Dowdall double not enough as Galway down Westmeath

Galway 1-17, Westmeath 2-7

Despite 2-4 from Megan Dowdall, Westmeath went down by seven points to a more determined Galway side in the Intermediate Championship in the fine weather in Tom Kenny Memorial Park, Athenry.

In the first of a double-header (Galway v Clare in the seniors followed), the Westerners were let off the hook on numerous occasions by some wayward shooting from the visitors and with Kinvara forward, Aoibheann Barry, hitting 1-11 without missing the target all day, the odds were continuously against Westmeath. Despite some positive patches, the Midlanders only held the lead for a total of four minutes in the contest in and around Dowdall’s first goal. Westmeath registered twelve wides from play and placed-ball, with many going astray uncharacteristically for this customarily well-drilled unit.

Westmeath entered off the back of a strong showing in the southeast against Wexford while Galway were defeated at home by neighbours, Clare, by three points. Padraic Connaughton made changes to his side from the last game. Anna Weir continued in goals with Cullion’s Fiona Keating out for a prolonged period due to injury. In the forwards, Ava Balfe of St Brigid’s and Castlepollard’s Caoimhe McCormack (making her senior debut) both started having impacted against Cork in the opening day defeat in Mullingar, with Meadbh Scally and Sheila McGrath stepping aside from the line-up.

On the fine grass in Athenry, it was the Tribeswomen who hit the first points through Barry and Caoimhe Kelly before Dowdall replied, all inside five minutes of play. Anna Weir was called into action soon after, smothering a loose ball as Galway captain, Ava Lynskey, bore down on her. With McCormack operating around the middle for a period, Westmeath were a little light up front but did level on ten minutes through Megan’s first free from out wide. Galway punished wides in quick succession from Holly Dowdall and Hannah Core to retake the lead. Laura Doherty did well to cut out a goal opportunity as the home side looked to punish the misses from their opponents.

More efforts missed the target before Megan fired her opening goal on eighteen minutes. Lough Lene Gaels, Caoimhe McCrossan, supplied the pass and Dowdall rifled home to make it 1-2 to 0-4. A pair of soft frees were converted by Barry before she was soon raising a green flag of her own. Conor Dolan’s side turning over possession in the middle before Barry fired home. That would be the end of the Westmeath lead in this contest. Approaching the break, Lynskey and Barry (two frees) extended the Galway advantage on the scoreboard. Westmeath were unfortunate not to see Dowdall get another goal as her effort hit the crossbar. At the interval, Westmeath trailed 1-9 to 1-3.

Bainisteoir Connaughton took no prisoners at the break, changing two backs and two forwards to shake up the efforts. One of those, Amelia Shaw, saw her first puck go wide. As the pattern continued, Galway reproved with an easy score for Aoibhe Joyce. A sixty-second burst spurred Westmeath as Shaw (free) and Dowdall’s second green flag suddenly reduced arrears to three – 1-10 to 2-4 – and it was game on. Westmeath, unfortunately, could not capitalise and wides nine and ten were soon forthcoming. The gap was briefly two when Dowdall pointed off good combination play from the two Caoimhe Mc’s – McCrossan and McCormack. Westmeath tried to up the tempo and strong defensive blocks from Crookedwood duo Muireann Scally and captain Julie McLoughlin did raise the spirits of the travelling brigade in the stands. The positive was to be short-lived, however.

The contest was effectively ended with ten minutes to go as Barry rattled four scores (two frees and two from play) to a solitary free from Shaw in response. With the score at 1-14 to 2-6 and Barry firing over from all distances, Connaughton’s troops needed a goal. Shaw’s third and final free on 51 minutes would be the last score for them as Galway ticked along with relative ease to the final whistle. Lynskey shortened the grip to tap over before Barry added her eleventh point heading into stoppage time to go with her earlier goal. Sheila McGrath, introduced at half-time, saw her goal-bound strike saved by Michelle Gately before Galway cleared their lines. In the fourth and final minute of time added-on, Lynskey finished affairs with a strong point, despite being fouled.

With one win in three for Westmeath, positive outcomes in the coming weeks against Clare and neighbours Offaly would be most welcome to continue the intercounty season for the Division 2A champions. The shooting will have to improve if they are to be successful again.

Scorers - Galway: A Barry 1-11 (5f), A Lynskey 0-4, A Joyce, C Kelly 0-1 each.

Westmeath: M Dowdall 2-4 (0-2f), A Shaw 0-3 (3f).

Galway: Michelle Gately; Ellen Burke, Sarah Lyons, Ava Crowe; Pearl Finnerty, Ria McPhilbin, Joanne Daly; Chloe Allen, Reisteal Kelly; Katie Donohue, Ava Lynskey, Aoibhe Joyce; Ava Bloomer, Caoimhe Kelly, Aoibheann Barry. Subs used: Zoe Rodgers for McPhilbin (26, inj.), Chloe Broderick for Bloomer (35), Kayla Madden for C Kelly (46), Siofra Kelly for Finnerty (57, inj.), Aoife Kelly for Donohue (60)

Westmeath: Anna Weir; Emily McCabe, Julie McLoughlin, Laura Doherty; Maria Kelly, Muireann Scally, Áine Newman; Aoife O’Malley, Caoimhe McCrossan; Meadbh McLoughlin, Megan Dowdall, Holly Dowdall; Hannah Core, Ava Balfe, Caoimhe McCormack. Subs used: Sheila McGrath for Core (h-t), Amelia Shaw for M McLoughlin (h-t), Aisling Egerton for McCabe (h-t), Jade McKeogh for Doherty (h-t), Meadbh Scally for Kelly (46), Emma Broughan for McCrossan (60+2, concussion sub)

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare).

In a nutshell

Player of the Match

Aoibheann Barry (Galway): Megan Dowdall’s 2-4 would normally be enough to take the plaudits, but Aoibheann Barry, with 1-11, was impossible to handle and the Galway forward is the selection.

Score of the match

It is unusual to pick a free as the best score but Barry’s effort from the halfway line on 46 minutes was struck perfectly, landing on the roof of the netting.

Ref match

There were a couple of soft decisions but little else of note.

What it means

Westmeath continue their campaign with consecutive home games against Clare and Offaly, where wins are needed. At the end of these games, the next steps will be determined.