Another big weekend for Roscommon ladies’ football teams

Northern Harps have the chance to seal a historic Connacht junior title when they go toe to toe with Menlough/Skehana this Saturday in Swinford, while St. Brigid’s can make it three provincial final appearances for Roscommon clubs when they meet Glencar/Manorhamilton in their provincial senior semi-final.

The contrast between Northern Harps’ and Menlough/Skehana’s Connacht semi-final victories could not have been greater. The Elphin/Ballinameen combination and Swinford Killasser produced a nine-goal thriller that was only settled by Lauren Shanagher’s injury-time free.

On the Northern Harps side, Shauna McGrath was simply superb as her runs from deep punched holes in the Swinford Killasser defence. Meanwhile, possessing an intercounty player of Lauren Shanagher’s ilk is a potent weapon for any junior club to call upon heading into a Connacht final.

Rachel Gormley brings no shortage of leadership to the defence, while the impact off the bench from Grace Cullen, in particular, is a boost.

Their attack is firing on all cylinders, but Northern Harps need to batten down the hatches in defence as they have conceded a combined 12-19 in their past two games.

Meanwhile, Menlough/Skehana came through a tense last four showdown with Curry of Sligo. They registered 0-10 and still won by double scores.

Menlough/Skehana possess their own dangers in attack. Tessa Mullins produced a Player of the Match display against Curry, bagging four points, while Emma Barrett plundered 3-4, all from play, in her side’s county final win over Monivea/Abbey. Kate Screene and Katie McManamon form a strong midfield partnership for the North Galway side.

Yet, Northern Harps should enter this contest full of confidence and belief as they continue to ride the crest of a wave.

Meanwhile, St. Brigid’s will make the trip to Boggaun to face Glencar/Manorhamilton in their Connacht SFC semi-final, also on Saturday at 1 p.m., which will end up clashing with the club's senior men's footballers' county final replay against Pádraig Pearses.

The Kiltoom-based side managed to get the monkey off their back as they romped past Clann na nGael in this year’s county final.

Kate Nolan, who bagged 1-9 in that county final, has showed what a loss she was last year.

Roscommon’s record in this competition is poor, but with Northern Harps and St. Barry’s both booking final spots and St. Brigid’s looking highly impressive at both ends of the pitch, they will feel that this is an opportunity to complete a treble of final appearances.

They comfortably dispatched Boyle and Clann and if they can overcome the three-week gap since their county final triumph, they will feel they could have the greater collective engine, especially after the Connacht quarter-final between Eoghan Rua and Glencar/Manorhamilton was only played on Bank Holiday Monday.

Meanwhile, St. Barry’s will face either Caltra Cuans or Claremorris in the Connacht LGFA intermediate final on Saturday, November 8th at 1 p.m. at a venue to be confirmed.