Clann complete 'Operation Transformation' to become senior ladies' football champions
Clann na nGael senior football captain receives the cup from Dermot Hughes, sponsor of the Roscommon senior ladies' football championship. Picture: Courtesy of Roscommon LGFA
Clann na nGael has endured many memorable days, but this was one of the sweetest for the club's senior ladies' team as they defied their underdogs status to complete a remarkable second-half comeback against St. Brigid's at Ballyleague.
Brigid's had breezed their way through to the final, swatting aside every team, including Clann, in the group stages of this year's championship.
When Sally O'Hara and Lucy Sheffield goaled to hand Laura Harrison's side a 2-5 to 1-1 interval lead, the trajectory of their season was on the path many had expected beforehand.
Even at that stage, Róise Lennon's early penalty looked like a futile score, but nobody saw the Clann train that careered down the track in the second half.
Within seven minutes of the second half, they were level, thanks to a goal from Ciara Quinn alongside points from Ruth Finlass, Therese Lennon, Shauna Bannon and Róise Lennon.
With the bit between their teeth, there was no stopping Clann now as a goal from Kara Earle was followed by Róise Lennon's second penalty of the afternoon.
With Jenny Higgins and Orla O'Neill dictating matters alongside Lennon, who finished with 2-5, Brigid's had no answer to Clann's power play after being taken to a place they hadn't experienced in this year's championship.
By the end, the scoreline was scarcely believable as Earle grabbed her second goal to confirm a 13-point victory for Clann who have now won three out of the last four titles.
In Saturday's earlier finals, Pádraig Pearses were crowned Junior A champions with a 2-10 to 1-8 victory against Oran, while Castlerea cruised to a facile victory against Four Roads in the Junior B decider.
