Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Quarter-Final
Roscommon 0-13 Limerick 1-7
A late surge from Roscommon, which saw them score the last four points of the game (including three in injury-time), was enough to propel them past Limerick last weekend and into an All-Ireland semi-final where they will meet Tipperary on Saturday week. It’s a fantastic achievement for Roscommon who had difficulty fielding a team just a year ago.
There were a number of outstanding performances on the day for the Rossies but Rachel Fitzmaurice and Shauna Fallon were head and shoulders above the rest.
Fitzmaurice drove her side on from midfield throughout, while Fallon was unerring in her accuracy scoring all but one of her side’s total.
On a humid day in Clane, Limerick were the better side in the opening quarter and they led by 0-4 to 0-2 after 16 minutes with Roscommon’s only scores coming from two placed balls from Shauna Fallon.
But Rachel Fitzmaurice and Orla Connolly took control at midfield and Roscommon prospered. Fallon was on target with three more points (two frees) and Niamh Fitzgerald scored another as Roscommon led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.
Roscommon kicked well again after the break, and three more points from the razor-sharp Fallon extended Roscommon’s lead to 0-9 to 0-4 by the 37th minute.
But Limerick struck a vein of form out of the blue and rocked Roscommon back on their heels. A point from Niamh Brennan in the 39th minute began the revival for the Treaty girls. Then in the 41st minute Valerie Shanahan’s free from 30 metres went all the way to the Roscommon net. Two converted frees from Shanahan saw Limerick lead against the run of play, and with six minutes to go Roscommon looked in trouble.
But Fitzmaurice and Fallon took control and they pushed Roscommon over the winning line. Fallon levelled the scores with a free in the 55th minute and with the game in injury-time, the Four Roads sharpshooter lofted over two fantastic long-range points from play and completed a wonderful personal performance by pointing a ’45 in the 64th minute.
After the match, Roscommon coach Eoin Hardiman was delighted with how Roscommon performed and especially when Limerick staged that second-half revival.
“Fair play to our girls, we were under massive pressure there in the second half but we weathered the storm. We have a number of big game players who stood up today. Girls like Shauna Fallon and Rachel Fitzmaurice were magnificent. It’s great to be on the right side of a tight game,” he said.
“To concede that soft goal was disappointing for sure, but the response was excellent. But we have a great group of players there and lots of strong personalities and leaders”.
Eoin admitted that to be in an All-Ireland semi-final is a huge achievement given where the county was a year ago.
“If you offered us an All-Ireland semi-final at the start of the year we would have snapped your hand off. From where we came from it’s brilliant and a tribute to the effort that the players have put in. The future is bright; there are plenty of good players there and an All-Ireland Minor ‘B’ title behind us too so there is plenty to look forward to,” he concluded.
Teams and Scorers
Roscommon: Michaela Fallon; Shona Hanly, Marie Carty, Chloe Whyte-Lennon; Sarah Dooley, Sally Bolger, Aine O’Meara; Orla Connolly, Rachel Fitzmaurice; Shauna Fallon (0-12, 3 45’s, 5 frees), Niamh Watson, Niamh Fitzgerald (0-1); Anna Campbell, Claire Curley, Sinead Mannion. Subs: Tara Naughton for Watson (54), Erin McDermott for Mannion (57).
Limerick: Naomi Ryan; Abbey Murphy, Tara Lenehan, Megan Ryan; Sarah Shanahan, Aisling Irwin, Ciara Houlihan; Ann Kennedy, Claire Power; Lisa English (0-1), Valerie Shanaher (1-3, all frees), Emma English; Laura Southern, Niamh Brennan (0-2), Sarah Cosgrove (0-1). Subs: Phoenix Mulcare-Shire for L English (h/t), Ciara English for E English (52).
Referee: Bernard Meaney (Meath)
Player of the Match: Shauna Fallon (Roscommon)
