Camogie: Tipp’s stoppage time scores deny Westmeath victory

Littlewoods Ireland National Camogie League Division 2 Group 2: Westmeath 0-12, Tipperary 1-9

Westmeath will be kicking themselves after letting a lead they held for over 40 minutes slip from their grasp in this National Camogie League clash in Rathdowney, Co. Laois today.

Both Albert Kelly’s charges and their opponents, Tipperary’s second string, were looking for their first win in this year’s league after opening day defeats, but late points from the Premier County’s Caroline Browne and Aoife McLoughney ensured the spoils were shared.

Westmeath, welcoming back some but not all of their Raharney contingent, opened their account after three minutes when a fine score from Deelsider Maria Kelly – who started at centre forward – cancelled out an early long-range point from McLoughney.

The Maroons took the lead moments later when Megan Dowdall teed up Sheila McGrath for a point. But they suffered a setback after six minutes when a long ball from Tipp’s Leah Heffernan caused confusion in the Westmeath defence, allowing Ciara Cummins to nudge the ball to the net.

Westmeath responded well though, and had regained the lead by the quarter-hour mark thanks to a brace of points from Amelia Shaw and a second score from Kelly.

McLoughney levelled matters again on 16 minutes with a long-range free, but when Olivia Glynn divided the posts four minutes later, Westmeath took the lead again and held it until the dying embers of the game.

The Lake County led 0-10 to 1-2 at the break after unanswered scores from Megan Dowdall (a free from distance), McGrath (two) and Brownstown’s Louise O’Connor. The pick of this bunch came after a wonderful solo run by McGrath just before the short whistle.

However, Westmeath rode their luck somewhat, as Tipp – playing into the teeth of a strong breeze – missed a host of opportunities in the second quarter.

McLoughney, Emily Morrissey and Leah Heffernan went close from point attempts, and Morrissey hit the side netting after some sustained Tipp pressure not long before the interval.

Facing the wind in the second half, Westmeath found scores difficult to come by, drawing a blank in the third quarter as Tipperary cut the deficit to two thanks to points from McLoughney (0-2f) and Heffernan.

A 47th minute effort from Sheila McGrath settled the Maroons somewhat, and although McLoughney cancelled this out with a ’45’, Emma Broughan pointed after a frenetic Westmeath attack to leave three between the sides with 54 on the clock.

However, the Lake County couldn’t find the insurance score they so desperately needed, and Tipperary, who always looked more likely to profit in the second half, snatched a share of the points with a trio of late points from McLoughney (2) and Browne.

Scorers – Westmeath: Sheila McGrath 0-4, M Kelly and A Shaw (1f) 0-2 each, M Dowdall (free), O Glynn, L O’Connor and E Broughan 0-1 each. Tipperary: A McLoughney 0-7 (4f, 1 ’45’), C Cummins 1-0, L Heffernan and C Browne 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Fiona Keating; Darian Corcoran, Emily McCabe, Aisling Egerton; Dearbhail McLoughlin, Megan Dowdall, Caitríona O’Brien; Áine Newman, Sheila McGrath; Louise O’Connor, Maria Kelly, Holly Dowdall; Emma Broughan, Amelia Shaw, Olivia Glynn. Subs used: Denise McGrath for Glynn, Karen Gaffney for H Dowdall, Sandra McGrath for M Dowdall (inj.).

Tipperary: Aoife Butler; Aoife Butler, Rachel Maher, Aoibheann Ward; Amy Crosse, Emma Carey, Aisling Sheedy; Ciara McKeogh, Caroline Browne; Ciara Cummins, Clodagh Horgan, Aoife McLoughney; Leah Heffernan, Rachel O’Dwyer, Emily Morrissey. Sub used: Saoirse McGrath for Morrissey.

Ref: John McDonagh (Galway).