Clare crush Westmeath ladies with clinical first-half display

LGFA: LIDL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 ROUND 3

Clare 2-17, Westmeath 0-7

By John Dingle

Clare enjoyed a 14-point lead at half-time and although Westmeath were more competitive during the second half, there was little consolation as the visitors ran out winners by 16 points at Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone on Sunday afternoon.

Coming into this game, both teams had yet to win after two outings in the league with a point apiece on the board. Having staged a comeback against Donegal at the same venue a week earlier to share the spoils, Westmeath were looking to build on that result, but their hopes were soon shattered.

Just a single point in the opening half against Donegal was not fatal in the end, but this game was all but over as a contest at the break as the Banner ladies ran riot on the scoreboard.

The game was just 30 seconds old when Fidelma Marrinan put Clare in front with Ailish Considine doubling the lead on five minutes. Westmeath opened their account a minute later when Caoimhe Kilmurray sent over a point, but it was one of the few highlights for the hosts in a totally one-sided first half. An inability to turn early possession into scores left the hosts with a mountain to climb later.

Chloe Moloney soon restored Clare's lead and the first green flag, raised after eight minutes, had the visitors on their way to an easy victory. Considine from the right took aim and her shot looped over goalkeeper Amy Donlon and into the net off the upright.

Considine followed up with another point and a successful Marrinan free kick had Clare in control on a 1-6 to 0-1 scoreline.

Westmeath ended the first quarter with their second point when Rebecca Higgins fired over, but four quick-fire Clare points had them ahead by 1-9 to 0-2 with 20 minutes gone. The maroon-clad ladies were out of luck moments later when an Anna Jones shot was saved by the goalkeeper as a free from the number eleven after 24 minutes proved to be their final score of the half.

It left nine points between the teams heading into the closing stages of the half but the lead was to stretch to double figures when the half-time whistle sounded. Five unanswered points from Clare left it 1-14 to 0-3 at the break and well on their way to a first league win in 2025.

Westmeath had a massive task on their hands when play resumed as they tried to overcome a huge deficit. Further damage was avoided as the home team matched Clare for scores in the second half. Crucially, though, the visitors struck for another goal in the last quarter.

There were just two scores in the third quarter as the lead stayed at 14 points. Westmeath opened the scoring after two minutes when Méadbh Monaghan sent over a point from the right. Clare replied soon after with a Marrinan free and, remarkably, that ended the scoring until Westmeath’s next point arrived after 17 minutes.

Before this though, the hosts had a couple of chances to put some respectability on the scoreboard. After six minutes, a Monaghan shot was brilliantly pushed behind by the Clare goalkeeper while Jones was out of luck after 16 minutes when her free kick hit off the post. Kilmurray was more successful a minute later as her point edged Westmeath ahead on the second half alone.

It mattered little, however, as Clare raised their second green flag after 19 minutes. An attempt from the right hit off the post and Teresa Collins was on hand to shoot to the net.

The loss of substitute Ellie Hanrahan to a yellow card (thereby meaning ten minutes in the sin bin) did not bother the rampant visitors.

A point from Aine Keane after 27 minutes left it 2-16 to 0-5 heading into the closing stages.

Jones grabbed Westmeath’s sixth point late on while a stoppage time free from Marrinan completed the Clare scoring. The home team ended the scoring with another stoppage time effort, but Lucy Power's effort was mere consolation as Clare returned home with an emphatic win.

Westmeath remain in second bottom spot just ahead of Tipperary who have nothing to show from their three games played, both teams the only ones in the division yet to win thus far.

SCORERS - Clare: A Considine 1-4; F Marrinan 0-7 (3 frees); T Collins 1-0; A Keane, C Harvey and R Martin 0-2 each. Westmeath: C Kilmurray and A Jones (1f); 0-2 each; R Higgins, M Monaghan and L Power 0-1 each.

WESTMEATH: Amy Donlon; Lara McCartan, Sarah Murphy, Ayesha Roche; Chloe Kelly, Lucy Power, Fiona Coyle; Tracey Dillon, Pip Ruane; Anna Jones, Caoimhe Clarke McMahon, Caoimhe Kilmurray; Vicky Carr, Rebecca Higgins, Méadbh Monaghan. Subs: Ashley Ruane and Chloe Smullen for P Ruane and Higgins (38 mins); Grainne Byrne for Clarke McMahon (44); Francesca Walshe for Monaghan (50); Megan Ennis and Susanna Buckley for McCartan and Kilmurray (57).

CLARE: Jenna Murphy; Aine Keane, Grainne Harvey, Rebecca Doohan; Emer Burke, Joanna Doohan, Shauna Melican; Caoimhe Harvey, Roisin Martin; Roisin Considine, Megan Downes, Teresa Collins; Fidelma Marrinan, Ailish Considine, Chloe Moloney. Subs: Aoibhinn O’Loughlin for Downes (H-T); Ellie Hanrahan for Moloney (47); Edel McNamara and Lauren Conway for Martin and Burke (50); Hannah Doyle for Collins (56); Lucy Shanahan for Considine (60).

REFEREE: Sinead McHugh (Donegal).