St. Brigid’s and Boyle serve up 41-score thriller

A pulsating game between St. Brigid’s and Boyle stole the show on the final evening of action in the group stages of the John Keane Kia Roscommon LGFA Senior Championship as this year’s quarter-final pairings were determined.

Two of the favourites for the Marie McAleer Cup played out an outstanding game at Abbey Park, and it was reigning champions St. Brigid's that prevailed — in a game that featured 41 scores — on a scoreline of 6-12 to 3-20.

The game was defined by incredible accuracy as both teams only hit five wides apiece.

Katie Conroy’s early goal wiped out St. Brigid’s 0-3 to 0-1 lead. But Áine O’Brien pounced for the first of St. Brigid’s green flags, and the sides were level at 1-4 apiece at the end of the first quarter.

Boyle hit the next four points in succession, which included a point of either foot from Aisling Feely.

Goals from Lucy Sheffield, from the penalty spot, and O’Brien edged Brigid’s back in front but points from Feely and Caoimhe Cregg left the teams deadlocked at the break, 1-11 to 3-5.

The redeployment of Marian Nolan to full-forward resulted in two second-half goals for the Brigid’s star, while Áine O’Brien completed her hat-trick of goals.

But Boyle were far from finished. Goals from Feely and Cregg swung the pendulum back in the home side's favour, and three points from Conroy, Feely and Cregg left the sides level once more.

However, Nolan scored the winning point to bring a superb advertisement for ladies’ football in the county to a close and ensure that Brigid’s topped the group, leaving Boyle second.

In the other game in Group A, a personal haul of 2-4 from Cara Cox ensured that St. Barry’s finished third with a 2-14 to 2-8 victory against Shannon Gaels in Tarmonbarry.

Georgia Gerrity pitched in with 0-5, while Edel Beirne exuded control for the winners and scored 0-4. Millie Hagan was the other contributor on the scoreboard with a point.

Sarah Keane and Chloe Dunne were the goalscorers for Shannon Gaels.

Éire Óg and Clann na nGael claimed the first two spots in Group B, thanks to victories over St. Ciaran’s and St. Dominic’s respectively.

Éire Óg secured top billing with a comfortable 1-11 to 0-7 victory against St. Ciaran’s in Ballaghaderreen.

Rebecca Finan took over from where she left off against Clann a few days earlier, hitting 1-3 from play in the opening half as Ray Doory’s side opened up a 1-7 to 0-2 lead at the break.

St. Ciaran’s were much improved in the second half as Ciara Dowd, Rebecca Brennan and Laura Mannion split the posts.

A hat-trick of scores from Amy Doory was the highlight of the second 30 minutes from an Éire Óg perspective, although 12 wides over the hour hinted at some room for improvement in the scoring stakes.

Clann na nGael put five goals past St. Dominic’s to secure second place with a 5-10 to 1-7 victory in Johnstown.

With Áine Connaughton and Kelley Colgan back in the Clann team, an early Caoimhe Lennon goal settled the hosts.

It got better for Clann as Shauna Bannon, Kara Earle, Ruth Finlass and Hope Glynn added green flags to procure a 5-5 to 0-3 lead for John Molloy’s side at the break, and they held their opponents at arm’s length for the remainder of the game to prevail.

As a result of Thursday evening’s results, the quarter-final line-up is as follows:

St. Brigid’s v St. Dominic’s

Boyle v St. Ciaran’s

Éire Óg v Shannon Gaels

Clann na nGael v St. Barry’s

*Reports from Boyle v St. Brigid’s and Éire Óg v St. Ciaran’s alongside a round-up from Thursday evening’s remaining senior and intermediate championship action in next Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald