Roscommon and Meath draw

Roscommon ……………………… 3-5  Meath ……………………………. 1-11  Roscommon and Meath played out a very entertaining draw in the last round of the National Junior Camogie League, played at a blustery Padraig Pearses GAA Grounds at Woodmount on Easter Sunday. The same two teams contest the National Junior League Div. 4 Final on April 13th. The primrose and blue last took on the Royal County in the Nancy Murray Cup semi-final last August with the Royal County taking the points in the last few minutes of the game.    Roscommon made a few changes with Athleague’s Paula Daly getting her chance to prove herself between the posts.    Roscommon were quickest out of the blocks and the second Roscommon won the clash of the throw-in ball, the ball broke to Clare Curley who hit in a long ball which somehow evaded the Meath ‘keeper and landed in the back of the net. Yes, 30 seconds gone and Roscommon a goal up.   Five minutes into the game and centre-back Siobhan Coyle had to leave the field of play with an injury.    This void seem to unsteady the ship for Roscommon in the defence as Meath tried to attack at every available opportunity. Roscommon played with a strong breeze in the first half, and managed to put a respectable score of 3-2 up with the goals coming from Annette McGeeney, two well-taken scores, laid on by Kelly Hopkins and the hard-working Donna Kelly. Clodagh Rogers was on had to tap over two frees from play. Meath had scores from the hard-working trio of Lizzy Lynch, Emma Doherty and Jane Dolan.    These three were causing immense problems for the Roscommon defence. Roscommon went in at the break 6 points to the fore, but it was Meath who were first out of the blocks in the 2nd half, with 2 scores on the board before Roscommon knew they were in a game at all. The Roscommon backline were under pressure and they found it hard to pass Meath midfield. A defensive error in the backline led to a Meath goal from Jane Dolan. However the Roscommon backline contained Meath to a scoreline of 1-7 in the second half with some good clearances being made.   A tense 5 minutes ensued as Roscommon battled to hold the slender lead against the breeze. Meath free-taker, Aileen Donnelly had numerous chances to put them in the lead but misjudged the breeze. In the last minute of the game, the equalising point came from Jane Dolan.    This was an entertaining battle between two sides who were wary about showing their true form before the final. For Roscommon, it was a game that will bring on the teams and the girls know that 3 weeks of hard work lie ahead in preparing for the final.  Roscommon: Paula Daly; Emer Farrell, Niamh Connolly, Clare Casey;  Catriona Morris, Siobhan Coyle, Ciara Moran; Patricia Lennon, Elaine Daly;  Clare Curley (1 goal), Clodagh Rogers (4pts), Gertie Dowd; Annette McGeeney (2-1), Donna Kelly, Kelley Hopkins. Subs: Audrey Delaney/Siobhan Coyle (inj), Rachael Fallon/Kelley Hopkins, Cathriona Regan/Audrey Delaney. Referee: Rita Coen.