Late scoring flurry ends Roscommon’s promotion aspirations
Aisling Hanly and her Roscommon teammates slipped to a six point defeat to Louth
Roscommon LGFA’s hopes of securing an immediate return to Division Two were ended as they lost out to an athletic Louth outfit.
In the end, Louth’s run of 1-5 without reply from the 49th to the 59th minutes ultimately ensured Kevin Larkin’s side secured promotion and in the process consigned Roscommon to a second season in Division Three.
Antrim’s victory over Laois ensured Roscommon will not face a relegation battle in the final round of games but this was a disappointing result as despite plenty of endeavour, Louth’s athleticism proved too much for Finbar Egan’s side to handle.
Louth with the aid of the elements in the first half looked the more menacing. Kevin Larkin’s side struck the woodwork five times in the opening half alone with the visitors’ biggest chance of a goal coming in the 13th minute as Eimear Byrne rattled the crossbar.
Ceire Nolan also saw a goal chance go abegging for Louth as she arrowed over after breaking through the Roscommon defence. Roscommon did enjoy a goal chance of their own as Caoimhe Lennon rifled a left footed effort over the top but in a half where both sides would be unhappy with their conversion rates, Louth possessed the greater cutting edge.
Roscommon only converted one of their first eight scoring chances as Aisling Hanly got them off the mark. However, Louth despite those missed goal chances in the first quarter still led 0-4 to 0-1 after the first quarter as Ciara Woods, Shannen McLoughlin, Byrne and Nolan all got found the target.
Louth’s packed defence caused problems but cousins Róise and Caoimhe Lennon got through. However, Louth wing forward Lucy White caused problems with her direct running while she bagged three points in the second quarter to see her side lead 0-7 to 0-3 at half time.
In an entertaining third quarter, both sides came close to rifling the net. Helena Cummins needed to be sharp to deny both White and Shannen McLoughlin while at the opposite end Róise Lennon struck the butt of the post at a time when Roscommon trailed by three points.
Sophie Everitt’s free on the counter attack after that Lennon goal chance was a hammer blow but with the Lennons showing well, Roscommon only trailed 0-9 to 0-7 after 49 minutes.
But, Louth raised their level as Roscommon were left stranded. A Sophie Everitt free got the ball rolling before Ciara Woods forced Cummins in to an outstanding full length save.
However, the corner forward was on hand to poke the rebound beyond the despairing dive of the Roscommon ‘keeper at the second time of asking.
Although Roscommon battled away as Róise Lennon saw her deflected effort find the net, the dye was cast as Finbar Egan’s side will face another season in Division Three.
*Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald*
