Kilbride and Clann come together to remember Rochelle Mullaney
Kilbride senior ladies' football captain, Alice Kelly, and her Clann na nGael counterpart, Ruth Finlass, with the pennant presented by Clann na nGael to their opponents before Monday morning's championship match in Kilbride.
An emotional atmosphere pervaded around Kilbride on Monday morning when the home club returned to the playing field for the first time since the passing of their former colleague Rochelle Mullaney, with Clann na nGael the visitors to the Mid-Roscommon venue for the third round of the senior championship.
Before the game, Clann captain Ruth Finlass, on behalf of her team, made a presentation to Kilbride captain, Alice Kelly, of a pennant remembering Rochelle who was hugely respected and loved by everyone in the Roscommon LGFA community.
Despite the ongoing absence of Fiona Tully and Aisling Hanly, Kilbride were quite competitive and will take heart from an improved performance, but their hopes of a fairytale win didn’t materialise as Clann ran out 5-15 to 3-5 winners, picking up their first victory of this year’s campaign.
Casey Keane led the way for Kilbride with 1-5, including a first-half goal, while Aisling and Niamh Shanagher also found the net for Con Moynihan’s side. Clann were simply too powerful however, firing 5-12 from play.
Róise Lennon shot 0-6 to head the scoring charts while there were five different goalscorers, including Hope Glynn, who showed why she’s one of the rising stars on this Clann team.
Megan Glynn thrived in her new role at centre-back, while, up front, Fiona Scally anchored the forward line on the edge of the square, registering a goal, with Kara Earle (1-2), Therese Lennon (0-3) and Ruth Finlass (1-2) also impressing.
In Loughglynn, St. Brigid’s made it three wins from three games played in this year’s senior ladies’ football championship with a 3-9 to 0-13 victory over last year’s intermediate champions, Éire Óg.
The visitors were 3-4 to 0-7 ahead at the break, thanks to goals from Lucy Sheffield, Abby Curran and Áine O’Brien.
Éire Óg, through Rebecca Finan and Amy Doory, got back into contention early in the second half, but two quick goals from Sarah O’Rourke and Áine O’Brien sealed the deal for the South Roscommon side.
St. Dominic’s left it late to break Shannon Gaels in Knockcroghery, with Aoife Gavin kicking the winner to hand her side their second win of the campaign on a scoreline of 0-11 to 1-7.
The sides were level, 0-4 apiece, at the break before Shannon Gaels outscored Dominic’s by 0-4 to 0-3 in an action-packed first ten minutes of the second half — the highlight being a hat-trick of excellent points from Sorcha Bruen.
Substitute Sarah Boyd also slotted home a penalty, and it was looking good for the visitors.
But led by Aimee O’Connor, Lilly Murray and Gavin, St. Dominic’s responded, with O’Connor bringing the sides level before Gavin pounced for the winning score in injury time.
