Picture in senior ladies’ football championship becoming clearer
Orla O'Neill made a welcome return to Clann na nGael colours earlier on Sunday.
The penultimate round of games in the Roscommon LGFA senior championship saw 2021 and 2022 champions Clann na nGael confirm their place in the knockout stages, while reigning champions Boyle’s destiny in this year’s competition is out of their own hands.
Clann, who handed Jenny Higgins her first start since returning from injury and saw Orla O’Neill make her first appearance of the season, beat Shannon Gaels by 5-11 to 3-7 in Johnstown.
Kayleigh Dunning, who was moved from goalkeeper to corner-forward for this encounter, pounced for a hat-trick of goals, while Ruth Finlass and the excellent Róise Lennon also raised green flags.
To Shannon Gaels' credit, they kept plugging away until the end and were rewarded with goals from substitutes Orla Mullaney and Katelyn Gannon alongside a third from Sorcha Bruen.
The result confirmed that Clann will finish either second or third behind St. Brigid’s and meet St. Dominic’s in the county semi-final.
Boyle’s 0-7 apiece draw with Éire Óg in Loughglynn means that Pat Leonard’s side must beat Clann na nGael next weekend and hope that Éire Óg slip up in their final two games.
Led by Rebecca Finan, who kicked five first-half points, Éire Óg established a 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead.
But Kate Harrington kicked an equaliser from a free with the last play of the game to keep her side’s championship hopes on life support.
In the other game this morning, championship favourites, St. Brigid’s, powered their way to another big victory, beating Kilbride by 4-10 to 0-4 thanks to goals from Alison Nugent, Áine O'Brien, Sarah O'Rourke and Marian Nolan.
