Laois Ladies suffer relegation to Division 3 following defeat to Westmeath

The Laois Ladies footballers have been relegated to Division 3 of the National Football League after Westmeath got the better of them on Heywood’s all-weather pitch this afternoon.

Laois came into the game knowing that anything but a victory would see them drop down a division but they weren’t able to turnover their Midlands rivals.

Westmeath 3-13

Laois 0-9

Laois were presented with an early goal chance as a slack pass from Rachel Dillon saw Lauren Kearney through on goals. However, the Sarsfields forward kicked her effort wide of the right post. It would be the visiting side who would get the game’s first as Sarah Dillon split the posts from play. Westmeath scored their second point from the resulting kick-out as Sarah Dillon was on hand to point after a slack pass from Laois goalkeeper Eimear Barry.

Laois responded well to the early Westmeath pressure as Timahoe’s Orla Hennessy got Laois’ first score with seven minutes on the clock. Alice Walsh levelled the game as Westmeath goalkeeper Lauren McCormack kicked the ball straight to the Laois number 10. Leanne Slevin (free) and Orla Hennessy traded scores before Leanne Slevin kicked over two more frees to push her side two in front.

Laois midfielder Andrea Moran went on a superb run for the next Laois score as she broke from the middle of the field before splitting the posts. Sarah Dillon was causing havoc for Laois as she teed up Ashley Ruane to rattle the Laois net.

Kearney was given another opportunity to score a goal but was fouled in the square with Laois’ Mo Nerney stepping up to take the penalty. Nerney’s effort was superbly saved by McCormack as she tipped her effort on to the post.

Westmeath ended the half with a third point from Sarah Dillon as The Lake County led 1-6 to 0-4 at the break.

Westmeath got the second period underway with a score from Slevin as she pointed for the fourth time. Mo Nerney opened her account with a free for Laois. Rebecca Higgins and Sarah Dillon got a point each as Westmeath led by seven points. Katie Donoghue and Meadbh Monaghan traded scores while Chloe Kelly raised a white flag to extend the away side’s advantage.

Nerney got a point back for Laois but Westmeath would take full control of the game with two goals and two points without reply. Westmeath substitute Karen Hegarty made an instant impact as she teed up Sarah Dillon to blast the ball beyond Eimear Barry. Hegarty raised a white flag soon after before she caught the resulting kick-out and raised a green flag. Slevin added to her tally with a point from a placed ball. Laois ended the game with points from Orla Hennessy and Katie Donoghue as Westmeath ran out deserving 13 point winners in the end. Laois end their league campaign with an away trip to Monaghan next weekend.