Local derby with All-Ireland final place up for grabs
Westmeath and Roscommon ladies footballers will do battle for a place in an All-Ireland final on Sunday in Glennon Bros Pearse Park, Longford (throw-in 1pm).
The sides will meet in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Intermediate semi-final.
Lake County manager Sean Finnegan said he was eagerly looking forward to facing up their western neighbours.
“Every time you play in an All-Ireland semi-final, even though it might be the last Sunday in November, it is fantastic. I’ll be brutally honest, that’s where we expected to be when we started back, and that’s not being disrespectful to Longford or Louth. It’s a big challenge, but it’s great to be involved, and we’re really looking forward to it.”
When asked had he much information on next Sunday’s opponents, the Westmeath bainisteoir responded: “Up until last Sunday week, we didn’t even think about them. We dealt with Longford first and then Louth. It was only after we had beaten Louth that our minds turned to Roscommon. For the last few days, I’ve been watching their two matches this season against Wexford and Offaly. That’s the benefit of everything being on social media.
“We’ve looked at them in quite a bit of detail. They are a very good outfit and have been around a while at this level. They were unlucky in last year’s semi-final and they are a battle-hardened outfit. They are there on merit and we are going to have to play well to beat them.”
In contrast, Roscommon manager Michael Finneran believes his side have a bonus game against a side he described as excellent.
“All the pressure is on Westmeath. They are expected to bounce back up,” Finneran said, of his opponents who were relegated from the senior tier last season.
“This is bonus territory now and we can go and have a cut at it on Sunday and measures ourselves against a really good team," he added.
Finneran said spirits are very high in the camp ahead of the semi-final. “The girls are delighted. The fact that we were able to play football and the fact that their efforts have been rewarded to a certain extent, they are delighted.”
The panels
The panels
Westmeath intermediate ladies panel
Lauren McCormack Mullingar Shamrocks
Rachel Dillon Milltown
Lucy Power The Downs
Niamh Spellman Mullingar Shamrocks
Vicky Carr St. Lomans
Fiona Claffey Foxrock-Cabinteely
Ayesha Roche Kilbeggan Shamrocks
Johanna Maher Tyrrellspass
Tracey Dillon Milltown
Leona Archibold St Loman’s Mullingar
Anna Jones Mullingar Shamrocks
Lucy McCartan St Loman’s Mullingar
Sarah Dolan Garrycastle
Ciara Blundell St. Loman’s
Karen Hegarty Mullingar Shamrocks
Aoife Temple Athlone
Abbie Sheerin Milltown
Annie Dolan Clann Gaels
Chloe Smullen Mullingar shamrocks
Clodagh Dillon Milltown
Emma Ballesty Milltown
Emma Kelly Moate
Fiona Coyle St. Mary’s Rochfortbridge
Grace Halligan Garrycastle
Jennifer Rogers Milltown
Leanne Slevin Milltown
Lorraine Duncan Garrycastle
Sarah McCormack Moate
Sinéad Byrne Milltown
Sinéad Murtagh Coralstown/Kinnegad
Tara Fagan Mullingar Shamrocks
Jill Draper Kilbeggan Shamrocks
Roscommon intermediate ladies football panel
Helena Cummins Michael Glavey's
Honor Ennis St Ciaran's
Sinéad Kenny St Croan's
Elaine Murren Western Gaels
Niamh Watson St Dominic's
Ellen Irwin St Faithleach’s
Róisín Wynne Boyle
Caroline Conway Ballyboden Wanderers, Dublin
Jenny Higgins Western Gaels
Laura Fleming St Ciaran's
Natalie McHugh Kilglass Gaels
Joanne Cregg Michael Glavey's
Aimee O'Connor St Dominic's
Aoife Gavin St Dominic's
Sinéad Glennon Boyle
Sasha Lavin Western Gaels
Rachel Brady St Mary's
Sarah McVeigh St Barry's
Rachel Fitzmaurice St Ciaran's
Louise Brady St Mary's
Kate Nolan St Brigid's
Megan Kelly Clann na nGael
Rachel Corcoran St Dominic's
Saoirse Wynne Boyle
Ciara Corcoran St Dominic's
Mikaela McHugh Kilglass Gaels
Lauren Curran St Brigid's
Alanna Hanmore Castlerea St Kevin's
Shannon McGuinness St Barry's
Lisa O'Rourke Castlerea St Kevin's