Plenty of positives for Roscommon despite defeat against Cavan
Róise Lennon and her Roscommon team-mates were edged out by Cavan in the opening round of the TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Championship at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday afternoon.
Roscommon produced a hugely encouraging showing, despite defeat against Cavan in the opening round of the intermediate ladies' football championship on Sunday afternoon.
Finbar Egan’s side circled the wagons after their Connacht final collapse against Leitrim, getting themselves back on level terms twice in the second half before Cavan’s greater firepower saw them over the line.
Roscommon, who weren’t in the promotion picture in Division Three, pitched up against a team that were promoted to Division One, so the task facing the visitors was sizeable.
But, after a nervous start, Roscommon came into the game in the second quarter.
The visitors had been struggling on their own kickout, and a couple of needless turnovers fuelled Cavan’s energy levels further.
After holding out initially, the Roscommon defence began to creak, and four frees from Ella Sheridan opened up a four-point lead.
It got better for the home side as Niamh Keenaghan intercepted a Roscommon kickout and set up Niamh McCorry for her side’s first point from play.
Further rapid-fire scores arrived from Keenaghan and McCorry, and Cavan, who were playing against the breeze, were threatening to run away with proceedings.
But the Roscommon defence kept at it, with Ria Lennon and Saoirse Wynne doing well, executing a couple of crucial turnovers.
Aisling Feely clipped over her side’s first score after 19 minutes, and from there Roscommon improved.
Aisling Hanly and Caoimhe Lennon added further scores, and even though McCorry added her third point from play in the 27th minute, points from Hanly and Lennon left Finbar Egan’s side 0-8 to 0-5 behind at the change of ends.
Substitute Cara McCaffrey marked her introduction with a point early in the second half, but Roscommon struck back when a free from the right wing by Aisling Feely ended up in the net.
When Cavan goalkeeper Evelyn Baugh was pinged on the next kickout, incredibly Roscommon were on level terms, thanks to Feely’s free.
But Cavan surged ahead again, hitting the next four points through McCorry, Catherine Dolan and the superb Aishling Sheridan.
But Roscommon responded through a point from Caoimhe Lennon, and when Lauren Shanagher picked out the Clann na nGael forward with 11 minutes remaining, she ghosted through the Cavan defence for her side’s second goal, leaving the teams all square, 0-13 to 2-7, with 11 minutes remaining.
But Roscommon couldn’t kick on as possession was lost in attack too frequently, allowing Cavan counter attack and retake the lead through Sheridan.
There was more drama when Cummins saved a penalty from Ella Sheridan, but there was some consolation for the home side when McCorry picked off a good score.
There was still time for McCaffrey to grab her second point of the game, but Roscommon left Kingspan Breffni with their heads held high in the hope that this performance will be the spark that can ignite their season ahead of the visit of Down to St. Croan’s GAA grounds, Enfield, in two weeks’ time.
CAVAN: E. Baugh; K. McIntyre, S. Lynch, K.M. Reilly; L. Crowe, E. McIntyre, S. Greene; M. Fitzpatrick, D. Lynch; K. McCormack, E. Sheridan (0-4, four frees), C. Dolan (0-1); N. Keenaghan (0-1), A. Sheridan (0-3), N. McCorry (0-5). Subs used: C. McCaffrey (0-2) for Crowe (half-time), R. McLoughlin for Keenaghan (54 mins), M. Cusack for Lynch (59 mins).
ROSCOMMON: H. Cummins; M. McKeon, Á. Connaughton, Ria Lennon; N. Feeney, S. Wynne, E. Thompson; E. Irwin, A. Feely (1-3, 1-0 free, two frees); A. Curran, Á. McGrath, Róise Lennon; A. Hanly (0-1), N. Watson, C. Lennon (1-3). Subs used: R. Cox for Curran (half-time), R. Fitzmaurice for Watson (half-time), R. Brady for McKeon (41 mins), L. Shanagher for Róise Lennon (41 mins), C. Cunningham for Hanly (59 mins).
Referee: D. Hurson (Monaghan).
