Roscommon ladies gearing up for semi final challenge

 

THE Roscommon senior ladies’ team are preparing to face Limerick in the semi-final of the Tesco Homegrown Division 4 NFL in Birr on Saturday evening (throw-in: 7pm).

The two sides last met in round 3 of the league in Dr Hyde Park in February when Roscommon were the victors by 1-14 to 0-4.

Kieran Kilkenny’s Roscommon charges will be buoyed by their recent victory over Antrim in a must-win round 7 game played in Belfast and will be hoping to book their place in the final on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Limerick, who were missing several players due to camogie commitments when the teams last met, will also fancy their chances of a place in the final, with the return of their most decorated player, Dymphna O’Brien, providing a huge boost. O’Brien scored 6-2 in their final league game as they recorded an emphatic victory over table-toppers Offaly (8-11 to 1-5).

Roscommon minor ladies, meanwhile, got their Connacht championship back on track with a comprehensive victory over Leitrim in Ballinamore last Saturday evening. Roscommon dominated the game throughout and finished on a score-line of Roscommon 3-12, Leitrim 2-5 - the Roscommon goals coming from Shannon Cull and Clann na nGael's Kayleigh Dunning (Clann na nGael).

Aside from Dunning, there is a plenty of South Roscommon representation on the minor panel in Orla O’Neill, Saoirse McManus, Ciara Quinn and Ashleigh Rose Coyle (all Clann na nGael), Karen O’Boyle and Nicole Nestor (both St Brigid’s), Aine Ryan (Padraig Pearses), and Aisling McNally (St Dominic’s).

Following a heavy defeat away to Mayo, the Roscommon U14 ladies also returned to winning ways last weekend when they had four points to spare over Sligo in round three of the Connacht Championship in Ballinlough.

Clann na nGael are represented on this team by Sinead Farrell and Amy Quinn, while Padraig Pearses duo Aine Galvin and Heather Payne were also involved. Five St Dominic’s players are also included in the U14 panel - Eimear McNally, Aoife Gavin, Julie Healey, Sorcha Casey and Ciara Corcoran.

The Roscommon U14s now have a three-week break before they meet Galway in round 4.