Wayward Westmeath floored by fitter Sligo

Westmeath ladies proved absolutely no match for their Sligo counterparts in this NFL Division Two clash at Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone, last Sunday.The home side trailed by 0-8 to 0-0 at half-time and they failed to score from open play over the whole game. Their only scores were a goal from a penalty by substitute Eimear Connellan (Athlone), and a late pointed free by midfielder Fiona Leavy.Sligo were much the sharper side throughout, their players regularly beating their direct opponents to the ball, and there was also far more method in their play. By contrast, many of Westmeath"s attacking efforts were of the hit and hope variety.Despite suffering an 18-point defeat, Westmeath did have plenty of chances to make a better impression on the scoreboard. However, many of their attempts at goal, even from good positions, were very wayward. A number of Westmeath players produced improved displays in the second half, but the girls in maroon found scores very hard to come by.In mitigation, Sligo compete at senior level in the championship whereas Westmeath are in the intermediate grade, and the gulf in class was quite apparent.Managed by former county star Dermot Brady, Westmeath lost to Wexford (0-11 to 0-6) in their opening league game, while Sligo had a win over Leitrim and a narrow defeat to Tipperary in their opening two games.The fact that the teams were allowed to make unlimited substitutions certainly made a reporter"s task more difficult in this game. In total, Westmeath made 11 substitutions, while Sligo were content to make a mere six!There was just a small handful of supporters in attendance at the Athlone venue, with Sligo probably having nearly as many as the home team as the game commenced.Following a good pass from midfielder Ruth Kearney, Westmeath corner-forward Laura Halligan hit an early chance into the arms of Sligo "keeper Catriona Connolly. But a taller and physically stronger Sligo side soon stamped their authority on proceedings. Noelle Gormley opened the scoring with a pointed free and impressive corner-forward Stephanie O"Reilly doubled the lead after getting away from Rebecca Dunne. Sligo full-back Ruth Goodwin then surged forward and linked up with Louise Harte, paving the way for centre-forward Therese Marren to drive the ball over the bar. Marren was involved in the move which culminated in Stephanie O"Reilly"s second point and Marren added her second in the 18th minute, to give Sligo a 0-5 to 0-0 lead.Sligo suffered a setback when Stephanie O"Reilly was yellow-carded in the 19th minute and therefore sin-binned. However, Westmeath were unable to exploit their numerical advantage over the next ten minutes.The first of Westmeath"s subs, Laura Newman, was involved in the action straight away, setting up a scoring opportunity for Laura Halligan, whose shot was blocked out for a "45, which yielded no reward. At the other end, Elaine O"Reilly got her name on the scoresheet, after Louise Harte seized on a loose clearance by Westmeath goalie Niamh Mulligan. Gormley"s second point from a free put Sligo seven points clear.In the 28th minute, Westmeath centre-forward Katie Sommers (Milltown) did well to flick Rebecca Dunne"s delivery goalwards, but Connolly denied the home side a badly-needed goal.There was then a humorous incident when Noelle Gormley"s powerfully-struck free accidentally hit referee Vivian Hardiman. A Westmeath supporter, obviously annoyed with some of the referee"s decisions, was heard to shout 'that might put some f***ing sense into you'. Seemingly in response to this outburst, Hardiman moved the free closer to goal and Gormley knocked the ball over the bar, for the last score of the half.Shortly after the restart, Ruth Kearney missed a good chance to open Westmeath"s account and, in the 35th minute, Sligo gave Westmeath an absolute mountain to climb when Stephanie O"Reilly scored a fine goal, her shot going in off the post. Points by Louise Harte and Stephanie O"Reilly gave the girls in black a 1-10 to 0-0 lead by the 44th minute.Shortly afterwards, Westmeath were awarded a penalty when Eimear Connellan caught a long ball in from fellow substitute Georgina Fagan (Garrycastle) and Angela Doohan fouled the Athlone player. Connellan took the spotkick, her low shot finding the corner of the net. Westmeath captain Elaine Finn had a chance to augment this goal, but she fired wide.The Yeats County soon regained full control with points from substitutes Sinead McTiernan and Karen Maloney (two), along with one from Louise Harte.A foul on another sub, Westmeath"s Regina Croash, gave Fiona Leavy the chance to pop over a consolation point. However, the influence of the numerous subs on the field soon continued at the other end, as Aileen Connolly scored Sligo"s second goal, her shot going in over the head of Niamh Mulligan. The lively Karen Maloney added her third point to complete the scoring.This match showed that Westmeath have a lot of work if they are to pick up some points in their league campaign.The Westmeath full-back line found themselves up against a potent Sligo combination. Corner-backs Edel Marshall and Rebecca Dunne tried hard, while full-back Jenny Rogers significantly stepped up her efforts in the second half. Garrycastle"s Aoife McCormack had some good moments at wing-back, while Kilbeggan"s Triona Durkan was full of running on the other wing. Elaine Finn valiantly tried to drive her side on from centre half-back.Midfielder Ruth Kearney (Milltown) had a decent game, hitting some good passes into her forward line. The Westmeath attack really struggled and every member of this sector was replaced at some stage.Westmeath"s next outing in the league is against Waterford on Saturday at 3.30pm in Dungarvan.SCORERS - Sligo: S O"Reilly 1-3; A Connolly 1-0; K Maloney 0-3; N Gormley 0-3 (3f); T Marren, L Harte 0-2 each; E O"Reilly, S McTiernan 0-1.Westmeath: E Connellan 1-0 (pen); F Leavy 0-1f.SLIGO: Catriona Connolly; Martina Kane, Ruth Goodwin, Angela Doohan; Jackie Mulligan, Tracey O"Hara, Fiona Maye (capt.); Louise Smyth, Siobhan O"Sullivan; Etna Flanagan, Therese Marren, Louise Harte; Stephanie O"Reilly, Noelle Gormley, Elaine O"Reilly.Subs: Sinead McTiernan for Smyth; Karen Maloney for Marren; Aileen Connolly for E O"Reilly; Caroline Benson for Flanagan; Imelda McNulty for S O"Reilly; Sarah Feeney for Doohan.WESTMEATH: Niamh Mulligan; Edel Marshall, Jenny Rogers, Rebecca Dunne; Aoife McCormack, Elaine Finn (capt.), Triona Durkan; Fiona Leavy, Ruth Kearney; Fiona Claffey, Katie Sommers, Aishling Flanagan; Laura Halligan, Lisa Burke, Sarah Dolan.Subs: Laura Newman for Flanagan; Carol Finch for McCormack; Georgina Fagan for Burke; Eimear Connellan for Halligan; Karen McDermott for Dolan; Aileen Martin for Dunne; Deirdre Robbins for Marshall; Aileen Leavy for Sommers; Grace Egan for Connellan (injured); Louise Kelly for Kearney; Regina Croash for Newman.REFEREE: Vivian Hardiman (Roscommon).