Armagh power past Westmeath

Armagh 2-22, Westmeath 1-2

Rionagh Leneghan shot 2-3 to propel Armagh’s minor camogie side to a solid victory over Westmeath in Multyfarnham GAA last Sunday as the dominance of the side in first place in the table was clear from the off.

Although Westmeath did find some solace in scores from Grace Downes and Ella Murtagh, the relentless nature of the Orchard County attacks were too much to deal with for Jimbob Baker’s side.

Nevertheless, Westmeath still make the knock-out stages by virtue of finishing in the final qualifying spot in the group.

The opening score came from another of the livewires on the Armagh side, corner-forward Laoise McConnell. Her free was followed by the first attempt from Westmeath but Grace Downes saw her strike flash wide of the target. A great point on the run from Aoibhinn Donohue doubled the tally not long after Downes had managed to find the equaliser – and a fine score it was as the Crookedwood star launched from long-range.

Armagh’s third point came from the penalty spot after Maeve Hayes’ shot from the spot went over Laura Doyle’s crossbar. Despite some good efforts from Westmeath to create scoring chances, the Armagh defence was not looking to be breached and their attack found a further nine scores without any reply before the half ended.

McConnell (free) was the next of her trio in the coming seven minutes while Leneghan’s double and a fine point from Fiadhna Loughran ensured the Ulster side would be well in control by the whistle. McConnell (free and one from play) complimented the lovely point from Hayes as Armagh hit twelve points.

Westmeath found some joy through runs from Eva Cawley and Rebecca Ward and nice passes from Ellen Mulvaney and Grace Bracken but unfortunately none of the half-chances yielded a score to go with the opener from Downes and at the break it was Armagh in control, 0-12 to 0-1.

Changes aplenty for Westmeath at the break and the result was immediate as Downes pulled on the sliotar on the deck and found the net, all off the opening attack of the half.

The joy may not have been as long lived as hoped for as Armagh replied the way they did all game as Rioghnach McKinney and Donohue struck for points. Laura Doyle’s compilation of saves would have created a highlight reel in itself and she pulled off the best of them with a stunning double before her defenders, Aoife O’Connor and Rose Macken, also put in defying blocks to keep the goal intact. Loughran (45) and McConnell kept Armagh ticking heading to the final quarter.

Doyle did everything she could to keep Armagh off the goal trail but when Leneghan cut inside her marker, the Raharney star had no chance from close range. Among the changes from both sides, the game drifted somewhat at the result was conclusive. Ella Murtagh did find the third and last Westmeath score of the day from a free after St Munna's player, Alice Galvin, was fouled near the 45.

Armagh hit a raft of scores late on in the game with several substitutes getting in on the act in between Leneghan’s second goal with time almost up.

Scorers – Armagh: R Leneghan 2-3, L McConnell 0-7 (3f), F Loughran 1 45), A Donohue 0-2, M Hayes 0-2 (0-1 pen), N O’Reilly 0-2, R McKinney, A O’Hara, C Donaghy 0-1 each. Westmeath: G Bracken 1-1, E Murtagh 0-1f.

Armagh: Caitlin Trainor; Siofra Doherty, Molly Fegan, Cadhla Tohill; Claragh Leneghan, Fiadhna Loughran, Katie Haughey; Sorcha McKinney, Jessica Traynor; Eimear McGeary, Rioghnach McKinney, Aoibhin Donohue; Maeve Hayes, Rionagh Leneghan, Laoise McDonnell. Subs used: Orlaith Hunter for Tohill (h-t), Niamh Murphy for Hayes (h-t), Caoilinn Donaghy for R Leneghan (33), Aoibhe McLoughlin for Traynor (43), Aoife O’Hara for McKinney (44), Nicole O’Reilly for Haughey (47), Alicia McGeary for McConnell (47).

Westmeath: Laura Doyle; Aoife O’Connor, Amy Seery, Katie Muldoon; Rose Macken, Áine Forde, Grace Doyle; Rebecca Ward, Eva Cawley; Grace Downes, Ella Murtagh, Ellen Mulvaney; Grace Bracken, Abbie McCauley, Roisín Connaughton. Subs used: Annabel Hynes for Muldoon (h-t), Maggie Bartley for G Doyle (h-t), Aoibheann Murray for Forde (h-t), Alice Galvin for Connaughton (h-t), Caoimhe Clarke for Downes (46), Anjali Gopalakrishnan for Bracken (47), Muireann Reihill for McCauley (47), Tara Reilly for Mulvaney (47). Rest of panel: Claire Loughrey, Sara Shaw.

Referee: Ciarán Groome (Offaly).