Leinster Minor Champ Round One

Carlow 0-04

Westmeath 6-23

Shannon Mulvihill hit 2-07 while Aine Gaynor converted 2-04 as Westmeath opened their Leinster Minor Championship with a convincing win over hosts Carlow at Carlow GAA Centre of Excellence in Fenagh on Wednesday evening.

The visitors got off to a quick 1-02 to no score lead, however two Aibhe Kiernan points for Carlow brought the home side right back into contention, the second a fine free from distance to narrow the gap to three.

However, after Shannon Mulvihill blasted the ball over the bar, Westmeath did not look back and led by 1-07 to 0-02 at the first half water break. The visitors were moving the ball well and their pressure on the Carlow defence was unrelenting. By half time, Westmeath had opened a 2-12 to 0-03 advantage.

Westmeath’s scoring continued after the break and as both sides ran on substitutions, Westmeath maintained and added to their lead to ease to victory.

Scorers – Westmeath; Shannon Mulvihill 2-07, Aine Gaynor 2-04, Rebecca Higgins 1-02, Laura Murphy 1-0, Sinead Seery 0-03, Eabha Cassidy 0-02, Evie Daly 0-01, Hazel Kelly 0-01, Kacey Geoghegan 0-01, Mia McDonald 0-01, Saoirse Reddington 0-01.

Carlow; Aibhe Kiernan 0-02, Zoe Ryan 0-01, Sarah Timmons 0-01.

Westmeath: Aoife O Donnell, Kacey Geoghegan, Rachel Darby, Chloe Moran, Charlotte Kiernan, Keelie Mulderry, Mairead Newman, Sinead Seery, Aine Gaynor, Mia McDonald, Rebecca Higgins, Hazel Kelly, Eleanor Murphy, Shannon Mulvihill, Laura Murphy.

Subs: Emma Fry, Holly Keenan, Saoirse Reddington, Eabha Cassidy, Jilly Ballesty, Maeve Molloy, Cailin Raleigh, Evie Daly, Roisin Kealy, Leah Nugent, Ciara Molloy, Niamh Carey, Caoimhe Monaghan, Erin Core, Sophie Treanor.

Carlow: Cariosa Moran, Rachel O'Brien, Hanah Dunphy, Sinead Thompson, Lauren McGrath, Sinead McCullagh, Georgina Fitzgerald, Siofra O'Neill, Maria O'Neill, Sarah Timmons, Aibhe Kiernan, Zoe Ryan, Emer O'Hanlon, Chloe Rice, Danielle Lambe.

Subs: Ciara Clayse, Sophie Dowling, Lauren Quigley, Bronagh Nolan, Alva McGuire, Ellie Dowling, Marie Cranny, Rachel Tracey, Rose Alice Byrne, Geri Mae Murphy-Mara, Sarah Doyle, Alannah Guerin, Molly Hickey.

Referee: John Bermingham (Wicklow).

Report and Photos: Aisling Clery