Jackies too strong for Westmeath

DUBLIN 4-12 WESTMEATH 1-4

Dublin produced a clinical display against Westmeath on Sunday to ensure they emerged unscathed from a weekend of shocks in the TG4 Leinster Ladies SFC.

Munster champions Kerry stunned All-Ireland holders Cork in the Munster championship on Friday evening before Cavan and Monaghan caused huge upsets in Saturday’s Ulster semi-finals, scoring victories over Donegal and Armagh respectively.

But there was no scare for Leinster champions Dublin at Cusack Park in Mullingar as they ran out 17-point winners in a physical encounter.

Dublin will play Meath next Saturday in their final group game, with a Leinster final place already secured.

Heavy rain made playing conditions difficult for both sides but Dublin took over after Westmeath scored the opening point of the game through Karen Hegarty.

They led by 0-4 to 0-1 before the hosts rallied, Leona Archibold converting a 12^th minute penalty to level matters.

Dublin responded immediately with a goal of their own, Nicole Owens on target, and at half-time, the Jackies were 1-7 to 1-1 in front.

They lost the services of four-time All-Star Sinead Goldrick to injury, however, following a challenge that saw Westmeath’s Johanna Maher sin-binned.

Dublin turned up the heat in the second half as Westmeath managed just three further points.

Dublin tagged on 3-5 as Siobhán Woods finished with 2-2 and Sinead Aherne 1-3.

Woods scored the first of her two goals in the 39^th minute and Dublin added a flattering look to the scoreboard in the closing minutes.

Aherne netted in the final minute of normal time and with almost three additional minutes played, Woods was on target to complete her brace.

SCORERS - Dublin: S Woods 2-2, S Aherne 1-3 (0-3f), N Owens 1-0, C Rowe 0-3, L Davey, N Healy 0-2 each. Westmeath: L Archibold 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), C Blundell, K Hegarty 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: Ciara Trant (St Brigid’s); Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), Deirdre Murphy (St Brigid’s), Leah Caffey (Na Fianna); Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely), Sinead Finnegan (Fingallians), Niamh Collins (Foxrock Cabinteely); Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Sorcha Furlong (St Brigid’s); Noelle Healy (St Brigid’s), Nicole Owens (St Sylvester’s), Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire); Siobhan Woods (Raheny), Sinead Aherne (St Sylvester’s), Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps). Subs: Colleen Barrett (St Brigid’s) for Goldrick (injury), Fiona Hudson (Fingallians) for Collins, Ciara Ruddy (Ballyboden St Endas) for Caffrey, Molly Lamb (Kilmacud Crokes) for Magee, Niamh McEvoy (St Sylvester’s) for Rowe.

WESTMEATH: Sarah Keegan; Triona Durkin, Laura Brennan, Aileen Martin; Lucy McCarton, Jennie Rogers, Tara Fagan; Maude Ann Foley, Fiona Claffey; Johanna Maher, Leona Archibold, Chloe Kelly; Ciara Blundell, Laura Walsh, Karen Hegerty. Subs: Karen McDermott for Maher, Sandra McGrath for Kelly.

REF: Colm McManus (Meath).