Teams recharge ambitions in LGFA Junior B and C championships

With players from the Roscommon LGFA senior, intermediate and junior championships all granted a week to recharge their batteries — many choosing to do so at a certain Picnic that is known for high voltage — the stage was wide open for the leading contenders to lay down markers in the Castlerea Vehicle Recycling Junior B and C championships.

Three “first” teams compete at this grade and all three are shaping up nicely, with Roscommon Gaels already assured of top spot in Group A while Strokestown have a quarter-final berth secured just behind them.

Meanwhile St. Michael’s/St. Ronan’s made it three wins from three starts and their trip to Kilbride next Saturday will determine the automatic semi-finalists from Group B.

The ‘Saints’ had an even longer road trip last Thursday evening away to St. Dominic’s, but they shrugged off that challenge and didn’t waste time exploiting the gale at their backs in the opening half.

Danielle Gannon pointed from the first attack, Hannah Keaveny found the net on the next play and while St. Dominic’s steadied the ship from there, former Galway United defender Keara Cormican anchored the visitors brilliantly at centre-back, repelling all St. Dominic’s attacks during a relatively strong spell for the home side.

The contest turned decisively in the visitors' favour in the second quarter as they ruthlessly struck for three goals in as many minutes from Sarah Lee, Keaveny and Lee again.

Lee’s hat-trick goal helped to make it 5-10 to 0-0 at half time, with all scores coming from play. Her fourth goal after the break was the final green flag as St. Dominic’s outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-4 for the remainder, including four from Emma Connaughton frees, making it 6-14 to 0-5 at the finish.

On a weekend when there were a lot of impressive scoring displays, the most enjoyable contest, despite the inclement weather, was Kilbride’s home tie against Pádraig Pearses.

The visitors started brilliantly in the hunt for their first win of the campaign — goals from Katelyn Keogh and Laoise Costello helping them to lead by 3-3 to 0-2 approaching half-time. Jennifer Garvey pointed and Sinéad Clabby found the net for “Rocky’s Rebels” before the interval, however, and Kilbride built on that to lead by six points going into the last ten minutes, with further goals coming from Clabby, Garvey and Bernie Donnelly.

To Pearses’ credit, they didn’t go away and halved the gap before rattling the crossbar when a goal would have levelled the tie. Kilbride’s 4-7 to 4-4 win is enough to ensure that they and Shannon Gaels will fill quarter-final berths at worst, but Kilbride can still top the group with a win next Saturday.

It was even busier in Group A where Strokestown won their first games on the field, adding to an earlier walkover. The return of Colleen Cauneen was a huge boost to an extremely young panel, with only three players out of their teens togging out in black and amber this year.

Jessica Lee racked up 5-9 for Strokestown in their 6-21 to 7-7 win over St. Ciarán’s in what was a thrilling contest, with Emily and Sarah Dixon also catching the eye for the ‘Town.

Lee picked up where she left off on Sunday evening in Ballinlough, scoring 3-8 in a 3-16 to 3-4 win over Michael Glaveys. Abby Regan, Shauna Casey and the Dixon sisters took full advantage of the space afforded by a 13-a-side fixture at the West Roscommon venue.

Glaveys will now have to beat Roscommon Gaels in the final round to extend their season at this level, and that looks unlikely as the Gaels continue to look impressive in what was a high-quality 1-14 to 1-10 win over Clann na nGael.

In another windswept encounter in Lisnamult, Clann started incredibly well into the wind kicking the first three points, before Roscommon Gaels found their feet.

Aoife Connolly kicked the lead score after 13 minutes but it was Emily O’Reilly — scorer of 1-8 by the end — who led the charge as the Gaels established a 0-10 to 0-4 interval lead.

Eva Biesty and Amy Gavin added points before O’Reilly’s goal concluded the Gaels’ scoring early in the second half. Zara Fallon and Eve McNeill were very much to the fore as Roscommon Gaels defended well before Clann tacked on 1-3 in the last five minutes to narrow the margin.

This coming week will see further group games in the Coachman’s Inn/Harry’s Restaurant IFC and final round of round robin fixtures in the Castlerea Vehicle Recycling Junior B/C, while on Thursday evening across the county the Family Care Practice U-19 finals will take place.

Boyle will take on St. Croan’s in the Division Three final, the Division Two decider will be a local derby between Pádraig Pearses and St. Brigid’s, and the Division One final will be between St. Dominic’s and St. Barry’s.

*Please see www.roscommonlgfa.ie/fixtures-2025 for all updated fixtures and results. Roscommon LGFA would like to thank Dermot Hughes Cars, Coachman’s Inn/Harry’s Restaurant, Leydon Brothers and Castlerea Vehicle Recycling for their generous sponsorship of the adult club championships in the county.