Breffni ladies promoted

by Aideen Coyle

Cavan ladies unbeaten run in this years LIDL National football league came to an end on Sunday in Kingspan Breffni as they fell to a three-point defeat to relegated Westmeath. Entering the final round game neither team had anything to play for as the Breffni ladies were already guaranteed promotion, and the visitors were relegated alongside Wexford after their opening six rounds.

With one eye on the final on the 11th April, Emmet Daly made thirteen changes to the team that defeated Tyrone the week prior with youngsters Ailbhe Kennedy and Katie Mai Reilly the two survivors from that clash.

Due to the nature of the changes Cavan took time to settle into the contest and on the flipside Westmeath, playing for pride, capitalised on this advantage starting the stronger of the teams and taking a deserving seven-point lead at half time thanks to a first half strike from taliswoman Katie Kilmurray. The St. Loman’s attacker alongside Rebecca Higgins were sublime across the hour.

With the aid of several substitutes Cavan battled back into the tie in the second half with an Aishling Sheridan goal setting up an exciting finish to the tie played in front of a large home crowd.

The visitors started brightest with Rebecca Higgins pointing a double in the opening four minutes. The sides were level for the first time soon after as Cara McCaffrey hit two in reply, one from a free following a kick out infringement. A fisted Clara Lynch score from the resulting kick out gave Cavan a slender lead but only momentarily as Katie Kilmurray slotted over from close range.

Westmeath added a further 1-02 in quick succession to open up a five-point lead, leading for the remainder of the tie. Kilmurray pointed her second before forcing Cara Reilly into a fine save. Six minutes later the St. Loman’s forward did manage to break the deadlock after brilliant link up play with Higgins. A point from Ashley Ruane was cancelled out by a much-needed score from Ellie Brady to reduce the deficit to four.

However, as was the story of the half Westmeath finished the more clinical side with a hattrick of points from Philippa Ruane, Ashley Ruane and Vicky Carr to go in at the break 1-08 to 0-04 ahead. In truth the gap could have been more but for two more excellent saves from Cara Reilly on Vicky Carr minutes apart.

Two points from Lucy McCartan after the resumption pushed the relegated side nine ahead after Cavan had made three changes at the break. With eight minutes on the clock the hosts were handed a lifeline as Niamh McCorry palmed to the net after a dangerous ball into the square from Clara Lynch. A fantastic score from sharpshooter Cara McCaffrey left five between the teams with a quarter remaining.

However, Cavan struggled to find the rhythm and fluidity in attack that they had in previous games with Westmeath punishing them at the opposite end with another five on the trot. Two more from McCartan, Kilmurray and one from Philippa Ruane left daylight between the teams with twenty-one minutes on the clock.

With Daly making a number of further changes, the personnel changes reaped the benefits for Cavan who set up an exciting finish hitting 1-04 on the bounce to leave one score between the teams going into additional time. Points from Rebecca McLoughlin were followed by Cavan’ second fortuitous goal this time from Aishling Sheridan who reacted quickest to Zara Fay’s dropping shot.

However, as the full-time whistle approached Cavan failed to find the crucial score to maintain their unbeaten status something the Breffni ladies wont dwell too much on giving their position in the league final in two weeks’ time against Ulster rivals Donegal who defeated Wexford to take second spot on the table.

Cavan: Cara Reilly, Lucy Crowe, Cora McDonnell, Niamh Briody, Emma McIntyre, Shauna Lynch (C), Ailbhe Kennedy, Ellie Brady 0-01, Ciara Boylan, Jill Giles, Cara McCaffery 0-03 (0-02f), Clara Lynch 0-01, Aisling Doughty, Niamh McGorry 1-00, Katie Mai Reilly

Subs used: Christina Charters for J. Giles, Deirbhile Lynch for K. Reilly, Sinead Greene for E. Brady, Keri McCormack for C. Boylan, Zara Fay for C. McCaffrey, Aishling Sheridan 1-00 for N. McCorry, Rebecca McLoughlin 0-03 (0-03f) for C. Lynch, Ellyanna Madden for N. Briody, Sinead Kelly for C. Charters Muireann Cusack for A. Doughty

Westmeath: Amy Donlon, Sarah Murphy, Fiona Coyle, Lara McCartan, Ashley Ruane 0-02, Lucy Power, Niamh Nolan, Philippa Ruane 0-02, Tracey Dillon, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Vicky Carr 0-01, Aoife Keegan, Katie Kilmurray 1-04 (0-01f), Lucy McCartan 0-04, Rebecca Higgins 0-02

Referee: David Hurson