Despite a determined display, Westmeath Ladies footballers suffered a Leinster final defeat, 2-12 to 0-11, against Dublin at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
Having struggled initially, Westmeath were much improved after the restart, narrowing the gap to two points, but then Dublin struck 1-3 without reply to seal the deal.
Dublin, who lost in the All-Ireland decider last year, were 1-7 to 0-4 ahead at the interval thanks to a goal from Lyndsey Davey.
Johanna Maher and Maud Annie Foley were impressive throughout for Westmeath as they battled back into contention before Dublin’s Niamh McEvoy hit the insurance goal.
Dublin: C Trant; O Carey, M Ni Scanaill, F Hudson; S Goldrick (0-3 ), S Finnegan, C Barrett; M Lamb, S McCaffrey; N Healy (0-2 ), K Flood (0-1 ), C Rowe (0-3, 2fs ); A Connolly, L Davey (1-1, 1f ), N McEvoy (1-0 ). Subs: N Owens (0-1 ) for McCaffrey (37 ), S Furlong for Carey (45 ), N Rickard (0-1 ) for Flood (49 ), H Noonan for Connolly (55 ).
Westmeath: S Keegan; T Durkan, J Rogers, A Martin; N Spellman, F Claffey, L Brennan; K McDermott, E Morris (0-1 ); K Hegarty, J Maher (0-2 ), C Blundell; F Leavy, MA Foley (0-8, 7fs ), S Dolan. Subs: K Boyce-Jordan for McDermott (41 ), L Kiernan for Blundell (50 ), C Kelly for Dolan (56 ).
Referee: J Murphy (Carlow ).
