Ladies: "We're happy that our season has ended today"

August 12, 2019

Cavan manager James Daly. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.

Compiled by Declan Rooney

Cavan manager James Daly expressed his satisfaction after the Breffni County secured their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship for 2020 and took the honours against Westmeath in the Relegation Qualifier at Kinnegad.

First-half goals from Ciara Finnegan and Lauren McVeety put Cavan on the road to victory, while Aisling Maguire’s penalty after the restart sealed the win for the Ulster side.

The loss for Westmeath means they now must beat Monaghan in next week’s Senior Relegation Final, with the loser set for a return to Intermediate football next season.

“We played a really good game today. We deserved the win and we’re happy that our season has ended today,” said Daly.

“We started pretty well and got the first three points but then got caught on a counter and they got a goal, but we pushed on.

“Our girls were a wee bit annoyed to miss out on the quarter-final after we beat Armagh and Cork lost to them after they rested some of their top players.

“The only way to sort that out was to go out and win today and we did that. We knew we’d need a top game against Westmeath and thankfully we delivered.”

Westmeath had gotten off to a bright start in this game when Grace Halligan gave them an early lead, but Daly’s side were not to be denied and they powered their way to a convincing half-time lead.

Finnegan was sharpest to the rebound when Aishling Sheridan’s shot hit the crossbar to score the opening goal, while they were good value for their 2-8 to 1-3 half-time lead after McVeety scored their second.

The point scoring of Leanne Slevin kept Westmeath in touch, and they were given renewed hope when Sarah Lynch was sin-binned after 41 minutes, but instead Cavan powered on to the win, with Maguire’s penalty four minutes from time the clinching score.

Meanwhile, Leitrim and Laois will play their 2020 football in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship after they recorded victories in their respective relegation play-offs.

Leitrim were 6-12 to 3-14 winners over Wicklow, who have dropped down to the Junior grade as a result, while former Senior champions Laois claimed a 3-21 to 3-5 win over Limerick. Last year’s Junior Champions Limerick make an immediate return to the third tier after that result.

Leitrim were well in control of this game in Kinnegad at half-time, although Wicklow came strong in the final quarter, but after two goals from Michelle Heslin and one each from midfield duo Eilish O’Dowd and Laura O’Dowd Leitrim were not to be denied.

In Cahir it appeared as if Limerick could stun Laois when they hit the net in the 11th minute, but faced with the real prospect of the drop, Laois stormed back into a 2-12 to 1-3 half-time lead, which proved the winning of the game.

Elsewhere, Fermanagh secured their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-final with a convincing 1-16 to 1-6 win over Derry in Devenish.

Derry had started well and led after 16 minutes, but Eimear Smyth lifted Fermanagh, and it was her late goal that wrapped up the win.

As a result, Fermanagh will play London in one Junior semi-final, while Louth will play Antrim at the same stage.

Results:

TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals

Galway 1-12 Waterford 2-4

Mayo 2-12 Armagh 1-12

TG4 All-Ireland SFC Relegation Qualifier

Cavan 3-12 Westmeath 1-6

TG4 All-Ireland IFC Relegation play-offs

Leitrim 6-12 Wicklow 3-14

Laois 3-21 Limerick 3-5

TG4 All-Ireland JFC Group B Round 3

Fermanagh 1-16 Derry 1-6

FIXTURES:

TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-finals

25 August, Croke Park

Dublin v Cork

Galway v Mayo

TG4 All-Ireland IFC Relegation Final

17/18 August

Westmeath v Monaghan

TG4 All-Ireland IFC semi-finals

17 August, Nowlan Park

Sligo v Tipperary

Meath v Roscommon

TG4 All-Ireland JFC semi-finals

Fermanagh v London

Louth v Antrim


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