TG4 All-Ireland LGFA Intermediate FC Quarter-final: Roscommon v Kildare on Sunday in Kinnegad at 1.30 pm
Roscommon were expecting to be facing Sligo in the All-Ireland quarter-finals this weekend but an unlikely set of results has meant that Roscommon now face Kildare and Sligo will play Offaly. Last weekend Kildare were surprisingly beaten by Down and now it’s Roscommon versus the Lilywhites on Sunday in Kinnegad.
Roscommon manager Michael Finneran is looking forward to the game and says that the teams are very well matched.
“There is not much between us to be honest. We played them in the league in Newbridge and won by a point. I was surprised that they slipped up against Down last weekend but they must have been looking ahead to the quarter-finals,” he said before providing some positive news on the injury, front from a Roscommon point of view.
“I have to say that I am very happy with our preparations. We have trained very hard and the girls are going very well. I’m very hopeful that Jenny Higgins will be able to tog out, which would be a great boost for us…everyone else is fine.
“Both ourselves and Kildare will have designs on getting to a semi-final so this will be a very tight game and a good fixture to be at. We have prepared very well and the training has been going great to be honest. We just have to go out and do the business on Sunday now,” he concluded.
I have been very impressed with Roscommon this summer. The attack in particular has been in red-hot form, with Rebecca Finan, Siobhan Tully, Natalie McHugh and Rachel Fitzmaurice all playing well.
Sinead Kenny and Laura Fleming will be the most likely midfield partnership and their role will be crucial. If there was any criticism of the Roscommon team this year so far it has been their defensive lapses that has allowed the opposition to get in for soft goals. Hopefully that won’t happen on Sunday.
Helena Cummins is a top-class goalkeeper and the likes of Amanda McLoone, Joanne Cregg and Alice Kelly will be hoping to keep the back door closed on Sunday. That’s vital and would give the attack a great platform to go on and get the scores that they will need.
The winners of this match will face either Clare or Tipperary in the semi-finals. Forwards win games and I have been very impressed with Roscommon’s attacking unit in this championship so far. They can spur the side on to victory and a place in the last four.
Prediction: Roscommon
