Carlow camogs no match for Westmeath
Carlow's hopes of bouncing back from their narrow National Camogie League Division 2 defeat to Derry last week probably all but died in the opening ten minutes of this contest at the Carlow Training Centre on Saturday.
Westmeath started well and in almost their first attack, Meadbh McLoughlin fed Sheila McGrath. From close range, the corner forward guided the ball over the line.
Carlow hit back with two Eleanor Treacy frees but the home side were undone again when, in an identical situation to the first goal, this time Megan Dowdall was on hand to raise a second green flag.
Home heads had to have been reeling at this stage but they hit back with a Treacy point while Eve Sinnott also found the posts. Yet Westmeath never allowed their opponents to get too close. McGrath almost found the Carlow net again with the home keeper, Emily O’Hara, happy to see the sliotar go around the right-hand post at the Fenagh end of the ground.
Two Treacy frees brought Carlow’s opponents closer with Westmeath leading 2-3 to 0-6 ahead at the interval.
The wind and light rain which fell probably helped the away side in the second half as Treacy and Amelia Shaw traded points. Carlow poured forward but they were unable to get the three-pointer which could have triggered off a winning rally.
Treacy went for goal from a 20 metre free but the Westmeath defence made the required block.
It was tough going at this stage. Referee, Paul O’Neill, who had travelled all the way from Antrim, all but took the whistle out of his mouth and let the players at it themselves. Some of the tackles were of the dangerous variety with many going unpunished. The camogie association have allowed more physicality in their game but this was taken a step too far here by a lenient referee.
Undaunted Carlow tried hard to turn the game around. Westmeath had the bit between their teeth and were not going to be denied.
Their clinching goal was somewhat fortunate. There seemed little danger when Aoife O’Malley stood over a long-range free. Her delivery was perfect and with the Westmeath attack distracting the home defence the sliotar dropped under the crossbar and into the net.
That was the killer blow. Carlow fought to the end but they had given themselves too much to do. The Westmeath keeper, Aoife Corcoran, brought off saves from Caoimhe Jordan and Ciara Kavanagh and time eventually ran out for the home side who will be kicking themselves about the disappointing start which handed the initiative to their opponents.
Scorers:
Westmeath: M Dowdall 2-3 (1f), A Shaw 0-4 (3f), S McGrath 1-0, M Kelly 0-1.
Carlow: E Treacy 0-9 (8f), E Sinnott 0-1.
WESTMEATH: Aoife Corcoran; Katie Coleman, Dearbhail McLoughlin, Roisin Scally; Maria Kelly, Ellen Flanagan, Laura Doherty; Aoife O’Malley, Erin Core; Meadbh McLoughlin, Julie McLoughlin, Ashley Ruane; Sheila McGrath, Amelia Shaw, Megan Dowdall.
Subs: Olivia Kellaghan for Ruane (43), Aine Newman for Core (45), Becca Ruane for Kelly (52), Ciara Corcoran for M McLoughlin (55), Orlaith Dolan for Scally (56), Caoimhe Coogan for McGrath, Ella Reilly for O’Malley, Eva Cawley for Coleman (all 61).
CARLOW: Emily O’Hara; Niamh Canavan, Anna Breen, Gillian Doyle; Rachel Breen, Michelle Nolan, Martha Dolan; Rhiannon Kenny, Rebecca Kelly; Eve Sinnott, Eleanor Treacy, Caoimhe Coady; Ciara Kavanagh, Niamh Minchin, Aimee Nolan.
Subs: Caoimhe Jordan for Minchin (43), Sarah Sheehan for Kenny (43), Roisin Joyce for Coady (57), Molly Kavanagh for Nolan (57).
Referee: Paul O’Neill (Antrim).
