Roscommon 0-9 Westmeath 2-8
By Marie O’Brien
Roscommon suffered defeat at the hands of Westmeath in their second game in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship at The Downs yesterday.
Picture Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Grealy
Roscommon travelled in confident mood having won their first round game while Westmeath had lost out to Carlow.
It was clear from the start that Westmeath were up for this match and early pressure resulted in a ’45, which Dinah Loughlin converted to open the scoring. Roscommon responded well and a Kelley Hopkins free got Roscommon on the score board.
The number of frees conceded by Westmeath was a feature of the first half but most of them were in their own half of the pitch. Rachel Fitzmaurice, restored to the starting line out for this game, showed great industry in the half forward line and was rewarded with a fine point from play. Kelley Hopkins and Dinah Loughlin then traded frees, two apiece. Westmeath were looking the more dangerous in front of goal and full forward, Joanne Mc Cormack, had what looked like a certain goal brilliantly saved by Caroline Connaughton, the Roscommon goalkeeper. Niamh Watson then pushed Roscommon two points ahead after a good run through the defence. Kelley Hopkins converted a free just before the break to leave the score at half time: Roscommon 0-6 Westmeath 0-3.
Strong Breeze
Roscommon faced the strong breeze in the second half and needed to keep tight in defence. Unfortunately after just four minutes of the half the defence was breached as Mairead McCormack lashed the sliotar to the net wiping out the half time advantage. Niamh Watson responded with a point but Westmeath were now on top and struck five points without reply. Westmeath were totally dominant at midfield and the usually solid defence were pushed into a number of mistakes and missed tackles. Unlike the previous week the quality of ball going into the Roscommon forward line was very poor throughout the game. There seemed to be little pattern to the play but this can be attributed to the huge pressure players were put under by a tenacious and hungry Westmeath side. Roscommon lost most of the 50-50 balls in the second period. Roscommon managed to add only two further points, a converted free and a point by Annette Mc Geeney. Westmeath finished their scoring with another goal, this time from the stick of substitute Aoife Corcoran.
Roscommon play the next round next Sunday against Carlow. This game is fixed for Four Roads and the girls will have to put this defeat behind them as a victory next week will be vital.
Teams and scorers
C Connaughton, A Fallon, P Lennon, A Byrne, S Spillane, E Daly, J Beattie, K Hopkins, N Coyle, R Fitzmaurice, R Brennan, A Mc Geeney, N Watson, S O’Brien, D Regan. Subs used: S Fallon for D Regan, C Dowling for N Watson.
Scorers: K Hopkins 0-5 (5f’s), N Watson 0-2, R Fitzmaurice 0-1, A Mc Geeney 0-1.
Westmeath: F Keating, S King, A Higgins, E Mc Cormack, M Scally, F Leavy, K Egan, A Egerton , A Doherty, M Mc Cormack, D Mc Grath, P Greville, L O’Connor, J Mc Cormack, D Loughlin. Subs used: A Boyhan, A Corcoran.
Scorers: D Loughlin 0-6 (1 ’45, 4f’s), M Mc Cormack 1-1, A Corcoran 1-0, A Boyhan 0-1.