Third quarter surge sees Roscommon return to winning ways
Roscommon intermediate ladies' football manager, Finbar Egan saw his side return to winning ways with a four point win against Laois.
Roscommon returned to winning ways as an early third quarter blitz paved the way for a crucial league win.
With the sides deadlocked at 2-2 to 0-8 at the interval, Caoimhe Lennon’s 1-1 and a Rachel Fitzmaurice goal inside the opening six minutes of the final period ultimately gave Roscommon the buffer they needed, despite eight final half wides.
The win was a welcome boost for Finbar Egan, snapping a run of three games without a win.
With Roscommon against the elements in the opening half, their mission was to stay within reach. In a stop start opening period, which saw both sides endure injury blows, Roscommon achieved their goal. Even though Roscommon started brightly as a classy Hanly effort was followed by a Niamh Feeney point, Finbar Egan’s side suffered another injury blow in a year filled with them when Feeney was forced off with a knee complaint immediately after scoring.
Laois were also dealt a blow when Laura Marie Maher pulled up in the very next passage of play while they also lost Ciara Crowley in the second quarter to injury.
But Laois were winning the midfield battle as they slotted four scores without riposte as Emily Lacey bagged two early frees, the second coming after Megan McKeon was adjudged to have been too close to goalkeeper Helena Cummins when receiving the kickout, which led to a tap over score.
Roscommon hit back emphatically when Niamh Watson’s searing run culminated in her offloading to Caoimhe Lennon, who coolly slotted to the net. Things got better for Roscommon in the 19th minute when Rachel Fitzmaurice, who had replaced the injured Feeney, was fouled inside the square after being picked out by Hanly.
Even though the ball ended up in the net, referee Jason Buckley awarded Roscommon a penalty, which Hanly buried to the bottom right corner of the net. Roscommon lost their way from there until half time, as they were unable to build consistent pressure on a Laois side who won all eight of their opening half kickouts.
Lacey added two further frees which were sandwiched by an Eva Galvin score under pressure as the sides were deadlocked at the interval, 2-2 to 0-8.
Roscommon enjoyed the perfect start to the second half as less than 90 seconds into the final period Caoimhe Lennon’s long range effort deceived Laois goalkeeper Eimear Barry and ended up in the net.
Three minutes later, Roscommon were in again. Following a short kickout, Rachel Fitzmaurice did brilliantly to force a turnover before netting past the stranded Barry. A Caoimhe Lennon free pushed Roscommon seven in front but Laois came firing back.
Helena Cummins starred as she dealt with a dangerous Lacey dipping effort before producing a brave save to deny Lauren Kearney. From the resulting ’45, McKeon produced a textbook block to thwart the rampaging Eva Galvin.
Even though Katie Donohue got her side off the mark, Laois were left frustrated again as Cummins got down brilliantly to deny Mia Branagan before Lauren Shanagher slotted over on the counter.
The final quarter was tense but in a boost for Roscommon Aisling Feely made her first appearance in 2026 when she came off the bench in the final quarter.
Even though Roscommon kicked eight final half wides, their defence was much more disciplined in the tackle during the second half as they held out for a much needed win.
*Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald*
