Roscommon produce performance of their lives to book Croke Park date
Saoirse Wynne, Rachel Brady and their Roscommon team-mates are going to Croke Park after getting the better of Westmeath in Kingspan Breffni. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
A Roscommon ladies’ team will play in an All-Ireland final in Croke Park for the first time in 25 years after the county intermediate team produced the performance of their lives to beat a fancied Westmeath team at Kingspan Breffni and set up a national decider against Fermanagh on Sunday, August 2nd.
As they have been throughout this championship Finbar Egan’s charges were the underdogs but, once again, they made light of that status to deservedly get the better of their Shannonside neighbours.
The four-point success sets up a massive few weeks for Roscommon LGFA where three of its teams — U-16, minor and intermediate — will contest All-Ireland finals.
Roscommon found themselves two points behind at the break but they never flinched, and a goal from substitute Lauren Shanagher in injury-time booked a ticket to Croke Park at the beginning of August.
Aisling Feely was superb for the winners, while Ella Thompson was immense at wing-back, hitting three points over the hour.
The return of Kate Nolan was a massive boost and compensated for the absence of Aisling Hanly and Ria Lennon.
But, overall, Roscommon’s collective spirit snapped Westmeath’s resistance, much to the delight of their loyal supporters.
Roscommon made a bright start against opponents that were wasteful in front of goal.
Aisling Feely — from play and a free — propelled Finbar Egan’s two points clear before Abby Curran was played through on goal but she blazed her shot over the crossbar.
But all Roscommon’s early good work unravelled when they conceded a soft goal.
Helena Cummins had made a brilliant save to deny Sarah Dillon but, from the resultant ’45, Anna Jones’ effort was guided to the net by Lucy McCartan amid a congested Roscommon goalmouth in the 14th minute.
Four minutes later, Westmeath found the net again when Ashley Ruane was allowed far too much leeway and she duly breached Roscommon’s last line of the defence for her side’s second goal.
But Roscommon responded instantly — Róise Lennon getting inside the Westmeath rearguard and raising a green flag at the second attempt.
The excellent Anna Jones began to influence proceedings as Caoimhe Kilmurray and Laura Mannion swapped points.
Ella Thompson raided forward to edge Roscommon back in front after 26 minutes but Westmeath kicked the last three points of the half from Dillon (two) and Jones (free) to establish a 2-4 to 1-5 lead at the change of ends.
A point by Caoimhe Kilmurray at minute into the new half stretched Westmeath’s lead to three points, but Roscommon’s belief never wavered.
Some incredible turnovers in defence provided the forwards with an ample supply of possession, and although the radar went on the blink at times, points from Róise Lennon, Caoimhe Lennon and Ella Thompson brought Roscommon level.
The sides continued to trade scores but Lauren Shanagher’s 27th minute point left Roscommon two points ahead, and on the cusp of victory.
But a brilliant two-point free by Westmeath’s best player, Anna Jones, brought the sides level, and extra-time loomed.
Ashley Ruane’s sin-binning for a high tackle on Thompson added to the drama and, in one of their final attacks, Shanagher bided her time to find the corner of the net.
Feely tagged on her sixth point of the afternoon from a free shortly afterwards to confirm Roscommon’s place in the final.
From a 22-point hammering against Leitrim in the Connacht final to an All-Ireland final in Croke Park, it has been some turnaround by Finbar Egan, his management team and, most importantly, his players.
Hopefully, they’re not finished just yet.
ROSCOMMON: H. Cummins; M. McKeon, Á. Connaughton, Á. McGrath; N. Feeney, R. Cox, E. Thompson (0-3); E. Irwin, A. Curran (0-1); L. Mannion (0-1), S. Wynne, A. Feely (0-6, three frees); R. Lennon (1-1), K. Nolan, C. Lennon (0-1). Subs used: L. Shanagher (1-1) for R. Lennon (50 mins), N. Watson for Nolan (50 mins), R. Fitzmaurice for Irwin (59 mins), G. Lohan for Feeney (60 mins).
WESTMEATH: A. Temple; L. McCartan, S. Murphy, F. Coyle; A. Ruane (1-0), L. Power, C. Kelly Gonoud (0-1); A. Jones (0-3, one 0-2 free, one free), C. Kilmurray (0-2); A. Keegan, L. McCartan (1-0), T. Dillon; K. Kilmurray, S. Dillon (0-4), R. Higgins. Sub used: P. Ruane for Keegan (half-time).
Referee: D. Hurson (Monaghan).
