Donegal ladies power to victory in the final quarter against Westmeath

Donegal had a superb final quarter to cruise to victory in their first Division 2 match at home to Westmeath in O’Donnell Park.

In a tight first half, with both teams getting a feel for the new rules in a competitive environment, a trio of points from Katie Dowds and two from Susanne White left it level at the break at 0-6 to 1-3, Anna Jones firing in a penalty for the away side.

That was just after a 12-minute stoppage as Donegal captain Róisin Rodgers had to be stretchered off after a bad injury.

White’s goal for Donegal on 39 minutes had them four ahead, and while Westmeath got back to within two points, Donegal really kicked on in the final quarter, outsourcing their opponents by 1-4 to 0-1, all coming from the bench with three from Eva Gallagher and a Cáit Gillespie goal.

The hosts started well with Katie Dowds pointing inside 30 seconds, while Susanne White added another two minutes later after Dowds utilised the newly introduced tap and go well.

The hosts almost hit the net as Mia Bennett’s shot dropped, and Aoife Temple did well to punch clear with White lurking, as Katie Kilmurray got Westmeath off the mark with a curling effort after a couple of attempts dropped short.

The new rules gave plenty of chances for long balls into the full forward line, and a Jones effort was pushed high towards goal by Lucy McCartan, but Friel made a fingertip save and caught at the second attempt to deny a goal.

Ciara McGarvey played a good ball into Mia Bennett, who pointed on the turn, and as Ava Caulfield won the kick out, Katie Dowds kicked over from range for a three-point lead.

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But a good 1-2 between Lucy and Lara McCartan allowed Lucy to get in for a point, and a Kilmurray free made it a one-point game.

A good bursting run and cut back allowed Dowds in for a third score, but as Sarah Dillon played in Anna Jones, she was fouled by Bláthnáid McLaughlin, with Gus Chapman signalling for a penalty.

Jones stepped up on 29 minutes and fired perfectly into the bottom left, giving Friel no chance despite diving the right way.

A bad collision straight after saw the game stopped for twelve minutes as Donegal captain Róisín Rodgers was unfortunately stretchered off, and shortly after the play was restarted, White kicked a free to make it 0-6 to 1-3 at the break.

The second half started a bit slower as White got the first score after eight minutes, but she soon added a goal as McLaughlin’s high ball in was palmed down and caught by White, with the Killybegs woman firing a laces effort into the net.

Westmeath had chances of their own for another goal, Jones hitting the post, and while the whistle went for a foul, the ball had come out to Dillon, who hit the post also to spare Chapman’s blushes.

Jones’ free was flicked on by Lucy McCartan towards goal, but Evelyn McGinley blocked it over for a point.

The Donegal substitutes were going well, and Eva Gallagher added two good scores either side of an Aoife McDermott point, with Jones responding with a free at the other end.

And with just four minutes to go, James Daly’s side got the crucial score as Feena McManamon burst through the middle and found Cáit Gillespie, who made no mistake as she was one-on-one with Temple.

Gallagher added another impressive score in added time, to give a convincing scoreline at full-time.

Donegal scorers: Susanne White 1-3,1f; Cáit Gillespie 1-0; Katie Dowds 0-3 and Eva Gallagher 0-3 each; Mia Bennett and Aoife McDermott 0-1 each

Westmeath scorers: Aoife Jones 1-1, 1-0 pen,1f; Katie Kilmurray 0-2,1f; Lucy McCartan 0-2; Phillippa Ruane 0-1.

Donegal: Clare Friel; Niamh Carr, Evelyn McGinley, Sophie McFeely; Tara Hegarty, Feena McManamon, Ava Caulfield; Clodagh Brennan, Róisín Rodgers; Bláthnáid McLaughlin, Katie Dowds, Niamh Boyle; Susanne White, Mia Bennett, Ciara McGarvey.

Subs: Abigail Temple Asokuh for Rodgers (32), Cait Gillespie for Boyle (ht), Eva Gallagher for Bennett (43), Nicole Gordon and Aoife McDermott for McGarvey and Hegarty (48), Rhíana McColgan for Caulfield (59), Jodie McFadden for White (60)

Westmeath: Aoife Temple; Lara McCartan, Tracey Dillon, Fiona Coyle; Chloe Kelly Gonoud,, Ashley Ruane, Sandra McWade; Vicky Carr, Caoimhe Kilmurray; Niamh Mullarkey, Anna Jones, Aoife Keegan; Sarah Dillon, Lucy McCartan, Katie Kilmurray.

Subs: Phillippa Ruane for Keegan (ht), Francesca Walshe and Niamh Nolan for McWade and Mullarkey (48).

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).