Athlone ladies' team hosted Goldsmiths in a dismally wet Páirc Chiaráin on Friday evening last in Round 2 of the Westmeath junior championship, both teams seeking to maintain their winning record from their opening games after beating St Paul’s and Cill Óige respectively.
Athlone had the best of the opening exchanges with Brionna Geoghegan recording the opening score from play but this was soon cancelled out by a Goldsmith’s point. A foul on Keeva Reid following a sweeping move led to an Athlone penalty after five minutes. Katie Henshaw’s penalty was saved, but another Geoghegan point restored Athlone’s lead soon after.
Goldsmiths again responded to make it two points a piece after the opening quarter. From then on, Athlone took complete control of the half. The defence, marshalled by Eimear O’Rourke, gained supremacy and established a solidd platform for Athlone’s running game. Consequently, the home team kicked the next seven scores to attain a 0-09 to 0-02 half time lead. Brionna Geoghegan scored five points in the first half, four of which came from play with Ava Martin and Keeva Reid also contributing to the scoreline.
Both defences were on top in the early stages of the second half. However, Goldsmiths started to come to terms with the Athlone kickout creating two scores from play. Athlone responded with a score from Áine Martin, but at this point, Goldsmiths had cut the deficit to five points. 0-10 to 0-05.
The turning point of the game came midway through the half when a Goldsmith's free dropped into the Athlone square and ended up in the net. This was followed immediately by another Goldsmith’s point. However, it was Goldsmith’s who finished by far the stronger and restored parity to the contest.
Neither team could find a winning score thereafter and this game of two halves finished in a fitting draw. Up next for Athlone is an away game against a Ballycomoyle side who were very impressive in their last outing, while Goldsmiths play Shandonagh at home.
