Westmeath comeback

After a thrilling match Kildare junior camogie girls emerged winners of the National Camogie League Division Four final when they defeated Westmeath 3-7 to 1-10 in Donaghmore/Ashbourne on Sunday to bridge a five year gap since Kildare"s last win in a national final. Kildare had to show true grit to withstand Westmeath"s second half comeback, having had much the better of the scoring stakes in the first half. The Lilywhites got off to a great start when Susie O"Carroll latched onto a ball and, after running through the Westmeath defence, clinically finished to the corner of the net. Kildare were having the better of the early exchanges but poor finishing meant that it was not translated to the scoreboard and, as Westmeath began to settle into the game, they narrowed the gap with points from Annette Heffernan and the ever-dangerous Dinah Loughlin. However, Kildare hit a purple patch from the 15th to the 17th minutes; first, Ciara Tallon found herself one on one with the goalkeeper and wisely handpassed to the net to raise a green flag, and O"Carroll added on two further points. Westmeath"s Loughlin pulled a point back with a pointed free but almost immediately Kildare struck hard again when O"Carroll pointed from a placed ball and corner forward Cliodhna McSweeney ended a goalmouth melee when flicking the sliotar over the goalkeeper for a goal. O"Carroll and Loughlin exchanged points to bring the scoring to a conclusion with Kildare seemingly comfortable leaders 3-4 to 0-4. However, that scoreline may have been deceptive as Westmeath were lively and had created a lot of chances, and only good work by the Kildare defence and midfielders Clodagh Flanagan and Carol Nolan prevented from being converted into scores. Indeed, the Kildare defence was going to be called upon to an even greater extent in the second half. The first half had been played in calm conditions but, after the restart, a stiff breeze began to blow in Westmeath"s favour and they came out in determined fashion, opening the scoring in the second minute with a point from Pamela Greville. A minute later, Kildare"s Clodagh Farrell replied with a fine point but Westmeath were gradually putting Kildare on the back-foot and were rewarded with 1-2 in the next five minutes. Points were got by Loughlin from a free and Heffernan from play, but more importantly Joanne Walsh breached the Kildare defence to finish expertly to the net. One sensed that all of a sudden Westmeath had got the scent of victory as they pressed forward in attack after attack. Credit to the Kildare defence particularly Niamh Breen, whose tenacious defending saw her in the thick of the action. Amy O"Hara was confident defending her square, and Reiltin Treacy at corner-back repelled attack after attack to deny Westmeath the goal they craved. Then came a pivotal moment midway through the half when Westmeath were awarded a penalty. Although well taken by Loughlin, her shot was blocked on the line by Mel Treacy who was having a great game at centre-back. The ball was cleared to the great relief of the Kildare supporters. In one of Kildare"s rare attacks in this period Clodagh Farrell took possession and soloed from the wing to score a relieving point. O"Carroll further relieved the pressure on 20 minutes with a point from play, but from there to the end it was back to defending for Kildare as Westmeath continued to pick away at the lead with points from Loughlin, Kate Glynn and substitute Aisling Doyle to leave just a goal in it going into injury time. The Kildare girls managed to protect their lead and, amid scenes of great delight Joan O"Flynn, President of the Camogie Association of Ireland, took great pleasure in presenting the cup to her Celbridge club-mate and Kildare captain Susie O"Carroll. KILDARE: Tanya Johnson, Niamh Breen, Amy O"Hara, Reiltin Treacy, Gillian O"Hurley, Mel Treacy, Aoife Trant, Carol Nolan, Clodagh Flanagan, Clodagh Farrell, Ciara Tallon, Susie O"Carroll (capt.), Roisin O"Connell, Regina Gorman, Cliodhna McSweeney, Paula Keatley, Emer Fallon, Jackie O"Rourke, Karen Lynch, Noeleen Fleming, Niamh Boland, Orla Ryan, Sara Cullen, Louise McMullen, Fiona Trant. WESTMEATH: Sandra Greville, Aisling Conaty, Eileen Murphy, Liz Shaw, Kate Glynn, Andrea Martin, Fiona Leavy, Denise McGrath, Joanne Walsh, Dinah Loughlin, Pamela Greville, Annette Heffernan, Emma Martin, Andrina Doyle, Elaine Finn, Fiona Keating, Aisling Doyle, Deirdre Donovan, Oonagh Loughlin, Laura Newman, Muireann Scally, Aileen Martin, Sarah King, Orla Leonard, Louise O"Connor. REFEREE: Donal Ryan (Dublin).