McLoughlin goal clinches crucial away win for ladies

Ladies NFL Division 2 round 4

Cavan 1-4

Westmeath 0-6

Aideen Coyle at Cusack Park

Stakes were high for both Cavan and Westmeath entering into Sunday’s NFL Division 2 round 4 meeting with both counties collecting one win each from their three opening games. They were sitting alongside each other on the table with three points- three clear of the relegation zone and still in a dangerous position. A win for either side would go a long way towards securing their division two status for the 2025 campaign.

The opening half’s chances were dominated by the hosts who led by two points at the break and truthfully should have led by more but for a poor conversion rate in front of goal and heroic blocks from Roisin Dolan and Christina Charters keeping Cavan within reach at the break.

Westmeath came out of the blocks flying and from the throw-in Anna Jones found her way through on goal but was denied by an excellent block from Christina Charters.

With four minutes on the clock Cavan opened their account as Sinead Levingstone got on the end of a well worked team move to point their first and final score of the half as the hosts hit three without reply.

The excellent Sarah Dillon got the equalising score as scores dried up for both sides with the next coming 15 minutes later from the boot of the Milltown lady Dillon. In this spell Frank Browne’s side were wasteful in front of goal registering six wides as well as a crucial block from vice captain Roisin Dolan denying Anna Jones a goal.

With 24 minutes played Jones cut through the Cavan defence once again but for the third time was denied by an excellent tackle from Cavan’s Charters. On the brink of halftime full forward Leanne Slevin pointed from a free following a foul on Dillon to leave the deficit at two.

Cavan had a goal chance with the last attack of the half as a free from Aoife Brady dropped short and dangerously into the path of Niamh McCorry. However, the Butlersbridge woman’s palmed effort was comfortably collected by Lauren McCormack to leave the scoreline 0-03 to 0-01 at the break.

Westmeath once again started the half quickest with a point direct from the throw-in. Ashley Ruane’s effort left the margin at three, but this was the home side’s last score for 27 minutes as the Breffni women found their groove hitting 1-3 on the bounce to take the lead.

Cavan management tweaked tactics at halftime opting for a more attacking style which reaped the benefit as a foul on Charters in the 3rd minute led to a pointed free from McCorry which was followed up almost instantly by a well struck effort from Aoife Brady to leave the minimum between the teams.

Similar to the opening half Westmeath created chances but continued to be wasteful in attack registering three wides in quick succession. Midway through the half they also had a goal chance but Joanne Reilly pulled off a fantastic save to deny Ruane’s goalward shot. Minutes later the sides were level for just the second time as a foul on the lively Brady led to McCorry’s second of the game. Cavan now playing with confidence and a fresh energy thanks to the introduction of substitutes- Tara Leddy, Rebecca McLoughlin, Molly Smith and Aoibheann Morrisson looked a much-improved, hungrier side.

With 21 minutes on the clock a fantastic pass from player of the match Charters fell into the hands of Rebecca McLoughlin who marked her cameo off the bench with a well taken goal to give Cavan the lead. However, the result was not sealed as two points on the bounce from a Dillon free and Slevin effort left the deficit at one entering injury time.

To their credit O’Rourke’s charges held on for the crucial victory picking up their second win of the campaign with three games remaining against Monaghan, Donegal and Tyrone. Cavan have a week off before the meeting with neighbours Monaghan away on Sunday March 3.

Cavan: Joanne Reilly, Aine Brady, Aine Brady (C), Niamh Smith, Lucy Crowe, Roisin Dolan, Ruth Gilsenan, Aine Smith, Sarah McCabe, Zara Fay, Amy Wharton, Aoife Brady 0-01 (1f), Christina Charters, Niamh McCorry 0-02 (2f), Sinead Levingstone 0-01

Subs used: Niamh Briody for R. Gilsenan, Aoibheann Morrisson for N. Smith, Tara Leddy for A. Smith, Rebecca McLoughlin 1-00 for A. Wharton, Molly Smith for N. McCorry, Erin Longair for S. Levingstone, Deirbhile McCaffrey for S. McCabe

Westmeath: Lauren McCormack (C), Laura Kiernan, Lucy Powers, Lara McCartan, Chloe Kelly, Fiona Coyle, Rachel Dillon, Vicky Carr, Kelly Boyce Jordan, Ashley Ruane 0-01, Anna Jones, Caoimhe Clarke McMahon, Sarah Dillon 0-03 (1f), Leanne Slevin 0-02 (1f), Tracey Dillon

Subs used: Karen Hegarty for C. Clarke, Caoimhe Kilmurray for A. Jones,

Ref: Kevin Corcoran.