Roscommon minor ladies beaten by brilliant Banner outfit

Ladies Football: All-Ireland Minor B semi-final 

Clare 7-16
Roscommon 4-12

Roscommon Minor Ladies bowed out of the championship with defeat to an impressive Clare side at a very warm Duggan Park, Ballinasloe last Saturday.

In what was a very high scoring game, it however took eight minutes for the first score to be registered. This was a point for Roscommon from the boot of Saoirse McManus. Roscommon were the more prominent in the opening exchanges but were not creating significant scoring chances.

Clare opened their account in the 11th minute through a point from wing-forward Katie Connole. A minute later, Clare added a second point from full-forward Chloe Moloney. The same player had a goal chance in the 14th minute but an interception from the Roscommon defence conceded a '45, which eventually led to a pointed free by Grainne Nolan.

In the 16th minute a great run through the middle by centre-back Orla O’Neill (Clann na nGael) put Saoirse McManus free inside the Clare defence. A rising shot yielded a point. Roscommon were level one minute later with a point by Joan Geoghegan.

Clare got their first goal of the game in the 25th minute from Chloe Moloney. After a point from the same player extended Clare’s lead, a 28th-minute goal from Clare’s corner-forward Aoife O’Gorman added to Roscommon’s woes. Clare were now leading by nine points.

Roscommon’s response was emphatic. After a shot from Joan Geoghegan came back off the crossbar, Saoirse McManus was on hand to finish the ball to the net. This was followed one minute later with another goal for Roscommon, Lisa Flynn finding the net after another searing run by Orla O’Neill.
After converting a free, Clare had the last score of the half with a goal from full-forward Chloe Moloney. This left the half-time score at 3-7 to 2-3 in favour of the Banner girls.

The second half saw the introduction of Aine Ryan and the moving of Clann na nGael’s Kayleigh Dunning into the full-forward line. Roscommon opened the second half scoring with a point from a free by Lisa Flynn. Orla Devitt added a point for Clare in the 40th minute. This was followed by a goal from the same player a minute later.

A point for Roscommon by Kayleigh Dunning followed. Roscommon added further points from Dunning, Lisa Flynn and Saffron Cull.

As the second half progressed, the superiority of the Clare forwards began to become more pronounced. Clare added two further goals in the 44th and 45th minutes, and two points from Grainne Nolan further emphasised their dominance. Carla Behan added another two points for Clare, who were in full flow and kept adding points to their tally.

In the 52nd minute, Lisa Flynn dispatched a rebound to the net after her initial effort was saved by the Clare keeper. The teams exchanged points with Roscommon’s point coming from Aine Ryan. 

Points by Lisa Flynn (free) and Judy McDermott reduced the deficit, but well taken goal in the 58th minute from the impressive Chloe Moloney added to Clare’s tally. Following a weaving run, Leah Lavin added a point for Roscommon. Clare responded with their final goal of the game, before Roscommon completed the scoring with a goal from Lisa Flynn.

The Roscommon girls matched their counterparts for many stages of the games but it was the Clare forwards that made the telling difference. They played with great pace and had many star players on show. Aoife Jones tried very hard throughout but had the unenviable task of trying to get to grips with the best player on the field. Orla O’Neill was impressive in starting attacks from centre half-back. Most impressive in the forwards were Lisa Flynn and Kayleigh Dunning. Saoirse McManus was at the end of number of good moves in the first half.

Roscommon: R Timothy; M Kelly, A Jones, N Regan; S Bruen (capt), O O’Neill, A McAuliffe; E Wallace, A Hanley; L Flynn (3-3), J Geoghegan (0-1), K Dunning (0-2); S McManus (1-2), S Cull (0-1), T Kelly. Subs used: A Ryan (0-1), A-R Coyle, J McDermott (0-1), L Lavin (0-1), N Nestor. Subs not used: K O’Boyle, R Harte, A McNally, C Quinn, O Nicholson, L Flanagan, H Ennis.