Camogs put neighbours to the sword in league opener
Stephen Shiel's Meath were excellent in the second-half of their opening league win over Westmeath on Saturday
Meath 2-9
Westmeath 1-6
Meath kept their neighbours Westmeath scoreless in the final quarter as they made the perfect start to their National Camogie League Div 2A campaign on the 3G pitch at St Loman’s Mullingar on Saturday.
The contest was changed from Cusack Park to the all-weather pitch on Friday afternoon due to weather circumstances and the surface coupled with the cold conditions certainly impacted on the quality on display. It was a scrappy low-scoring affair but that won’t bother Stephen Shiel as his side came out the right side of it with a strong second-half performance.
Olivia O’Halloran’s goal just before half-time gave the Royals a good boost and they led at the interval by two points. The Royals extended the gap to four points with a brace of Roisin Heaney scores.
Westmeath brought themselves right back into contention when Megan Dowdell rattled the net but Meath’s response to their opponents' major was positive. Emma Regan raised the Royals’ second green flag in the 52nd minute and the home side never recovered.
Regan opened Meath’s account after two minutes before Westmeath quickly responded through Dowdall. A Heaney ‘45’ regained the early lead for the Royals before Westmeath seized momentum. The camogs in maroon scored 0-4 on the spin through Caoimhe McCrossan, Shelia McGrath, Aoife O’Malley and Amelia Shaw. That run of points earned Westmeath a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 23 minutes.
Meath’s baron spell was ended when Isabel O’Connor gave a brilliant pass in to Emma Regan and the Na Fianna corner forward slotted over for her second and Meath’s third point. Heaney’s free in the 27th minute reduced the gap back to one.
Aoife Carey took a long shot on late in the first-half and the sliotar fell short of the posts. Ciara Foley reacted quickest knocked it down for Olivia O’Halloran who finished brilliantly to the net. That goal just before the break gave Meath a 1-4 to 0-5 lead at half-time.
Westmeath had a bright spell of about seven minutes after the restart and they were camped inside Meath territory. However, all they could muster from that period was one point from a Shaw ‘45’.
When Meath settled into the half they seized back momentum and scored three points on the spin. A well-struck Carey point was followed by a brace of Heaney points. Westmeath needed a response and they got one when McCrossen set up Dowdall who then rattled the sliotar past Maggie Randle in the Meath net. After 45 minutes Meath only led by one point.
The response from the Royals was quick and effective. Ciara Foley broke the line of the defence and set up Regan who expertly dispatched the sliotar to the net and restored Meath’s four-point advantage. Late points from Carey and Erin Leddy was the icing on the cake as the final whistle confirmed an opening round league win for Shiels’ side.
Meath - Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Maeve Clince, Rachel Moran; Leah Devine, Abbye Donnelly, Rachel O'Neill; Isabel O'Connor (0-1), Erin Leddy (0-1); Aoife Carey (0-1 one free), Ellen Burke, Roisin Heaney (0-4 two frees, two ‘45’); Olivia O'Halloran (1-0), Ciara Foley, Emma Regan (1-2). Subs - Ella O'Brien for O'Halloran 49m, Grace Connolly for Burke 59m.
Westmeath - Aoife Corcoran; Katie Coleman, Dearbhail McLoughlin, Roisin Scally; Erin Core, Ellen Flanagan, Laura Doherty; Aoife O'Malley (0-1), Caoimhe McCrossan (0-1 one free); Meadbh McLoughlin, Amelia Shaw (0-2 one '45'), Aine Newman; Shelia McGrath (0-1), Julie McLoughlin, Megan Dowdell (1-1) - Ashley Ruane for Core 46m, Olivia Kelleghan for Shaw 52m, Caoimhe Coogan for M McLoughlin.
Referee - Ciaran Goff (Wicklow)