Garrycastle's three-in-a-row of senior championship victories, Rochfortbridge's capture of the intermediate title at the first time of asking and Loughnavalley's maiden junior championship success were among the highlights of the ladies football club year. 

Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the Garrycastle ladies footballers made it a three-in-a-row of senior championship wins in 2010 when they accounted for Milltown by 1-10 to 2-5 in a hard-fought county final at Cusack Park last August.
It was the Athlone club's fifth county title since their breakthrough success in 2003 when they ended Rochfortbridge's long reign as county champions. After a period of rebuilding, the 'Bridge will rejoin the senior ranks this year following their victory over Kilbeggan Shamrocks in last year's intermediate decider, while Loughnavalley finally got their hands on the junior championship after a thrilling victory over Clann Gaels.
Cusack Park on August 29 was the place to be all for followers of ladies football in Westmeath as the county grounds hosted the senior and intermediate finals. The junior final was played in Rochfortbridge the previous afternoon.
Just as they had done in the 2009 decider, Garrycastle saw off the challenge of Coralstown/Kinnegad by 1-5 to 0-4 in the semi-final before squaring up to Milltown in what was a repeat of the 2008 decider. After soaking up some early Milltown pressure, Ken Dolan's charges struck for a fifth-minute goal from Grace Egan.
Sinead Walker, Aoife Dolan and Sarah Dolan tagged on points before Laura Kiernan finally opened Milltown's account three minutes before the interval. Nicola Carey made it 1-3 to 0-2 before Sarah Dolan completed the first half scoring for the champions.
Milltown came out with all guns blazing for the second half and within 10 minutes, had taken the lead thanks to goals from Katie Somers and Laura Kiernan. The gauntlet had been thrown down to Garrycastle who responded with another Sarah Dolan point and the equaliser from Lisa Fitzpatrick.
Further scores from the Dolans, Aoife and Sarah, edged Garrycastle back in front before Ruth Kearney and Megan McCormack restored parity for Milltown. With the game in the melting pot, Lisa Fitzpatrick and Sarah Dolan came up trumps with late points to give Garrycastle their first ever three-in-a-row.
After losing the 2009 Leinster intermediate final to St. Brigid's of Dublin, Garrycastle had high hopes of going one better last year, but were knocked out at the semi-final stage by St. Conleth's of Laois. The Westmeath side lost by 1-7 to 2-9, having left themselves with too much to do in the second half after trailing by 0-2 to 2-7 at half-time.
Comprehensive semi-final winners over Ballycomoyle, the once-mighty Rochfortbridge were crowned intermediate champions following a 2-6 to 1-5 victory over a Kilbeggan team appearing in their second successive final. Relegated in 2009, Megan Brick got the 'Bridge off to a great start when she goaled inside the first minute. Frances Fallon and Brick extended the winners' lead to five points before Triona Durkan got Kilbeggan off the mark.
When Brick slotted home a 15th minute penalty, it looked as though Rochfortbridge would run out easy winners, but a Catherine Lynam goal for Kilbeggan left just four points in it, 2-2 to 1-1, at the break.
The 'Bridge started the second half in the same vein as they had started the first with points from Brick and Karen McDermott pushing out their lead again. But they came under intense pressure in the final quarter as Kilbeggan battled back to within four points again.
In the Leinster junior championship, Frances Fallon and Aoife Donoghue both scored goals as Rochfortbridge accounted for Muckalee of Kilkenny by 2-11 to 1-3 in the first round. They also overcame Kildare champions Ballykelly by 1-16 to 2-4 before losing the semi-final to Offaly's Edenderry by 1-5 to 1-13.
Loughnavalley finally rid themselves of their bridesmaids' tag when they defeated Clann Gaels by 4-6 to 2-11 to land the junior championship crown. Clann Gaels, who had qualified for the final undefeated, played all the football in the first half to take a 0-9 to 0-4 lead into the interval.
They tightened their grip on proceedings when Selina Butler and Anne-Marie Dolan both hit the back of the net on the resumption, but despite facing a massive 11-point deficit with 15 minutes remaining, Loughnavalley never gave up and produced the mother and father of all comebacks which yielded goals four goals from the unstoppable Sarah Walsh.
Garrycastle underlined their dominance of the senior scene when they retained the senior league at Coralstown/Kinnegad's expense. Moate put in a strong second half showing to overcome Clann Gaels by 1-11 to 2-5 in the intermediate league decider, while a brace of goals from Ellen Tate helped The Downs to a 2-10 to 2-6 victory over Loughnavalley in the junior league final.
Former senior kingpins St. Loman's defeated Moate to lift the minor 'A' title, Milltown accounted for Mullingar Shamrocks in the minor 'B' final, while a last-gasp Lisa Darby point earned Coralstown/Kinnegad a 3-5 to 1-11 victory over Rochfortbridge in the 'C' decider. Kilbeggan Shamrocks scooped the 'D' title following their 3-11 to 2-5 win over Killucan.
Moate made up for the disappointment of losing the minor 'A' final when they powered to a 2-15 to 1-6 victory over The Downs in the under 16 'A' decider at Streamstown. Christine Warburton was the All-Whites' star turn, helping herself to a personal tally of 0-8.
Rochfortbridge defeated Athlone to land the under 16 'B' title, Coralstown/Kinnegad were victorious over St. Loman's in the 'C' final, while Milltown ran out winners over Loughnavalley in the 'D' final.
A hat-trick of goals from full forward Rebecca Egan inspired St. Loman's to a 4-7 to 1-7 victory over Moate in the under 14 'A' final. The Downs defeated Clann Gaels in the 'B' final, Coralstown/Kinnegad beat Mullingar Shamrocks in the 'C' final and Ballycomoyle overcame St. Joseph's/Kilbeggan in the 'D' decider.
St. Loman's also captured the Feile 'A' title with victory over Rochfortbridge, while Moate defeated Ballycomoyle in the 'B' final.
At under 12 level, Killucan defeated Milltown in the 'A' final, The Downs saw off Garrycastle in the 'B' final, Rochfortbridge proved too strong for Mullingar Shamrocks in the 'C' final, while Loughnavalley ran out winners over Ballycomoyle in the 'D' decider. 
Garrycastle's three-in-a-row senior championship winning team was: Paula Fox; Orla Connaughton, Lorraine Duncan, Aimee Duncan; Megan McCormack, Laura Brennan, Eimear Murphy; Aoife McCormack, Ann Duignan; Lisa Fitzpatrick, Aoife Dolan, Ciara McCormack; Sinead Walker, Sarah Dolan, Grace Egan. Subs used: Vicki McEnery and Siobhan Dunne.  
The Rochfortbridge team which claimed intermediate honours was: Cliona Duignan; Karen Treacy, Lorna Brick, Emma Glennon; Edel Marshall, Maria Smyth, Aoife Brady; Aoife Hyland, Aisling Flanagan; Aoife Donoghue, Karen McDermott, Caroline Mitchell; Carol Glennon, Frances Fallon, Megan Brick. 
The Loughnavalley side that lifted the junior title was: Alice Kerrigan; Lorraine O'Connor, Laura Elliffe, Shauna Keenan; Aisling Maguire, Carol Keenan, Ciara Rigney; Fiona Ruane, Nicola Cunningham; Laura McQuaid, Sarah Kincaid, Gillian Corbett; Linda Kincaid, Sarah Walsh, Avril Corbett. Subs used: Niamh Fallon and Aoife McNeill. Tweet

Most Read Stories