and stayed firmly in contention throughout the opening half. However, a penalty converted by Collier on the stroke of half-time proved a decisive blow, giving Laois a five-point advantage at the interval.

Ashley Ruane's second-half goal briefly reignited Westmeath's challenge, but Laois responded with a third goal of their own as they pulled away in the closing stages.

The result leaves Westmeath level on three points with both Meath and Carlow in group two. However, a two-point scoring difference means they miss out on qualification and must instead face Carlow in a relegation play-off to preserve their intermediate status for next season.

In a repeat of this year's Leinster Intermediate final, Laois made the brighter start and quickly established control. Points from Susie Delaney and a free from Collier gave the visitors a two-point lead inside six minutes.

Westmeath eventually settled into the contest, opening their account when Erin Core made a superb catch before finishing off the move with an excellent point. Megan Dowdall followed up with a score to level matters.

Laois responded with three unanswered points. Collier showed her class by cutting in from the side to score from a tight angle before Jade Bergin and Susie Delaney also found the target.

Dowdall reduced the deficit with a converted free after a promising Westmeath attack broke down, and Sheila McGrath narrowed the gap further with an excellent point after chasing down possession.

Another Collier free restored Laois' two-point cushion before the game's pivotal moment arrived just before the break. Collier appeared to be fouled while bearing down on goal and calmly dispatched the resulting penalty to the bottom corner, giving Laois a 1-6 to 0-4 lead at half-time.

Westmeath required a strong response and got exactly that when Meadbh McLoughlin pointed within a minute of the restart after good work from Julie McLoughlin. However, Laois quickly reasserted themselves. A Clodagh Tynan free dropped dangerously into the square, where Collier reacted quickest to bat the sliotar to the net and stretch the lead to seven points.

Ruane's introduction at half-time provided a spark for Westmeath, by finding the net in the 36th minute to breathe life back into the contest.

Points were then exchanged between Gráinne Delaney and Dowdall before Tynan restored Laois' five-point advantage.

Westmeath continued to battle hard. Caoimhe McCrossan produced an excellent turnover that launched an attack, and a good delivery from Dowdall released Ruane through on goal, but she was fouled in the process. Dowdall attempted a shot at goal with the subsequent free; however, the shot was saved on the line.

Laois immediately broke forward and, after good interplay between Collier and Bergin, the latter rifled the sliotar to the net to effectively end Westmeath's hopes. Gráinne Delaney added another point before Dowdall responded for the home side. Laois maintained control in the closing stages, with Collier (two) and Delaney adding further scores before Dowdall closed the scoring with a free and a point from play.

After a disappointing result for Westmeath, attention now turns to a crucial relegation play-off against Carlow in the coming weeks.

Scorers - Laois: A Collier 2-5 (2f, 1 pen), J Bergin 1-1, G Delaney 0-3, S Delaney 0-2, C Tynan 0-1.

Westmeath: M Dowdall 0-6 (2f), A Ruane 1-0, M McLoughlin, S McGrath and E Core 0-1 each.

Laois: Aedin Lowry; Laura Finlay, Aoife Finlay, Karla Whelan; Rachael Deegan, Clodagh Tynan, Sarah Creagh; Sarah Fleming, Jade Bergin; Kaylee O'Keefe, Gráinne Delaney, Lucy Conroy; Kirsten Keenan, Aimee Collier, Susie Delaney. Subs: Catherine Kirby for Fleming (38), Eimear Hasset for S Delaney (54), Amy Lacey for Conroy (57), Aisling O’Dea for O’Keefe (57).

Westmeath: Fiona Keating; Áine Newman, Dearbhail McLoughlin, Emily McCabe; Maria Kelly, Julie McLoughlin, Laura Doherty; Aoife O'Malley, Erin Core; Karen Keegan, Caoimhe McCrossan, Sheila McGrath; Amelia Shaw, Meadbh McLoughlin, Megan Dowdall. Subs: Ashley Ruane for Keegan (HT), Ella Reilly for M McLoughlin (56).

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway).