It was a mixed weekend for the Roscommon Ladies Football teams with the Minors continuing their impressive form, the Under 14 team suffering a defeat and the Under 16s finalising their preparations.
On Saturday last Connolly Park, Collooney, County Sligo was the venue for Round 2 of the Connacht U14 and Minor Championships.
Connacht Minor Championship: Roscommon 7-11 Sligo 2-6
The minors continued their good start to their campaign with a comfortable 21 point win over the home. Roscommon raced into a four point lead by the 12th minute and indeed if it were not for some terrible shooting the visitors would have been a lot further ahead. Sligo opened their account on 14 minutes with a point and then briefly threatened to make a game of it when the goaled in the 17th minute to leave the sides level. Roscommon didn’t panic and answered with a point from Ciara Corcoran and then in the 22nd minute Lauren Curran got the first of her three first-half goals to stretch their lead again. This was a lead they were never to relinquish as the Roscommon girls powered ahead with further goals from Curran (2) and Sinead Glennon before the break. Sligo’s sole response was a penalty goal, which had to be taken twice, at the very end of the half. The half-time scoreline was Roscommon 4-7 Sligo 2-1.
The second half was really a non-event as Sligo never really threatened to eat into the Roscommon lead. When the visitors goaled through Alanna Hanmore in the 45th minute the game was all over. Sligo to their credit never gave up and kept ticking over the points, but Roscommon finished the strongest with two excellently taken goals from Sarah Scally in the 57th and 60th minutes to leave them convincing winners. It ended Roscommon 7-11 Sligo 2-6. While tougher tasks will lay ahead they will be happy with their start to the campaign.
Roscommon Team: Marie Kelly, Rachel Gallagher, Shannon Dowd(Capt), Aoife McLoughlin, Amy Curley, Roisin Wynne Shauna Flemming, Amy Malone, Sarah Scally (2-3), Ciara Corcoran(0-2),Louise Brady, Alanna Hanmore (1-0), Lauren Curran (3-2), Niamh Shanagher (0-2), Sinead Glennon (1-0).
Subs: Eadaoin Lennon, , Sarah Hoare, Sinead Farrell, Julie Healy, Elaine McDermott, Shannon Caulfield(0-1), Eimear McNally, Mikaela McHugh (0-1), Aine Mullins, Niamh Flemming, Hetti Cahill, Amy Quinn and Heater Payne.
Under 14 Championship: Roscommon 4-8 Sligo 5-16
In the curtain raiser the Stephen McGuineass sponsored U14 team got off to a poor start again when Sligo goaled inside just 30 seconds. However this time the Roscommon girls rallied well and responded with a goal and a point of their own, the goal coming from Hanna Moylan. Indeed Roscommon continued their good form with a couple of points and another goal from Aisling Hanley to leave them ahead again with half time looming. Just before the break the game changed when Sligo, who had been chipping away with points, scored two goals in two minutes to suddenly leave 7 between the sides. At Half-time it stood Sligo 3-9 Roscommon 2-5, which did not reflect the Roscommon effort.
To their credit the Roscommon girls continued to battle on after the break and once again got the score line down to a manageable five point deficit with 15 minutes remaining. Moments later, with seven between the sides, Roscommon were awarded a penalty but unfortunately it was missed. Almost straight away Sligo broke down the other end to add another goal. They never looked back after this and in the end added yet another goal to run out comfortable winners 5-16 to 4-08.
Roscommon Team: Ellen Cafferkey, Mia Macken, Hannah Moylan, Aoife Leonard, Robyn Dowling, Rachel Murray, Clodagh Powell, Abby Curran, Aishling Feely (Capt), Shannon McGuinness, Ciara Martin, Aishling Hanley, Ellen O’Beirne, Amy Phelan and Lily Vickers.
Subs: Caoimhe Morgan, Mia Macken, Katie Cronin, Gracie Loftus, Ria Lennon, Chloe Rodgers, Ciara O’Gara, Kirstin Cronin, Rachel Gormley, Niamh McTeague, Niamh Hester, Ali Campbell, Michaela Burke, Abby Murray, Lisa Burke and Aishling Tracey.
What’s Next?
The new trend of double fixtures continues for these teams as both sides take on Mayo this Saturday in Peadar Earley Park, Ballinlough (Michael Glaveys) at 12pm and 1.30pm respectively. The Roscommon Ladies Football Board hope that a large crowd will be there to cheer them on
Under 16s finalise preparations
The Under 16s played Cavan in Mullohoran on Saturday in their last run out ahead of the Connacht Championship, which begins on Easter Monday against Galway. Last Saturday’s game proved to be a terrific preparation for that game against Galway.
Intermediates return to action
The Roscommon Ladies Football Intermediate Team, sponsored by Ward Brothers, had the weekend off last weekend as the local leagues took pride of place. Michael Finneran’s charges return to action this weekend when they face Wexford, again, in the National League Semi-Final in Clane County Kildare at 2.15pm on Easter Sunday. Please come along and support the girls as they strive to reach the national league final.