Connolly’s heroics fail to rescue slow-starting Westmeath side

TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship quarter-final

Clare 3-14 Westmeath 3-8

By Derek Dormer

Westmeath bowed out of this year's All-Ireland Intermediate Championship, but only after a heroic battle in a hugely entertaining and pulsating quarter-final contest against Clare in Ennis on Sunday last.

Trailing by a whopping ten points in the 22nd minute, the Westmeath girls, showing immense character, outscored the Banner 3-2 to no reply in a golden six-minute spell. However, Clare recovered from that Westmeath blitz and ultimately ran out winners by six points.

This was without doubt a fantastic advertisement for ladies football with two outstanding performances in particular lighting up Cusack Park. Clare's Fidelma Marrinan and Westmeath's Aoife Connolly were simply sensational on the day. In an unbelievable display of finishing ability, these two tremendous forwards accounted for a magical 4-15 between them.

In the cold light of day though, it was the start that killed Westmeath's hopes of advancement. The home side started at an electrifying pace and the first of six green flags on the day arrived in the fifth minute when Chloe Moloney blasted home.

The mercurial Fidelma Marrinan then raided for two majors in sixty seconds and Westmeath seemed all at sea.

Clare were completely dominant at this stage. Owning possession of the ball, they were cutting through the Westmeath rearguard with alarming ease.

Looking like a beaten docket at this juncture, these Westmeath warriors came roaring back into the contest with Garrycastle's Aoife Connolly grabbing this game by the scruff of the neck.

Despite full forward Anna Jones missing an earlier penalty, the Westmeath girls never dropped their heads. In the 25th minute, Connolly superbly finished to the bottom corner of the net to bring a glimmer of hope.

Incredibly, two minutes later the corner forward again goaled with another sublime finish.

Westmeath, having conceding kickouts to Clare early on, decided to press up and force Clare to go long with their restarts. This change in approach had the desired effect as the Michael Finneran managed outfit completely took control of proceedings.

In the 28th minute, Westmeath incredibly took the lead when Connolly turned provider when finding wing forward Karen Hegarty on the overlap. Hegarty then fired an unstoppable rocket into the top right hand corner past keeper Amy Lenihan.

Clare had the last say of the half though when Marrinan slotted over a free to see the teams heading to the dressing rooms deadlocked at 3-5 apiece.

REMARKABLE SAVE

That rip roaring first half was played in glorious sunshine with optimum conditions conducive to attacking football. However, on the resumption of play the heavens opened and incessant rain poured down.

This change in conditions slowed the game down which seemed to suit Clare better as they began to control possession with their running game causing serious problems for the Westmeath rearguard. Three Marrinan points, an Amy Sexton beauty and a converted Chloe Moloney free had the Banner girls five to the good in the 40th minute.

Again, though, the Lake County refused to surrender and Vicky Carr of St Loman's sent over a point before another Connolly beauty had Clare’s lead down to a one score game.

But Clare kicked on again, landing the next three points through Marrinan, midfielder Reidy and Cliodhna Blake (a fisted effort) to extend the lead to six.

In a see-saw battle the defining moment arrived in the 50th minute when that woman again Connolly fired a bullet that seemed destined for the net but for a remarkable point blank reflex save by Clare goalie Amy Lenihan. Had that gone in, who knows what might have transpired?

The last ten minutes saw Clare holding possession and running down the clock. With the Banner applying this game management tactic, no further opportunities arose and it is Clare who will advance to a semi-final showdown with Antrim, who defeated Westmeath in the group stages. Overall, though, a heroic Westmeath gave everything they could for the jersey and lost nothing in defeat as they more than played their part in a truly wonderful spectacle that had patrons fully engaged for its entirety.

Player of the match: Fidelma Marrinan (Clare). There were remarkable displays by both Marrinan and Aoife Connolly but the fact that Clare emerged victorious earns Marrinan the player of the match accolade. Scoring 2-9 on any given day is impressive but registering 2-5 from play in an All-Ireland quarter-final is an incredible feat and fully merits the player of the match award.

Scorers - Clare: Fidelma Marrinan 2-9 (0-4f), Chloe Moloney 1-1 (0-1f), Aisling Reidy 0-2, Cliodhna Blake, Amy Sexton 0-1 each. Westmeath: Aoife Connolly 2-6 (0-2f), Karen Hegarty 1-0, Vicky Carr, Rachel Dillon 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Lauren McCormack; Lara McCartan, Lucy Power, Laura Kiernan; Rachel Dillon, Tracey Dillon, Chloe Kelly; Vicky Carr, Ashley Ruane; Kelly Boyce-Jordan, Ciara Blundell, Karen Hegarty; Sarah Dillon, Anna Jones, Aoife Connolly. Subs: Mary Dunne for L McCartan (H-T), Annie Dolan for K Hegarty (51 mins), Niamh Nolan for C Kelly (60), Ciara Scally for K Boyce-Jordan (60), Meadbh Monaghan for S Dillion (60).

Clare: Amy Lenihan; Aine Keane, Síofra Ní Chonaill, Gráinne Harvey; Louise Griffin, Caoimhe Harvey, Orla Devitt; Aisling Reidy, Chloe Moroney; Laurie Ryan, Fidelma Marrinan, Amy Sexton; Laura Griffey, Cliodhna Blake, Caoimhe Cahill. Subs: Lauren Conway for C Cahill (44 mins), Sinead Considine for A Reidy (54), Ciara McCarthy for L Griffey (54)

Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).