Ladies' season comes to an end with heartbreaking defeat

All-Ireland Ladies IFC quarter-final

Cavan 1-12

Westmeath 3-7

Aideen Coyle at Kingspan Breffni

Cavan and Westmeath met for the first time this season in the All-Ireland IFC quarter-final, the stage where the Leinster champions exited the competition last season at the hands of Wexford. Cavan took home advantage having topped their group with an annihilation of Wicklow after suffering a one-point defeat to Monaghan. On the other hand, Westmeath came into the tie off the back of a hefty defeat to Tyrone and a victory over Down in their opening round.

A fourth first-half point from Cavan sharpshooter Aisling Gilsenan brought the sides level at half-time after two quickfire goals from Westmeath in the eighth minute put the visitors five ahead in the early stages of the tie. A third goal for Westmeath in the second half from Anna Jones was enough to guide her side to a narrow victory despite Cavan dominating proceedings in Kingspan Breffni for large periods of time. However, Westmeath’s clinical edge in front of goal was the difference as Cavan will rue missed chances at the beginning of the second half.

After an early goal chance went astray for Catherine Dolan, Cavan hit two on the bounce to get proceedings underway. Aishling Sheridan opened the game’s scoring in the 2nd minute, followed by a converted close-range free from Gilsenan following a foul on Sheridan.

At the opposite end, Westmeath hit back with a goal after a foul by goalkeeper Evelyn Baugh on Anna Jones resulted in a penalty. Jones stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball to the left-hand side of the Cavan shot-stopper.

Seconds later, star attacker Sarah Dillon sent over a fine score to open her account. From the resulting kickout, Dillon inflicted further pain on the Breffni side as she got on the end of a Jones pass to raise her side’s second green flag, opening up an early five-point lead.

The hosts began to find their groove in the closing quarter, hitting 1-04 as Westmeath finished with 0-02 to go in at the break level pegging. Midway through the half, a swift attacking move between Lucy Jayne Grant, Micaela Fitzpatrick, and Aishling Sheridan led to Aisling Gilsenan being played through on goal, with the forward finding the net to reduce the deficit to two.

Attackers Dillon and Gilsenan traded a point apiece as Caoimhe Kilmurry kept three between the teams with a fine effort after excellent work from Lara McCartan. However, the Ulster champions finished the half strongly, with Gilsenan once again coming up with crucial scores. A double from the full-forward and one from the outstanding Catherine Dolan left the sides level for the first time, 1-06 to 2-03.

Truthfully, Cavan dominated possession and scoring opportunities in the opening quarter of the second half but failed to make it count on the scoreboard, taking just a three-point lead entering the final fifteen, having failed to convert 1-06.

Two frees in quick succession from Jones put the visitors ahead by two; however, they failed to add another score for over thirteen minutes as Cavan took control of the tie, pressing Aoife Temple’s kickout. After four early wides for Cavan, a foul on half-time substitute Keri McCormack led to a scoreable free for Gilsenan to convert after superb work in the build-up from Lucy Crowe.

Niamh Keenaghan overturned the resulting kick-out, with Ellie Brady fisting a score to leave the teams level for the second time. Cavan continued to get joy from their well-implemented kickout press, and seconds later, the Ballyhaise clubwoman put her side ahead. Sinead Greene then added a score after a routine link-up with Dolan, followed by Gilsenan’s sixth to put Cavan three ahead midway through the half.

Attacks were few and far between for the visitors at the start of the second half, but their taliswoman Sarah Dillon, who had a terrific battle with Sinéad Kelly, showed her worth with two excellent scores from their next two attacks to bring the minimum between the teams. With the game hotting up, Sinead Greene won a crucial free for Cavan, which Gilsenan slotted over at her ease.

However, an uncharacteristic mistake in the Cavan backline with 25 minutes on the clock proved costly as Westmeath hit their third of the game. Anna Jones was the heroine for her side as she palmed to the net at the second time of asking after her initial shot was brilliantly blocked by Sinéad Greene.

There was time for one more moment of drama in the closing minutes as the match referee, David Hurson, looked to have signalled for a Cavan free for Aisling Gilsenan, who appeared to be fouled on her path to goal. But after consultation with his umpires, the referee awarded a free out as the full-time whistle blew in Kingspan Breffni, signalling Cavan’s exit from the competition as Westmeath progressed to the semi-final to face Tyrone.

Cavan: Evelyn Baugh, Eimear Corcoran, Sinead Kelly, Lucy Crowe, Sinead Greene 0-01, Shauna Lynch, Mona Sheridan, Micaela Fitzpatrick, Niamh Tolan, Ellie Brady 0-02, Lucy Jayne Grant, Catherine Dolan 0-01, Aisling Gilsenan 1-07 (3f), Aishling Sheridan 0-01, Christina Charters

Subs used: Niamh Keenaghan for L. Grant, Keri McCormack for C. Charters, Niamh McCorry for N. Tolan, Annie Deneher for E. Brady

Westmeath: Aoife Temple, Lara McCartan, Sarah Murphy, Fiona Coyle, Chloe Gonoud, Lucy Power, Susanna Buckley, Vicky Carr, Ayesha Roche, Lucy McCartan, Sarah Dillon 1-04, Tracey Dillon, Grainne Byrne, Anna Jones 2-02 (1-02f), Caoimhe Kilmurry 0-01

Subs used: Philippa Ruane for C. Gonoud, Ashley Ruane for A. Roche, Katie Kilmurry for C. Kilmurry

Referee: David Hurson (Monaghan)