Cavan’s Gilsenan reacts to retaining senior status

Cavan ace forward Aisling Gilsenan said that once the Breffni County settled they were always likely to secure their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship for 2023.

Geraldine Sheridan scored the vital goal in the second half, and despite 1-6 from the brilliant Sarah Dillon, Westmeath will return to Intermediate after this defeat at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Westmeath were promoted last year and had held a 0-5 to 0-3 lead at half-time but they couldn’t maintain their push in the second half and Gilsenan was delighted her team made amends after their last ditch defeat to Tipperary last time out.

“We made it hard for ourselves, probably, in the first half. We dug deep and thank God we got the win,” said Gilsenan.

“We felt we should’ve got a win or maybe a draw at least. Tipperary were just the better team on the day.”We are happy with the win today, said Gilsenan

“We were maybe forcing it and going for the goals. The luck got us in the second half and it started going between the post, thank God,” she added.

“We start to panic and once you get the first score you get into it. Thankfully we did.”

Westmeath manager Michael Finneran spoke with honesty on the loss saying “There had to be a winner, there had to be a loser.”

“There had to be a winner, there had to be a loser,” said Westmeath manager Michael Finneran.

“We are heartbroken; the girls are heartbroken. It’s going to be a tough dressing-room to go into. I’ve been beating the same drum all year. I’ll say the same thing again. I’m very proud of them,” he said.

“Any Westmeath supporter, all they can ask for is that they have a team that go out and give their best. Anyone here today would’ve seen they worked their socks off,” added Finneran.

“They kicked 1-13 at the end of the day and probably deserving winners. We didn’t get enough attacks because we could hurt them when we got the ball up there.”

“It’s a tough one to take, I’m devastated for the girls but they’ll bounce back.”