Éire Óg put Clann to the pin of their collar

Last year’s intermediate champions Éire Óg just came up short of springing a surprise in the fourth round of the Roscommon Senior Ladies’ Football Championship when they were edged out by Clann na nGael, 2-12 to 2-11, in Johnstown on Sunday morning.

The West Roscommon side were very competitive against high-flying St. Brigid’s on their return to the senior ranks last Bank Holiday Monday, and they were excellent here — recovering from a poor start to put the home side to the pin of their collar.

Two goals from Róise Lennon left Clann 2-2 to 0-1 ahead after eight minutes but Éire Óg, led by Amanda Creighton, Rebecca Finan and Amy Doory, worked their way back into the contest to trail by just 2-5 to 1-6 at the break — the goal coming from Finan after 26 minutes.

Lennon’s excellence kept Clann’s noses in front but a sign of the unease permeating the home side’s ranks was the sight of Jenny Higgins making her long-awaited return from injury in the final quarter.

A late goal from wing-back Róisín McDonagh left just a point in it, but there wasn’t enough time for Éire Óg to manufacture what would have been a deserved equaliser.

Meanwhile, in Knockcroghery, four first-half goals from Niamh Fitzgerald sealed the deal for St. Dominic’s as they beat Kilbride 6-11 to 5-10 in a tightly contested, high-scoring game.

Fitzgerald’s finishing prowess resulted from pressure put on the Kilbride kickout, with the pick of her goals coming in the 24th minute when she lobbed the Kilbride goalkeeper from 35 yards as her side established a 4-5 to 1-3 interval lead.

Kilbride’s injury crisis has tested their squad depth, but youngsters Laura McSharry and Clara Tully combined for 2-3 between them to keep the visitors in touch.

Kilbride reeled Dominic’s back in with goals from Niamh Shanagher and a Casey Keane penalty, but substitute Sarah Jane O’Connor and another lobbed effort from Aimee O’Connor enabled Dominic’s to get over the line.

A severely depleted Boyle side were comprehensively beaten, 11-21 to 0-4, by in-form St. Brigid’s at Kiltoom.

Without county players Aisling Feely, Caoimhe Cregg, Saoirse Wynne and Megan McKeon, this was always going to be a tall order for the North Roscommon side.

St. Brigid's were in an unforgiving mood as Aine O'Brien (two) Sarah O'Rourke (two), Alison Nugent and Marian Nolan found the net to help St. Brigid's lead 6-12 to 0-2 at half time.

The home side maintained their intensity as Aine O'Brien and Marian Nolan registered hat-tricks, the latter finishing with four goals. Kara Gallagher also found the net as St. Brigid's maintained their 100 per cent record in this year’s championship.

*Match reports and a round-up of all last weekend’s action in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald.