Fermanagh coast to win in Division 3 Final

By Daragh Ó Conchúir

Fermanagh 5-13 Westmeath 3-10

A whirlwind start that saw them storm into an 11-point
lead inside the opening quarter ensured a comfortable
victory for Fermanagh in the Suzuki Ladies NFL Division
3 final at a rainy Hyde Park yesterday. Caroline Little
was the chief tormentor, building up a personal tally
of 1-7 from midfield but she had some outstanding allies
in her play-making sister Sharon and Marcella Connolly
as the Ernsiders tore into their opponents.

Westmeath didn’t help themselves by kicking nine wides
in the first half and it took them 25 minutes to get off
the mark courtesy of a point from their captain and best
player Laura Walsh, who had a greater impact on proceedings
when moved into full-forward. The Lakes girls had no answer
to the pace and support play of a vastly superior Fermanagh
outfit however and could thank goalkeeper Gemma Leahy
for a brave save at Caroline Little’s feet for the fact
that they weren’t more than 3-6 to 0-3 in arrears at half
time, the goals coming from Caroline Little, Áine McBrien
and Emer Martin.

Westmeath battled hard in the second half and got their
reward when Leona Archibald finished clinically for two
goals, while substitute Laura Halligan, who was very influential
upon her introduction, also raised a green flag. Fermanagh
had plenty in hand however, and goals from Sharon Little
and Lynn McFrederick put paid to any notions of a comeback.

Fermanagh: F Maguire; C Woods, K McManus, E McGovern;
A Moane, G Fitzpatrick, T Hughes; S Woods, C Little 1-7(0-4fs);
A McBrien 1-0, M Connolly 0-3, D Maguire; E Martin 1-1,
S Little 1-1, T Cassidy. Sub: A Gallagher 0-1 for Cassidy
(46th); S McGovern for Woods (52nd); L McFrederick 1-0
for S Little (52nd); L Slevin for Maguire (58th).

Westmeath: G Leahy; E Marshall, J McCormack, C Finch;
A Martin, L Burke, A McCormack; F Leavy 0-1, L Walsh 0-2(0-1f);
J Maher 0-1, E McCormack, T Durkan; E Finn, F Claffey,
L Archibald 2-4(1-0 pen, 0-3fs). Sub: S Corcoran for E
McCormack (ht); N Mulligan for Leahy (39th); L Halligan
1-2 for Finn (45th); A Leavy for Corcoran (54th).

Referee: L McDonagh (Sligo).