Feely and Cregg lead Boyle ladies' footballers to 'Promised Land'

Aisling Feely and Caoimhe Cregg catapulted Boyle towards the summit of the John Keane Kia Roscommon LGFA Senior Championship, bringing back top-flight honours to the North Roscommon club on its 20th anniversary.

It was the club’s second senior title, and it was richly deserved as Kieran McKeon’s side’s firepower, allied with an excellent overall team performance, proved too hot for Clann na nGael to handle in Ballyleague.

Feely hit 0-8 over the hour, including the game’s sole two-point free, while Cregg chipped in with 2-2.

Wind-assisted Clann led by 0-5 to 0-3 after 18 minutes, thanks to Ruth Finlass’ hat-trick of scores.

Cregg pounced for her first goal in the 20th minute but Clann were level at the midway mark, thanks to a goal by Róise Lennon.

A fisted point from Caoimhe Lennon on the resumption edged Clann in front momentarily, but Boyle soon found their rhythm.

Feely was immense, edging her eagerly-anticipated battle with Áine Connaughton, while the relentless workrate and power of Cregg kept Boyle motoring forward, not to mention a necklace of delightful passes from Micheala Ward.

Cregg’s 51st minute goal put the issue beyond doubt, and although substitute Kayleigh Dunning bundled the ball over the line for a consolation score for Clann, Boyle’s 2-18 to 2-9 winning margin couldn’t be questioned.

In the Castlerea Vehicle Recycling Junior A final, Four Roads found their form at the right time to condemn St. Mary’s, Tulsk, to their second successive county final defeat.

Led by county U-16 star Clodagh Finneran, the Tisrara ladies made light of their pre-match underdogs status to prevail by 2-15 to 1-7.

After 27 minutes, the winners looked in trouble with a slender two-point lead, despite playing with the elements behind them.

But a run of five unanswered points before the break from Elizabeth Coyle (2), Méabh Finneran, Deborah Finneran and Maria Lohan gave the winners something more tangible to protect as they led 0-9 to 0-2.

St. Mary’s couldn’t engineer any meaningful momentum in the third quarter, and when Siafra Finneran marked her introduction with a quick-fire 1-1, her side had one hand on the cup.

St. Mary’s hit back with an unanswered 1-2, with Sandra Keane grabbing the goal. But when Clodagh Finneran’s bravery arrested the opposition’s momentum with a crucial turnover, she kept moving forward to tee up Donna Kelly for the game-clinching goal.

Four Roads are due to play in the Mayo champions in a Connacht quarter-final next Saturday, which will present a dilemma for their manager Thomas Finneran, who is also the manager of the St. Aidan’s junior footballers who are scheduled to contest the Junior A men’s football final against Ballinameen on the same day.

The most dramatic game of the afternoon was the Castlerea Vehicle Recycling Junior B final, which saw Roscommon Gaels come through an extra-time thriller against Strokestown, winning by 5-10 to 3-12.

Shauna Walsh starred for the winners with a personal haul of 4-5, as her pair of goals in the opening half of normal time helped her side lead 2-1 to 0-3 despite playing against the elements. However, Nicole McGinley kicked 1-1 from frees to tie the game, 2-1 to 1-4 at the change of ends.

Emily Dixon and Walsh traded goals in the second half but Roscommon Gaels looked to be on their way to glory when Ellen Biesty and Grace Geraghty moved them three points up. 

But Jessica Lee netted spectacularly in injury time to tie the game at 3-6 apiece and send the contest to extra time.

Despite Walsh's fourth goal, Nicole McGinley and Jessica Lee were on target to help Strokestown side lead 3-11 to 4-6 at half time in extra time.

A Jessica Lee free increased Strokestown's buffer but Roscommon Gaels finished with an unanswered 1-4 as Alannah Sutton netted, while Walsh kicked a two-point free to ensure Roscommon Gaels prevailed.