Last minute goal denies Roscommon Ladies in Thriller

Roscommon 3-11 Galway 3-12

The Roscommon Under 16 girls lost out to old rivals Galway in the cruellest fashion last Wednesday evening under the floodlights of Johnstown when the conceded an seventh minute injury time goal to lose out by a single point in their opening Connacht championship match of the 2016 season.

It is of little consolation to the Roscommon girls to know that they were involved in what was one of the best games ever witnessed in the ladies championship as it ebbed and flowed in a trill a minute right up to and including the final twist in the seventh minute of injury time.

Galway opened the scoring with a point but Roscommon settled and points from Aoife Gavin and Mikaela McHugh with quickly followed by a goal from Heather Payne to leave the Rossie girls in a strong position. Galway rallied with a few points but there was no let up from the Roscommon girls. Further points from Gavin, Amie O’Connor and a second goal from O’Connor left Roscommon in an eight point lead. Galway never panicked though and eventually began to eat away at the deficit with a string of points and then got within a point with their first goal of the game five minutes before the break. Roscommon steadied the ship with a point from Louise Brady but Galway finished the half with two of their own to leave the sides level at the break on a score line of Roscommon 2-6 Galway 1-9. Phew it was time to draw breath.
One might have thought there would be a slight let up in the tempo at the resumption of the second half but could not have being further from the truth as both sides went at it again with all that they had. It was tit for tat on the scoreboard as points were exchanged, Roscommon three coming from Gavin (two) and sub Sinead Glennon. Then Galway goaled again and looked to be getting a grip on proceedings when Roscommon rallied again brilliantly with a goal from Mikaela McHugh and a pointed free from Amie O’Connor to wrestle control in what was now an absorbing contest. This left tree between them with five minutes gone in injury time.

Galway were launching everything at a resilient Roscommon back line but the Roscommon back line were immense. The tribes girls kicked a point to reduce it to that dreaded two point margin. Then with the game entering its last couple of minute Galway goal the breakthrough the wanted with a devastating goal the left the Roscommon girls stunned. The Roscommon had one last chance to level it but sadly it was not to be and as the whistle blew on this pulsating game it was the Galway girls who prevailed on the score line of 3-12 to 3-11. Sport can be cruel and this was very cruel on the Roscommon girls, they very least their efforts deserved was a draw but alas it was not to be.

A very well done to them and their management team on a super performance and best wishes to them as the take on Mayo this Wednesday evening in their second outing.

Roscommon team and scorers:
1, Marie Kelly, St Faithleahs,
2, Aisling Walsh, St Dominics,
3, Aine Galvin, Padraig Pearses,
4, Aine Mullins, Boyle,
5, Ellen Irwin, St Faithleahs,
6, Shaunna Fleming, Michael Glavey’s,
7, Aoibhean Reilly, Padraig Pearses,
8, Mikaela McHugh, Kilglass Gaels (Captain) 1-2),
9, Sarah Scally, St Faithleahs,
10, Aime O’Connor, St Dominics (1-2),
11, Louise Brady, St Mary’s (0-1),
12 Kelley Colgan, Clann nA nGael,
13 Aoife Gavin, St Dominics (0-5),
14, Ciara Corcoran, St Dominics,
15 Heather Payne, Padraig Pearses (1-0),

Subs: Sinead Glennon (0-1) for Corcoran; Sarah Mc Veigh for Fleming and Laureen Curran for Colgan

Other panel members:
16, Emma Silk, St Dominics,
17, Sorcha Casey, St Dominics,
18, Shannon Caulifield, St Croans,
20, Louise Murray, St Mary’s,
22 Kate Nolan, St Brigids,
23 Niamh Madden, Roscommon Gaels,
25 Maria Lohan, Four Roads,
26, Clare Sampey, Western Gaels,
27, Sarah Hoare, St Faithleahs,
28, Rachael Gallagher, St Brigids,
29, Blaithin O’Beirne, Kilbride,
30, Chole Finnan, Castlerea,