TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Intermediate Quarter-Final
Roscommon 3-17
Laois 1-19
Don’t put away those Primrose and Blue flags just yet! This magnificent Roscommon Ladies Football team are now just one step away from an All-Ireland final appearance in Croke Park after this thrilling win against Laois in what was a pulsating game in Moate last Saturday.
On at least two occasions Roscommon looked to be home and hosed only for Laois to come again. In fact with a minute gone in injury-time the margin was just one, but Roscommon would not buckle, and three unanswered points in the final five minutes of play saw Michael Finneran’s side over the line and now they face Meath in the last four.
Credit to both sides, who served up a fantastic game for the spectators. Laois blitzed Roscommon from the start and were five points up after only four minutes but this Roscommon team have gained serious momentum since their Connacht final win against Sligo. Alice Kelly and the outstanding Laura Fleming blasted home great goals and Roscommon were back in business by the end of the first quarter.
From there to half-time it was like watching two prize fighters slugging it out with no quarter asked or given. It was point for point and some of those scores were out of the top drawer. Needless to say by the break the sides were level: Roscommon 2-7 Laois 1-10.
Sheila Brady was coming into her own as the game wore on and the influence of Joanne Cregg and Jenny Higgins at midfield was growing. Then Roscommon started to pull away. The yellow card shown to Laois midfielder Eva Galvin in the 39th minute saw Roscommon take advantage. Rebecca Finan scored a peach of a goal following great work from Brady, and with 15 minutes to go the Rossies led by 7 points. Surely that was good enough to coast to the finish?
Not so. Laois battled fiercely. They laid siege to the Roscommon goal and kicked five points in a row. But just when it looked that the O’Moore County could complete a fairytale comeback, the red mist descended for their centre-back Jane Moore who was red carded, and Roscommon took the initiative one final time with Joanne Cregg, Jenny Downey and Louise Brady getting the scores that settled the issue.
Helena Cummins is a marvellous goalkeeper and her worth was underlined here again with some outstanding saves and clever kick-outs. The defence was under pressure all through but stood up well with Amada McLoone, Sinead Kenny, and Aisling McAuliffe catching the eye.
Joanne Cregg had a powerful game in the middle of the park, while up front Alice Kelly and Laura Fleming were outstanding at wing half-forward. Roisin Wynne got through a mountain of work and at one stage found herself at full-back! Rebecca Finan is an excellent full-forward, and Sheila Brady came thundering into the action in the second half.
The confidence that this Roscommon team are playing with is remarkable; they have a never-say-die attitude that is growing all the time. They will not fear Meath in the semi-final having beaten them twice already this year. Michael Finneran and his backroom team have done a great job with this side. They are now within touching distance of the biggest day of their lives. Keep those Primrose and Blue flags out, we could be heading east on All-Ireland finals day!
Teams and Scorers
Roscommon: Helena Cummins: Honor Ennis, Amanda McLoone, Megan Kelly; Sorcha Bruen, Aisling McAuliffe, Sinead Kenny; Joanne Cregg (0-4), Jenny Higgins (0-1); Alice Kelly (1-0), Roisin Wynne, Laura Fleming (1-3); Sheila Brady (0-5, 3 frees), Rebecca Finan (1-2), Niamh Feeney. Subs: Rachel Fitzmaurice for McLoone (49), Louise Brady (0-1) for Fitzmaurice (57), Jenny Downey (0-1, free) for Brady (59), Aoife Gavin for Finan (62),
Laois: Sinead O’Rourke; Ciara Hughes, Mags McEvoy, Aimee Kelly; Amy Potts, Jane Moore, Anna Healy; Eva Galvin, Laura Nerney (0-1); Erone Fitzpatrick (0-7, 2 frees), Ciara Burke, Caoimhe Simms (1-0); Emma Lawlor (0-2), Maggie Murphy (0-3), Clare Conlon (0-6, 4 frees). Subs: Megan Dunne for Simms (61), Shauna Quirke for Hughes (61).
Referee: PJ Ahearne (Cork)
