Leinster Final match report
- Jul 09,2017
TG4 Leinster Senior Final
FT Dublin 3-18 (27) Westmeath 0-08 (8)
Dublin are TG4 Leinster ladies senior football champions for the sixth successive season.
The Sky Blues demolished Westmeath by 3-18 to 0-8 in Sunday’s provincial decider at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow.
Mick Bohan’s charges had the damage done in the first half, as they established a 3-8 to 0-3 interval lead.
Dublin notched early scores from Noelle Healy and Carla Rowe, before Fiona Claffey opened Westmeath’s account in the ninth minute.
But the Lake County wouldn’t score again for 12 minutes and by then, they were 0-1 to 1-5 adrift.
Dublin’s opening goal arrived in the 17th minute, Healy on target, and the Jackies pushed on to establish a 14-point interval lead.
Lauren Magee scored their second goal six minutes before the break and it was effectively game over when Healy struck again in stoppage time.
Dublin were content to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the second half, as Bohan took the opportunity to run his bench.
Hannah O’Neill was one of the players introduced for Dublin to make her championship debut on what was a wholly satisfying afternoon for Bohan and his backroom team.
Dublin had blasted out an ominous statement of intent with a massive semi-final win against Laois – and further cemented their status as one of the favourites for Brendan Martin Cup glory in September.
They’re now straight through to a quarter-final, but Westmeath must head for the qualifiers and a date with Ulster outfit Armagh.
Healy top-scored for Dublin with a 2-3 haul, as Magee added 1-1, but the winners had nine different scorers on the day.
Dublin: Ciara Trant, Martha Byrne, Sinead Finnegan, Rachel Ruddy, Sinead Goldrick, Niamh Collins, Leah Caffrey, Niamh McEvoy, Olwen Carey, Nicole Owens, Lauren Magee, Carla Rowe, Rebecca McDonnell, Noelle Healy, Sinead Aherne
Dublin subs: Denise McKenna for McDonnell, Fiona Hudson for Caffrey, Molly Lamb for N McEvoy, Laura McGinley for Magee, Hannah O'Neill for Owens
Dublin scorers:
Noelle Healy 2-03, Lauren Magee 1-01, Sinead Aherne 0-4(1f), Carla Rowe 0-03, Nicole Owens 0-02, Denise McKenna 0-2(1f), Rachel Ruddy 0-01, Niamh McEvoy 0-01, Niamh Collins 0-01
Westmeath: Karen Walsh, Rachel Dillon, Rebecca Dunne, Aileen Martin, Fiona Coyle, Fiona Claffey, Laura Brennan, Karen McDermott, Laura Walsh, Johanna Maher, Maud Annie Foley, Lucy McCartan, Amie Giles, Leona Archibold, Ciara Blundell
Westmeath subs: Katie Dunne for Dillon, Kelly Boyce Jordan for Coyle, Chloe Kelly for Brennan, Tracey Dillon for Walsh
Westmeath scorers:
Fiona Claffey 0-02, Laura Lee Walsh 0-02(1f), Leona Archibald 0-02(1f), Lucy McCartan 0-01, Maud Annie Foley 0-01
Player of the Match: Noelle Healy (Dublin)
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)