Westmeath leave it too late against strong Cork side

Cork 2-15, Westmeath 2-13

Spirited Westmeath came from 10 points adrift to give Cork a serious scare in the first round of the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie championship at sun kissed TEG Cusack Park on Saturday. Ultimately Cork were strong enough to hold on after the home side left themselves with too much ground to make up.

The visitors looked in total control as they scored an unanswered 1-3 to establish a 2-13 to 0-9 lead by the 55th minute, but a terrific Westmeath fight back saw Megan Dowdall bag two goals (one from a penalty) and left Cork scrambling to hold on. Fittingly corner back Aoife Barrett produced a wonderful piece of high fielding when Westmeath came raiding in one last ditch attack deep in added time and the final whistle sounded to confirm Cork’s victory.

In splendid sunshine, Cork took early control with a pointed free from Lauren Homan, who would prove a key player. The Rebel County led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval.

Westmeath struggled to break down a Cork defence that held its structure, with Holly Dowdall’s direct marker Emma Flanagan, sitting in as a sweeper when the Westmeath corner forward dropped back to help out in her own defence.

It meant the home side faced stubborn resistance and Amelia Shaw and Hannah Core were called ashore before half-time as manager Pádraic Connaughton tried to solve the puzzle.

Cork’s Edel Sheehan quickly doubled her side’s lead, but Amelia Shaw’s fine strike from a 60-metre free got the home side off the mark. However, Cork led by 0-4 to 0-1 after Homan shot over from play and Eimear Duignan got in on the scoring act with a point on seven minutes.

Sheila McGrath and Amelia Shaw combined to put Meadbh McLoughlin through for a nice Westmeath score, but such moments were sporadic. Generally, Cork were on top and they hit back with a converted ‘45’ from Homan, who also converted a free to leave four points between the teams. Amelia Shaw’s free was replied to in kind by Homan before Holly Dowdall’s pass sent Meadbh McLoughlin clear and she fired over.

A tidy Homan point from play kept Cork in control but Westmeath got their best score of the half in added time: Aoife O’Malley played the ball out and Meadbh Scally produced a fine catch; her low delivery found Sheila McGrath, who shot a point.

Even allowing for that positive finish, Westmeath needed to be more clinical and the fact that they missed some good scoring chances (six wides and two shots that landed short) meant they had it all to do against a strong Cork outfit.

Two Megan Dowdall points (one free) gave Westmeath further hope on the restart and they trailed by just a point after 33 minutes. However, a Cork goal three minutes’ later put them firmly in control: Cliona O’Callaghan cut through the heart of the Westmeath cover and fired a powerful shot to the net.

The Westmeath defence was porous in comparison to that of Cork and that was a factor in the outcome of this first round encounter. Homan soloed forward to make it 1-9 to 0-7 and she then slotted over a free, leaving the home side with a mountain to climb.

Points from Aoife O’Malley and Megan Dowdall (free) offered hope, but a second Cork goal effectively killed the game. Homan’s free into the danger area led to a breaking ball and Cliona Dooley pounced to fire a terrific shot to the top corner. Cork added three points at this stage per Homan (free) and substitute Niamh O’Regan (including a lovely strike in the 53rd minute) had them leading by 2-13 to 0-9.

Westmeath received a much needed boost when Megan Dowdall’s shot crept in at the near post, the Cork ‘keeper unable to keep it out despite a partial save. Meadbh Scally pointed to make it 2-13 to 1-10, but Cork’s Fiona Nelligan skipped clear to slot over her side’s 14th point. Megan Dowdall shot a neat score, but again Homan replied with a wonderful Cork point from midfield moments after Dowdall was unlucky not to bundle the ball over the goal line at the opposite end.

Westmeath continued to chase the game and Megan Dowdall’s pointed free was followed by a goal from a penalty by the same player.

Dowdall earned the penalty when she was fouled as she attempted to find a way through and with the foul outside the square, it looked generous.

Dowdall slotted over a late free to leave Westmeath just two adrift, but Cork held on for a deserved victory.

Scorers – Cork: L Homan 0-10 (4f; 1 ‘45’), C O’Callaghan and C Dooley 1-0 each, N O’Regan 0-2, E Duignan, E Sheehan and F Nelligan 0-1 each.

Westmeath: M Dowdall 2-6 (1-0 pen; 0-4f), A Shaw 0-2 (2f), M McLoughlin 0-2, S McGrath, A O’Malley and M Scally 0-1 each.

Cork – Caoimhe Buckley; Aoife Barrett, Niamh O’Leary, Emma Flanagan; Laura Doyle, Olivia McAllen, Meadbh Ring; Tara McCarthy, Laura Buttimer; Eimear Duignan, Lauren Homan, Edel Sheehan; Katie Walsh, Cliona O’Callaghan, Cliona Dooley. Subs: Fiona Nelligan for E Duignan (h-time), Niamh O’Regan for K Walsh (39), Avril Cashman for T McCarthy (43), Erinn Curtin for E Sheehan (53).

Westmeath – Anna Weir; Emily McCabe, Julie McLoughlin, Laura Doherty; Maria Kelly, Muireann Scally, Áine Newman; Aoife O’Malley, Caoimhe McCrossan; Meadbh McLoughlin, Amelia Shaw, Sheila McGrath; Holly Dowdall, Hannah Core, Megan Dowdall. Subs: Caoimhe McCormack for H Dowdall (25), Meadbh Scally for A Shaw (28), Ava Balfe for H Core (28), Aisling Egerton for M Scally (43), Róisín Scally for M Kelly (56).

Referee: Joe Mullins (Clare).