Galway book semi-final date with Dublin after six-point win over Westmeath

Galway 0-13 Westmeath 0-7

Conor McKenna reports from Mullingar

Galway ensured their progression to the semi-finals, after a 0-13 to 0-7 victory over Stephen Maxwell’s Westmeath side, in what was a scrappy game of football played out in Mullingar.

Fiona Claffey opened the scoring for Westmeath with a point in the opening minute, which was cancelled out shortly after by Roisin Leonard’s effort.

Fiona Coyle then regained the Lake county’s advantage, before Mairead Seoighe levelled again with a decent score.

Karen Hegarty and Tracey Leonard traded scores, but that was as good as it got for Stephen Maxwell’s charges with Galway scoring the final four points of the opening half.

The first came through Roisin Leonard, before midfielder Olivia Divilly doubled her sides advantage.

Corofin’s Leanne Coen then added two further scores to give her side a 0-7 to 0-3 interval lead.

Mullingar Shamrocks’ Karen Hegarty got the opening score of the second half with a short range free and the gap was down to two points when the same player pointed again moments later.

Tracey Leonard responded for Stephen Glennon’s side to settle the Tribeswomen.

The lead was stretched to four points when Leonard pointed a free in front of the posts and at this stage Galway looked well poised to win the game.

Ailbhe Davoren and Karen Hegarty traded points, before Laura Lee Walsh reduced the deficit to three points with a well-taken score.

Tracey Leonard settled Galway with a short range score shortly after to give Galway a four point lead with time almost up.

Substitute Emma Reaney added a wonderful score from distance to stretch her sides lead to five points.

Leanne Walsh got the game’s final score to seal victory for Galway, with Stephen Glennon’s side advancing to the semi-finals, where they will meet All-Ireland champions Dublin.

Scorers for Westmeath –  K Hegarty 0-4 (2f), L Walsh, F Claffey and F Coyle 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway – T Leonard 0-4 (1f), L Coen and R Leonard 0-2 each, M Seoighe, O Divilly, A Davoren, L Walsh and E Reaney 0-1 each.

Westmeath – K Walsh; R Dillon, A Giles, N Feery; F Coyle, J Rogers, L Brennan; K McDermott, F Claffey; J Maher, M A Foley, L McCartan; K Hegarty, L Walsh, K Boyce-Jordan.

Subs – E Cronin for F Claffey (35), C Blundell for K Boyce-Jordan (44), A Jones for F Coyle (54), L Slevin for E Cronin (60),

Galway – D Gower; S Lynch, N Connolly, S Burke; C Cooney, N Ward, L Walsh; L Gannon, O Divilly; A McDonagh, T Leonard, A Davoren; M Seoighe, S Conneally, L Coen.

Subs – S Conneally for R Leonard (41), E Reaney for M Seoighe (41), F Cooney for L Gannon (60), D Brennan for A Davoren (60),

Ref – G Carmody (Roscommon).