Resilient Westmeath secure first league win

Kelsey Doogan

A strong wind blew across St Mary’s Park in Castleblayney on Sunday where Westmeath took on hosts Monaghan in Round 2 of the Lidl National Football League Division 2.

Frank Browne's charges, who were looking for their first points of the season after their opening day defeat away to Tyrone, opted to play with the wind in the first half. However, it was Monaghan who managed to win the throw-up thanks to Jodie Mc Quillan and the ball was played into corner forward, Sarah Tierney, who converted the goal in the opening 10 seconds.

The rain arrived about four minutes into the game but it didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of either team as Leanne Slevin, Westmeath’s number 14, converted a free for the visitors.

A great Westmeath play left Anna Jones one-on-one with the Monaghan keeper, Orna Kelly, who managed to pull off a save keeping the Farney ahead by two.

Monaghan replied to Westmeath’s attack with one of their own where Sarah Tierney scored from a tight angle. This was soon followed by a fantastic point from Scotstown’s Eabha Sherry.

Monaghan had a lively start to the game with key players like Amy Garland doing the hard work behind the scenes to assist both the attack and defence.

The first of five yellow cards in the game, two for Monaghan and three for Westmeath, came 14 minutes into the first half as Monaghan corner forward Chloe McBride was sent to the sidelines for a 10 minute spell.

Monaghan’s centre half-back, Jennifer Duffy, followed suit as she too was shown a yellow in injury time which would leave Monaghan to start the first half with just 14 players.

By half-time, Leanne Slevin had converted all of Westmeath’s five points with only one coming from open play in the latter moments of the half.

Both Rachel Dillon and Karen Hegarty converted goals for the visitors through the half giving them a four-point lead going into the break.

Heavy rain greeted the players as they returned to the field for the second half. The second period was tight and competitive leaving supporters in the stand on the edge of their seats until the final whistle blew.

Amy Garland was forced to leave the field temporarily due to an injury and she was replaced by Naomi Cogan.

Garland’s absence didn’t dampen Monaghan’s spirits as Eabha Sherry managed to drive home a long-range goal in the town end goals.

Leanne Maguire managed to get her name on the scoreboard 20 minutes into the second half with a point for the hosts.

Westmeath won it the hard way going down to 13 players in the second half after receiving two yellow cards within two minutes of one another.

However, showing admirable resolve that bodes well for the season ahead, Westmeath managed to see out the game for a deserved victory in difficult circumstances.

Next up for Westmeath is a third trip to Ulster on consecutive weekends, this time to face Donegal.

Monaghan: Orna Kelly; Aoife Bannigan, Brid McNally, Shona Brady; Maeve Monaghan (Captain), Jennifer Duffy, Emma Clerkin; Jodie McQuillan, Aine Loughman; Amy Garland, Leanne Maguire 0-2, Casey Treanor; Chloe McBride 0-1, Eabha Sherry 1-2, Sarah Tierney 1-3. Subs Used: Naomi Cogan, Megan Boylan 0-1, Lauren Garland 0-2, Holly McQuaid 0-2, Leah Connolly, Grace Cumiskey.

Westmeath: Lauren McCormack (Captain); Laura Kiernan, Lucy Power, Lara McCartan; Chloe Kelly, Fiona Coyle 1-1, Rachel Dillon 1-1; Kelly Boyce-Jordan, Vicky Carr 1-1; Ashely Ruane, Anna Jones, Caoimhe Clarke McMahon; Karen Hegarty 1-0, Leanne Slevin 0-6, Tracy Dillon. Subs Used: Caoimhe Kilmurray, Joyce Conway, Sarah Dillon 0-1

Referee : Philip Conway (Armagh)