Westmeath's fast start crucial as Laois Ladies lose Leinster Intermediate final

The Laois ladies have suffered Leinster Intermediate final heartache as Westmeath had six points to spare over Laois in TEG Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.

The eventual champions had 1-4 on the scoreboard before Ciara Burke got Laois' first point after nine minutes and it probably ended up being the winning of the game as Laois outscored Westmeath seven points to four in the second-half, but the damage had already been done at that stage.

Westmeath 1-12

Laois 0-9

It took Westmeath less than 30 seconds to get the game’s opening score as midfielder Vicky Carr raised a white flag for the home side. The Westmeath scores kept coming as they went 1-4 ahead to no score with only eight minutes played. Sarah Dillion opened her account while Caoimhe Kilmurray did likewise a minute later. 

Then came the Westmeath goal, which came from a turnover in the Laois defence. Eimear Barry played a kick-out short to corner-back Grainne Lalor, but her attempted pass out of defence went straight to Lucy McCartan, and she found Dillion, who made no mistake with a finish into the top corner. Ciara Burke provided Laois with their first point of the game after Stephen Duff’s side had three great chances to score, but they shot two wides, and Mo Nerney had an effort blocked.

Dillion took her tally to 1-2 while Anna Jones pointed a free to give Westmeath an eight-point lead with 17 minutes played. Jane Moore kicked Laois’ second point two minutes later, but that would prove to be Laois’ final score of the half. Kilmurray and Dillon added a point each for Westmeath before both sides had big goal chances within a minute of each other.

Ciara Burke played a great ball over the top to Eva Galvin, but she decided to side-step Aoife Temple, which allowed Westmeath the chance to get defenders back, and they blocked Galvin’s goal-bound effort. From the resulting kick-out, Westmeath went down the pitch, and Jones was put through on goal, but Laois keeper Eimear Barry made a great one-on-one save. Westmeath went into the dressing rooms leading 1-8 to 0-2 at the break.

Emily Lacey was introduced off the bench for Laois, and she made an instant impact as she raised two white flags within the first three minutes of the restart. Westmeath looked to have gotten their second goal when Anna Jones flicked the ball into the net, but she was adjudged to have been in the square and the goal was disallowed. Westmeath did manage to get the next three scores as Jones slotted over a free while McCartan and Dillon added a point each to their tallies.

Laois replied with three points of their own as Lacey kicked her third point while Jane Moore and Lauren Kearney put Laois within seven points of Westmeath. Jane Moore had a great goal chance in the 52nd minute, but Aoife Temple made a great save with her feet. Substitutes Philippa Ruane and Emma Lawlor traded scores in the last 10 minutes, but Laois needed goals and they never got them. Mo Nerney kicked a late free for Stephen Duff's side before the hooter sounded to crown Westmeath TG4 Leinster Intermediate champions for 2025.

READ NEXT: Laois hurlers face do-or-die clash against Carlow as Kildare leave Portlaoise with bragging rights