Tigerish Tyrone crush Westmeath's League dream

Westmeath travelled to Healy Park, Omagh for the National League Division 4 final against Tyrone in what was a home venue for the opposition. Captain Sandra Greville led out the team for this encounter with Tyrone, who had beaten Westmeath by just one point in the league stage of the competition.The game started well for Tyrone when Aisling Corr scored a point from a free in just the third minute of the game and within a minute the same player sent another free wide. Westmeath had the run of play for a time, but despite two frees sent in towards the goalmouth, strong defence by Tyrone prevented any score. A point from Aoife Higgins after winning the ball following a Tyrone free and another by Denise McGrath, after Pamela Greville sent in a ball from a free, put Westmeath two points to one ahead after ten minutes.At that stage good work by the Westmeath goalkeeper, Denise Egan and the backs kept the home team at bay and they sent one ball wide and another hit the upright to deny them a score. However, half way through the half, a '45 was awarded to Tyrone which Aisling Corr put over the bar and this was followed very quickly by a further two points from the Red Hand girls.Denise Egan in the Westmeath goal again prevented Tyrone extending their lead when a free sent into the Tyrone wing forward was blasted at goal and was brilliantly saved by Denise. The pressure by Tyrone was building and when the referee overruled the linesman and awarded Tyrone a lineball they took full advantage and Catherine Hanna, their wing forward, got the ball into the Westmeath net. Two points followed, one from Tyrone scored from a free and one from play by Denise McGrath for Westmeath. After six fluitless minutes Tyrone managed to score a goal almost on the stroke of half time and Lorraine Leavy responded with a point before the break to leave the score 2-5 to 0-4 in Tyrone's favour.After half time a number of changes were evident in the Westmeath team and two substitutes were included in the line-up. Muireann Scally replaced Liz Shaw and Louise O'Connor replaced Linda Williams and five minutes into the half, Fiona Leavy replaced Sarah King. Tyrone however, placed pressure on Westmeath from the start of the second half and scored three points without reply, until Pamela Greville sent in a strong shot at goal which was saved by the Tyrone goalkeeper Kelly Fay, who parried the ball over the bar for a point for Westmeath.After 10 minutes Denise McGrath scored the second point of the half for Westmeath but a minute later Tyrone replied with two further points. At just half way through the second half Lisa Burke replaced Maria Smyth. In the fifteenth minute of the second half Denise McGrath was awarded a free and from a wide angle she put it over the bar. The next run of play saw wide balls for both sides with Tyrone sending two wide - one from a 45 metre free and Westmeath sent one wide from a free also.Fiona Leavy scored a point from play, only for Tyrone to reply with two points. Laura Hannon then made her way on to the field replacing Sinéad Lynch in the final Westmeath substitution of the game. After 28 minutes, and behind by 2-3, Louise O'Connor passed to Fiona Leavy. Fiona sent the ball to Pamela Greville who struck it to the back of the Tyrone net which actually was the last score of the game. The final score was Tyrone 3-12 to Westmeath 1-9 when the referee blew the final whistle at exactly 30 minutes on the scoreboard in Healy Park.Scorers for Westmeath: Denise McGrath 0-5 (0-2f); Pamela Greville 1-1; Aoife Higgins 0-1; Lorraine Leavy 0-1; Fiona Leavy 0-1.Westmeath: Denise Egan, St. Munnas; Maria Smyth, Brownstown; Sandra Greville (Capt), Raharney; Liz Shaw, Raharney; Joanne Walsh (Vice-Capt), Lough Lene Gaels; Aisling Conaty, Lough Lene Gaels; Eileen Murphy, Cullion; Jemma Egan, Lough Lene Gaels; Sarah King, Delvin; Pamela Greville, Raharney; Aoife Higgins, Lough Lene Gaels; Linda Williams, Delvin; Sinéad Lynch, Lough Lene Gaels; Lorraine Leavy, St. Munna's; Denise McGrath, Delvin. Substitutes: Muireann Scally, Crookedwood for L. Shaw; Louise O'Connor, Brownstown for L. Williams; Fiona Leavy, Raharney for S. King; Lisa Burke, Raharney for M. Smyth; Laura Hannon, Castletown Geoghegan for S. Lynch.