National Camogie League Division 4 Roscommon …………… 7-11 Louth ……………………… 2-1 Roscommon junior camogie team made the long trip on Sunday last to Dundalk where they took on Louth in Round two of Div. 4 of the National League. This was the team’s first outing of the new year with the postponement of the Carlow game the previous week due to waterlogged grounds. Roll back the clocks to this time last year. Roscommon were managerless and were struggling to field a team. In some cases they had to forfeit league games. Six months later, with Galway duo Ger Moran and Francis Larkin, they set about ‘Operation Transformation’, Roscommon camogie style, with the team reaching the semi-final of the Nancy Murray Cup and sercuring a Connacht Final win against Galway. Roscommon lined out minus five of last year’s panel but welcomed new faces to the fold. This was a game Roscommon were ultimately expected to win, but the question on everybody’s lips was by how much. The previous weekend, Louth were on the end of a harsh and humiliating defeat at the hands of Meath. However, give credit where is it due, Louth put up a credible performance against Roscommon, who at times looked ring-rusty in front of the posts. However the blue and gold did manage to notch up 4 goals and 5 points in the first half to Louth’s one goal, scored when the Roscommon defence were caught off-guard. The ever-reliable Annette McGeeney was to the fore in the 1st half with 2-2 to her credit. She was ably assisted in the scoring spree by Fiona Connell, who chipped in with 1-2 and Oran’s dynamic duo of Clare Curley and Cathriona Regan raising the green and white flag respectively. The forwards enjoyed a constant supply of ball due to the hard work of the midfield and half-back line. Roscommon started the 2nd half with more firepower and upped the tempo. Some lovely passages of play by the Roscommon girls resulted in delightful scores from Four Roads’ Donna Kelly and Oran’s Clare Curley. Louth began to pile on the pressure and their hard work in front of goal led to a pointed free and a well-taken goal. However, Roscommon ensured that this was all they had to celebrate and went on a mini-scoring spree, scoring 3-4 without reply in the last 10 minutes, with goals from Kelly Hopkins, Cathriona Regan and Clodagh Rogers. Roscommon will be happy that they got off on a winning start, however the performance in front of the posts leaves a lot to be desired. Even though management were on some occasions treated to lovely scores, the girls know that they cannot afford missing scoring oportunities when they are pitted against the likes of Meath and Kildare. Saying that it was only the first round and it was a good day – the cobwebs shaken off and hopefully the start of a successful year for the Roscommon camogie fraternity. Roscommon: Niamh Connolly, Clare Casey, Emer Farrell, Sarah Keanevey, Cathriona Morris, Siobhan Coyle, Ciara Moran, Gertie Dowd (1-0), Carmel Kileen, Clare Curley (1-2), Cathriona Regan(1-2), Rachael Fallon, Fiona Connell (1-2), Annette McGeeney (2-2), Patricia Lennon. Subs; Kelley Hopkins (1-0), Clodagh Rogers (0-1)), Donna Kelly (0-1).
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