Wicklow fall to strong Westmeath side in Leinster LGFA Intermediate championship clash

Wicklow 1-6

An inspired Westmeath proved far too strong for a disappointing Wicklow side in this Leinster LGFA IFC clash at An Tóchar GAA Club in Roundwood on Sunday afternoon.

Hungry to improve on their opening round draw with Offaly, Frank Browne’s team hit the ruthless button from the early stages of this one-sided affair, racing into a 2-6 to 0-3 lead at the break and never looking back from there on.

The Garden County were no doubt hoping for an improved display than that of their opener, a defeat to Wexford in Enniscorthy, but they found the visitors too powerful in most areas of the field and could do little to stop the direct running and superb movement of the Westmeath forwards.

A scoring total of 5-11 and a wides tally of 10 should paint the picture of exactly how dominant Westmeath were in this game played in mostly beautiful sunshine just outside the highest village in Ireland.

The electric Sarah Dillon opened their account with a cracking effort off her right boot after good work from Vicky Carr and Chloe Kelly, but things looked relatively promising for the home side when Niamh Caffrey replied with a fine effort of her own thanks to the assistance of Shannagh Goetelen and Niamh Cullen in the seventh minute.

Westmeath more or less put this game to bed in the next 15 minutes as they ransacked the Wicklow defence.

Two further points from Dillon and a pointed free from Leanne Slevin were followed by a pair of majors, the first from Karen Hegarty and the second from Anna Jones, with the Westmeath players like ghosts which the Garden County players had no answer for.

A fine save by Ellen Griffen in the Wicklow goal from an Anna Jones effort was followed by an outstanding Vicky Carr point from distance that pushed the visitors out to a 2-5 to 0-1 lead with 21 minutes gone, and it was difficult to see how the home side would find a foothold in this game.

They created a great chance to do just that in the next play, however. Lucy Dunne picked out Shannagh Goetelen with a tasty pass and the Knockananna player fed Laci-Jane Shannon whose shot for goal was saved by Westmeath captain Lauren McCormack in what was a big moment in this game.

Super defending from Sarah Jane Winders prevented another Westmeath score and helped launch an attack that ended with a Sinéad McGettigan pointed free for a foul on Niamh Caffrey.

Caffrey bagged her second, but the unstoppable Sarah Dillon replied with a sweet point to close out the scoring in the opening half, a late Leanne Slevin block on Laci-Jane Shannon epitomising the determination and selflessness of the Westmeath side on the day.

The game was well and truly over 20 minutes into the second half when Sarah Dillon got on the end of one of umpteen rapid attacks up the field to finish home to the back of the Wicklow net.

That made it 3-11 to 0-5, the Westmeath points coming from Dillon (2) and Anna Jones (2) and a pointed free from Sleavin but Frank Browne probably won’t be overly pleased with the five wides (one a goal chance) that came in that same period.

Wicklow were restricted to two converted frees by Sinéad McGettigan as they coughed up far too much possession to an abrasive Westmeath defence and watched as an Aoife Gorman shot for goal was saved by McCormack.

Surges up the field by Westmeath players in groups of threes and fours made life difficult for the Wicklow defence and saw them harvest two further goals, the first from Ashley Ruane and the second from Anna Jones as the visitors looked in complete cruise control.

Wicklow finished reasonably strongly, a fine goal from Lucy Dunne just rewards for a busy hour for the St. Patrick’s player while Niamh Caffrey swung over a late free to leave the scoreboard reading Westmeath 5-11, Wicklow 1-6.

Westmeath travel to face table toppers Wexford this weekend, the Model County getting the better of Offaly comfortably on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-4 and they will provide a far stiffer test for Frank Browne’s side than they were afforded in Roundwood.

Wicklow head to face the Faithful County where a win is badly needed to lift the spirits after a very tough start to their championship campaign.

Wicklow: Ellen Griffen; Méabh Corr, Sarah Jane Winders, Roisin Byrne; Sarah Evans, Lucy Dunne (1-0), Niamh Cullen; Shannagh Goetelen, Aoife Gorman; Niamh Caffrey (0-3, 1f), Aoife Kavanagh, Laci-Jane Shannon; Ella Parke, Sinéad McGettigan (0-3, 3f), Eimear O’Brien. Subs: Sarah O’Toole for A Kavanagh (43), Megan Healy for R Byrne (47)

Westmeath: Lauren McCormack; Lara McCartan, Kelly Boyce Jorcan, Melek Fagan; Chloe Kelly, lucy Power, Rachel Dillon; Vicy Carr (0-1), Tracey Dillon; Ashley Ruane (1-0), Leanne Slevin (0-2, 2f), Anna Jones (2-2); Karen Hegarty (1-0), Sarah Dillon (1-6), Fiona Coyle. Subs: Caoimhe Kilmurray for V Carr (47), Caoimhe Clarke McMahon for T Dillon (59), Philippa Ruane for K Hegarty (60).

Referee: Angela Gallagher (Dublin