Down to test ladies’ league credentials

Sun, 21 Jan, 2024 - 09:29

Ian Cooney

Following an off-season shrouded in controversy, Ollie Lennon takes charge of the Roscommon intermediate ladies’ football team for a third season when they get their Lidl Division Three League campaign underway with the visit of Down to Woodmount this afternoon (Sunday) at 12 noon.

Last year’s junior champions, who beat Limerick in the final, will arrive at the South Roscommon venue with the confidence of that morale-boosting championship triumph in the bank, but Roscommon will hope to circle the wagons and produce a performance that would leave them with every chance of getting their campaign off to a positive start.

Since Lennon was reinstated as manager following an official apology from Roscommon LGFA over the handling of his controversial dismissal at the end of last season, he has simply rolled up his sleeves and shifted the focus back on the football.

“It (the controversy) has never been mentioned by me or the players. Any girls that we have asked in have really put their shoulder to the wheel in the best interests of Roscommon LGFA. It has had no impact on me or them, or the whole set-up. Generally, I think that the squad is in a good place,” he told the Roscommon Herald.

Despite losing Roisín Wynne (travelling) alongside Caoimhe Lennon and Roise Lennon to injury, Roscommon have welcomed back Aisling MacAuliffe, Kate Nolan, Aimee O’Connor and Niamh Fleming.

Clann duo Orla O’Neill and Sinead Farrell are also part of this year’s panel to buttress the experience of Laura Fleming, Rachel Fitzmaurice and captain Niamh Feeney, while Caoimhe Cregg has returned from injury to enhance the scoring potential of Aisling Hanly and Aisling Feely.

Roscommon were unlucky last year when they were edged out in numerous games during their sojourn in Division Two, which ended in relegation. Lennon is hoping that his side have learned from that chastening experience.

“You’d be hoping that if we’re competitive coming down the home straight, that the bit of experience from last year might help us over the line. Anyone who was involved last year, including management, we’d hope that we’ve learned a lot from those setbacks. The goal is to put things right if we find ourselves in those positions this year.”

With home games against Down, Louth, Offaly and Wexford alongside trips to Clare, Sligo and Antrim, Roscommon will want to leave themselves in a position to challenge for a top two berth, and a place in the final, when the business end of the competition rolls around. With eight challenge games already under their belt, Lennon and his management team is certainly leaving no stone unturned in terms of preparation.

“When you go deep into the league, you need to put yourself into a position where you are in contention for the top two spots. We need to be still in the league with two or three games left, that’s the plan,” he revealed.

A win this afternoon would represent the ideal start.

ROSCOMMON v Down

1 Helena Cummins (Michael Glaveys)

2 Aine McGrath (St. Brigid's)

3 Ellen Irwin (St. Faithleach's, vice-captain)

4 Aisling MacAuliffe (Strokestown)

5 Rachel Fitzmaurice (St. Ciaran's)

6 Saoirse Wynne (Boyle)

7 Caoimhe Cregg (Boyle)

8 Lisa O'Rourke (Castlerea St. Kevin's)

9 Kate Nolan (St. Brigid's)

10 Laura Fleming (St. Ciaran's)