Kilmurray and Byrne goals give Westmeath ladies the platform

Westmeath 2-11, Monaghan 0-13

On Mother’s Day, it was appropriate that the ladies took centre stage and Westmeath marked the occasion with an impressive victory over Monaghan at sun-kissed Moynihan Park, Ballynacargy, to retain their Division 2 status.

A more economical and composed Westmeath side prevailed with something to spare in this National Football League encounter and when news emerged that Roscommon and Clare had both been defeated, the Lake County knew their status had been preserved.

Westmeath won chiefly because they were superior in front of goal, registering just five wides over the course of the game, while Monaghan spurned nine opportunities. Their decision to persist with free-taker Éabha Sherry was baffling as quite clearly she was having an off day in front of goal, accounting for six of her side’s misses.

In contrast, Westmeath were more clinical with their scoring chances - Vicky Carr, Sarah Dillon and Anna Jones all providing oodles of examples over the course of the game. Ultimately their execution is what set them apart and gave them a fighting chance of survival; there was certainly a sense of relief at the final whistle.

Two first half goals from Caoimhe Kilmurray and Gráinne Byrne gave the home side the ideal platform here and backed by a useful breeze in the second half, they were experienced enough to complete the task. Westmeath were seven points clear after 12 minutes and led by 2-4 to 0-7 at the interval before Sarah Dillon and Vicky Carr added early second half points to keep Monaghan on the backfoot.

It was 13 scores apiece at the finish, but Westmeath were always capable of keeping the visitors at arm’s length: the gap was six points with 10 minutes remaining and fresh legs coming off the bench in the form of players like Chloe Smullen, Lucy McCartan and Philippa Ruane ensured they were strong enough to prevail. Their all-round performance proved superior on the day.

Westmeath manager Frank Browne expressed his satisfaction at consolidating Division 2 status after a tough league campaign and a season that has seen some experienced players retire.

Westmeath got off to the perfect start in the opening minute when Anna Jones converted a free after Sarah Dillon was fouled. Their dominance continued, and in the fifth minute, a surging run by wing-back Chloe Gonoud led to a well-worked goal. Gonoud fed Sarah Dillon, whose diagonal ball was gathered by full-forward Caoimhe Kilmurray, who turned smartly and finished to the net.

A further point from midfielder Vicky Carr pushed Westmeath into a commanding five-point lead with the visitors struggling to make an impact.

Monaghan brought great intensity and responded in the seventh minute through a fine point from midfielder Niamh Flanagan, getting their first score on the board. A minute later, Monaghan goalkeeper Órna Kelly made a vital save to deny Vicky Carr from a decent opening. Éabha Sherry then slotted a free to narrow the deficit to three points.

Westmeath’s attacking fluidity was a feature of the game and in the 11th minute, Anna Jones pointed another free after a slick move involving Tracey Dillon, Lucy Power, Ayesha Roche, Anna Jones, and Fiona Coyle. That passage of play epitomised Westmeath’s sharp ball movement, which caused Monaghan problems throughout.

The Lake County’s attacking prowess was further underlined in the 12th minute when Gráinne Byrne fisted a goal after Chloe Gonoud’s pace created the opening. Anna Jones fisted across goal, and Byrne showed great composure to apply the finishing touch at the back post.

Monaghan's management were relentless in their instruction to press the Westmeath kick-out, but they never mastered the home side in this regard. They responded with a well-taken point by Leanne Maguire in the 14th minute following good work from Áine Loughman and Éabha Sherry.

The visitors almost had a goal a minute later, but Westmeath goalkeeper Aoife Temple produced a brilliant stop to deny Lauren Garland. Temple’s impressive first-half display continued when she dealt the resulting ’45’ which landed dangerously in the square; the Westmeath ‘keeper advanced to fist the ball clear.

Westmeath’s Anna Jones was unlucky when her shot in the 18th minute struck the crossbar, and Monaghan capitalised by counter-attacking swiftly, with Garland pointing. Monaghan continued to push, but Sherry was again denied a goal by the excellent Temple in the 19th minute.

Casey Treanor added another Monaghan point in the 21st minute, but Westmeath hit back as Sarah Dillon fired over. There was drama moments later when Gonoud broke forward and attempted to fist over a score, but the ball landed in the net resulting in a free out being awarded. Monaghan closed the gap before the break with points from Caoimhe Kelly and a quality score from Leanne Maguire in first-half injury time, leaving them three points adrift at the interval.

Westmeath wasted no time extending their lead as Sarah Dillon pointed just 20 seconds into the restart after a fine move involving Vicky Carr and Caoimhe Kilmurray. Monaghan missed a routine free through Sherry, and they were made to pay when Vicky Carr surged forward to score after being set up by Dillon.

Casey Treanor hit back for Monaghan with a well-taken score in the fourth minute, but Westmeath immediately responded by winning the kick-out and attacking through Gonoud. She linked up with Dillon, who put Carr through the centre for another point.

Sherry converted a free for Monaghan in the 10th minute after Aoife Burns was fouled, but Jones replied instantly with a free for Westmeath after Carr was impeded. Monaghan continued to battle and in the 12th minute, Caoimhe Kelly notched her second score after neat interplay between Caoimhe Brennan and Sherry.

Anna Jones added another free for Westmeath in the 20th minute, followed by a wonderful point from Sarah Dillon after an accurate pass by Kilmurray. Sherry replied with a Monaghan free in the 22nd minute, but Westmeath remained composed, and Dillon struck another superb point after excellent work from substitutes Lucy McCartan and Susana Buckley.

Sherry kept Monaghan in touch with a pointed free in the 29th minute, while Lauren Garland added another in injury time. Westmeath had a golden chance to seal the win emphatically when substitute Chloe Smullen played Philippa Ruane through on goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but Ruane’s effort went narrowly wide.

Westmeath can now focus on the upcoming Leinster Championship clash with Wexford in May, a home game for Frank Browne’s charges.

Scorers - Westmeath: A Jones (4f) and S Dillon 0-4 each, C Kilmurray and G Byrne 1-0 each, V Carr 0-3. Monaghan: E Sherry 0-4 (4f), C Kelly, L Maguire and L Garland (1f) 0-2 each, N Flanagan 0-1.

Westmeath: Aoife Temple; Lara McCartan, Sarah Murphy, Susana Buckley; Chloe Gonoud, Lucy Power, Fiona Coyle; Tracey Dillon, Vicky Carr; Ashley Ruane, Anna Jones, Ayesha Roche; Gráinne Byrne, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Sarah Dillon. Subs: Chloe Smullen for Byrne (47), Lucy McCartan for Roche (52), Philippa Ruane for A Ruane (58), Méadbh Monaghan for S Dillon (60+2).

Monaghan: Órna Kelly; Aimee Clarke, Shona Brady, Caoimhe Brennan; Aoife Burns, Jennifer Duffy, Casey Treanor; Niamh Flanagan, Sophie Corley; Leanne Maguire, Amy Garland, Grace Hanratty; Caoimhe Kelly, Éabha Sherry, Lauren Garland. Subs: Laura connolly for Hanratty (37), Dervla Cawley for Corley (50), Tara Renaghan for Burns (60).

Ref - Eddie Cuthbert (Down).