Westmeath 1-10  Dublin 2-6

A result that decided which team finished on top of the table since both sides were already through to the semi finals of the Liberty Insurance Premier Junior Championship at Parnells GAA club.

Dublin will not be unduly disappointed to lose their 100% record in the championship but 6 minutes from the end of normal time they held a two points advantage thanks to Aoife Bugler’s second goal.   But although playing into a stiff breeze, Westmeath dug deep and hit three points in added time to sneak a victory.

On a perfect sod, Dublin began briskly and after 3 minutes led thanks to an Aoife Bugler free.   D espite the absence of the three McCormack sisters (Full back Edel was getting married), the Westmeath replacements put in sound performances.   One of those late changes was Caoimhe McCrossan and she levelled the match in the 9 ^th minute.

Dublin’s midfield pairing of Gráinne Power and Róisín Drohan were marginally on top.   The defence was vigilant and from a move that began with Emma Barron, the ball was fed to Róisín Drohan, from there to Nadine Murphy and finally to Aoife Bugler for a fine goal.   Playing into the stiff breeze, Dublin were in a good position if they could contain Westmeath for the remainder of the half.

Boosted by Fiona Keating’s long puck outs, the Lake County cleared midfield to launch their attacks in the Dublin half of the field.   Deirdre Johnstone, the sweeper was coping well but Dinah Loughlin pointed a free and a 45 to narrow the gap by the 13 ^th minute.   However Westmeath grabbed a scrambled goal from Paula Greville largely due to indecision in the Dublin full-back line.   It proved a tonic for the visitors as from there to the half-time whistle, they fired over three points – two points from the lively Hannah Core and another from Siobhan McGrath to lead 1-6 to 1-1 at the break.   Good defending by Aisling Spillane, Ciara Buchanan and Róisín McLoughlin ensured that the margin would not be greater.

It was Dublin’s turn to have the aid of the breeze in the second half.    But Fiona Leavy at centre back was doing superbly to cut out the pathway to the Westmeath goals.   Dublin did get off their marks in the 37 ^th minute with a pointed free from Nadine Murphy.   That was followed three minutes later when Aisling Spillane knocked over an 80m free with ease.   From the puck out Dublin were back again in the hunt for scores and Aoife Bugler did well to point.

Dublin had introduced Sinead Wylde and Evelyn Twomey and both players would exert a big influence on the second half.   Siobhan McGrath did well to get Westmeath’s first point of the half in the 40 ^th minute.   It was an important score.

But the flow of the game seemed to be going Dublin’s way.   Evelyn Twomey was making a big impact with her fielding and pace and the strength of Sinead Wylde was also holding the ball in the Westmeath scoring zone.   Both players contributed a point each in the 50 ^th and 51 ^st minutes to leave just one point between the teams.

Dublin were on top and when Aisling Spillane cleared a good ball intelligently to Evelyn Twomey, the ball was passed to the supporting Gráinne Power who dropped it into the box where Aoife Bugler did well to set herself up for a goal.   Dublin now in front 2-6 to 1-7.

One would have expected Dublin to be clinical in this position and kill the game off but faced with the prospect of defeat, Westmeath showed great resilience especially their half-back line of Laura Doherty, Fiona Leavy and Elaine Finn from where many of the final attacks were launched.   Dinah Loughlin and Meabh Scally pushed forward and they were rewarded with two frees that Paula Greville pointed to level the game.   The game was now going Westmeath’s way and Paula Greville grabbed the lead point in the 64 ^th minute.

Dublin had one final raid and following a foul on Ciara Carolan, Aisling Spillane’s 50m free just slipped wide of the left hand post.

Scorers

Dublin:   Aoife Bugler (2-2), Nadine Murphy (0-1), Aisling Spillane (0-1), Evelyn Twomey (0-1), Sinead Wylde (0-1)

Westmeath: Paula Greville (1-3), Dinah Loughlin (0-2), Siobhan McGrath (0-2), Hannah Core (0-2), Caoimh McCrossan (0-1)  

Referee: Conor Quinlan