It was a mixed weekend for the Roscommon Ladies Football Teams with one win and two defeats. Ollie Colgan reports on all the action.
On Saturday in Woodmount Roscommon hosted the last round (Round 5) of fixtures in the Connacht U14 and Minor Championships when Galway travelled across the border to take on the home side. The Stephen McGuinness sponsored U14 girls fought bravely in the opening half but ultimately fell to another heavy defeat as Galway pulled away in the second half to win on a big score line of 7-24 to 0-03. This is the final outing in this year’s championship for the U14 girls but there will be additional matches and blitz’s for them which is important for the development of this team. It must also be noted that this is probably one of the youngest squads so much so ever to represent Roscommon at this level, so much so that most of them are indeed eligible for next year thus giving some optimism to them as they regroup later in the year. A big well done to all the squad and the management team for their efforts so far this year.
Roscommon squad: Ellen Cafferkey, Aoife Leonard, Ali Campbell, Mia Macken, Michaela Burke, Rachel Murry, Aisling Treacy, Ciara Martin, Ellen O’Beirne , Shannon McGuinness, Aishling Feely (Capt), Abby Curran, Aishling Hanley, Amy Phelan and Lily Vickers, Caoimhe Morgan, 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, Hannah Moylan, Rachel Murray, Clodagh Powell and Robyn Dowling.
The Minor Team, sponsored by Cox’s Steakhouse Dromod, also came out on the end of a heavy defeat; 5-12 to 1-6.
It has to be remembered though that this game was effectively a dead rubber as both counties had already qualified for the Final which will take place next weekend, so with that in mind both sets of management teams used the opportunity to ring the changes to the starting 15 and use the hour to run out almost their entire panel. However having said that Roscommon will be still a little concerned with the margin of the defeat and will hope to up their game for the final.
Team: Eadaoin Lennon, Sarah Hoare, Amy Quinn, Aoife McLoughlin, Amy Curley, Roisin Wynne Elaine McDermott, Amy Malone, Sarah Scally, Ciara Corcoran, Julie Healy , Mikaela McHugh, Shannon Caulfield, Niamh Shanagher, and Niamh Flemming .
Subs:, Marie Kelly, Rachel Gallagher, Shannon Dowd, Louise Brady Sinead Farrell, Shauna Flemming, Lauren Curran, Eimear McNally, Sinead Glennon, Alanna Hanmore, Aine Mullins, Hetti Cahill, and Heather Payne.
Finally yesterday evening (Sunday) the XLnt Signs / Kildea Concrete / James Irwin Construction sponsored U16s got their campaign back on track
(following their heavy defeat at the hands of Galway) by defeating Leitrim handsomely in Kilglass. In the end there was 20 points between the teams: Roscommon 4-15 Leitrim 0-7. The Rossies girls were slow to start and only lead by 5 points to 2 after 15 mins but then they settled down with a Kara Earle goal. This was the platform for further points from Kelley Colgan, Aimee O’Connor, Earle and Kate Nolan before another Earle Goal before half time left Roscommon in a commanding position at the break leading bt 2-08 to 0-04.
Roscommon began the second half at a better pace and added three more points before Earle completed her hat trick in the 40th minute to leave the Rossies in an unassailable lead. Both sides rang the changes from the bench to try out the squad and in doing so the game faded a little in intensity and when Kayleigh Shine added a fourth goal for Roscommon the game was well out of Leitrim’s grasp. Final score Roscommon 4-15 Leitrim 0-07.
They now have to face a quick turn around when the face Mayo away this Saturday (29th) away. This game takes place in Swinford at a time not yet known.
Team and scorers: Sasha Lavin, Shona Hanley, Megan Kelly, Emma Kildea, Kate McPhillips, Sarah McVeigh, Jennifer Brennan, Kate Nolan (0-01), Ellen Irwin (0-1), Kayleigh Shine (1-5), Kelley Colgan (0-4), Sheena Kilroe, Kara Earle (3-1), Emma Curran, and Aimee O’Connor (0-1).
Subs all used: Michaela Keaveney, Holly Martin, Tia Cronin, Caoimhe Galvin, Aine Griffin, Saoirse Wynne, Kate Harrington (01), Natasha Munnelly (0-1), Aishling Walshe, Oonagh Kelly, Megan McKeon, Edel Beirne, Michaela Keogh and Lauren Shanagher.
What’s Next
For the Minors there is the small matter of a Connacht Final to look forward too next Monday, May 1st. The venue is the Ballyhanus GAA grounds at 5pm so please come out and support the girls.
The U16s continue their campaign when they travel to Swinford, Co. Mayo on Saturday next to take on the home side in round 3 of this year’s campaign. The time not known yet so again please keep an eye on the Roscommon Ladies Football Social Nedia accounts for details.
As stated earlier unfortunately for the U14’s their campaign finished last Saturday but the management are keen to keep the squad together (as a lot of them are eligible next year, such is the youth of the squad) and will be entering some blitz’s and continue with development training and challenges.