Westmeath LGF Senior Championship: St Mary's Rochfortbridge 0-12 Mullingar Shamrocks 1-5

Disappointment was the order of the day in Rochfortbridge on Sunday morning as our senior Ladies Gaelic Football went under to the home side and as a result of this setback the team is now engaged in a challenge to retain its senior status.

On a difficult morning for football with wind and showers adding to the challenge, the wind-assisted Rochfortbridge team held an interval lead of 0-8 to 0-3. The Shamrocks women played really well for much of this half but this good work was not reflected on the scoreboard and in the ten minutes before the interval St Mary's scored four un-answered points. This crucial period of dominance began when Shamrocks reduced the deficit to a single point after Michelle Buckley, Clara Thoronton (who was superb at this stage) and Carole Finch pointed. A number of great scoring opportunities were missed during the opening twenty minutes.

The second half replicated the pattern of the first half in many ways as St Mary's despite playing against the wind enjoyed a really good opening quarter and added three points to their total before an excellent Carole Finch created the chance for Anna Jones to score Shamrocks first point of the half. Karen Hegarty pointed a free and for the final twelve minutes Shamrocks dominated but wasted a number of chances as the quest for scores, with St Mary's leading by 0-12 to 0-5, became more desperate. Karen Hegarty goaled but the big score was too late and St Mary's secured the two vital championship points.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Lauren McCormack, Lorna Morris (Susanna Buckley), Chloe Swarbrigg, Melek Fagan, Niamh Kennedy, Tara Fagan, Sophie Hegarty (Clare Fagan); Michelle Buckley (0-1), Áine Melody (Casey McDermott), Anna Jones (0-1), Gemma Kerrigan, Emma Morris, Carole Finch (0-1), Karen Hegarty (1-1), Clara Thornton (0-1) [Liveta Lazauskaite].