Brigid's maintain winning habit but key player out for season

Roscommon LGFA round-up

Clann na nGael will meet St Dominic’s in one of the two Dermot Hughes Cars Roscommon LGFA Senior Championship semi-finals, while the identity of St Brigid’s opponents is all that is left to be decided, with four round robin games out of 21 still to play.

St Brigid’s easily accounted for Kilbride by 4-10 to 0-4 at Kiltoom last weekend. Alison Nugent, Áine O’Brien, Sarah O’Rourke and Marian Nolan were the goalscorers for the championship favourites, who were rocked by the news that Kate Nolan’s injury was confirmed as a season-ending ACL rupture.

Kilbride, who still have to play both Shannon Gaels and Éire Óg, remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Shannon Gaels had a strong finish in their clash with Clann na nGael at Johnstown, but it was to no avail as Kayleigh Dunning’s hat-trick, as well as a strong scoring display from Róise Lennon and a goal from a Ruth Finlass free meant that Clann were 17 points in front at one stage.

Sorcha Bruen and Orla Mullaney found the net for Shannon Gaels to leave the final score more balanced at 5-11 to 3-7, but it still means that it would take a remarkable series of results for Shannon Gaels to somehow sneak ahead of Boyle and Éire Óg into the final semi-final spot.

Éire Óg are in control of their own destiny after they picked up an 0-7 each draw with Boyle, who are now hanging on by a thread. It looked like the champions were on the cusp of their exit at half-time in Loughglynn, when Rebecca Finan’s five-point haul had the home side 0-6 to 0-3 in front. But with Caoimhe Cregg to the fore at centre-back, Boyle hung in there and ultimately salvaged a share of the spoils through stoppage time Kate Harrington free.

In the Coachman’s Inn/Harry’s Restaurant Intermediate Championship, it’s just as clear who are at the top of the queue for championship glory, with one round of group games still to be played.

St Ciarán’s didn’t let poor conditions deter them in their trip to Frenchpark, where Laura Fleming got both goals in a 2-12 to 0-2 win for last year’s finalists over Western Gaels. The Galway-border club are assured of top spot in the group, but St Barry’s are coming up on the rails with a storming run after they posted a 6-16 to 0-5 win over St Croan’s.

In a comfortable home win, the St Barry’s goals were scored by Shannon McGuinness (two), Emer Callaghan (two, one penalty), Orlaigh Tighe and Grace Cox. The Tarmonbarry side are now in second place in the table, in advance of their penultimate game against Kilmore/Kilglass.

It was another tough outing for Kilmore/Kilglass, who saw Niamh Fleming (five), Shannon Hibbit (two) and Joanne Ronan rack up the goals in an 8-11 to 1-6 win for Michael Glaveys.

As has been the case all summer, Group One of the Leydon Brothers Junior Championship has provided plenty of drama and excitement, and it was more of the same last weekend, where Oran picked up a 2-12 to 3-8 win over Northern Harps that keeps their championship dreams alive.

Northern Harps have made a habit of slow starts this year but this time they flipped that script, with Ciara Cunningham getting on the mark with two early goals and excellent points from Lauren Shanagher and Shauna McGrath. Niamh Walsh’s goal before half-time was a life saver for Oran, reducing the interval lead to four points, and with the introduction of Hazel Kelly and Anna Hussey, they were a transformed side. Oran knew it was now or never, do or die, and they did enough to secure the win and a place in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile Pádraig Pearses have topped the group and Castlerea St Kevin’s miss out on the back of Pearses’ 3-11 to 3-7 win in Woodmount. The game was in the balance at half-time at 2-5 each, but goalkeeper Áine Keenan had kept wind-assisted Castlerea in the game with two fine saves, and Pearses were able to use the wind to preserve their unbeaten record after half-time.

Michaela Keogh’s point and Lorraine Kenny’s goal early in the second half helped Pearses put distance between the teams, but Aoife O’Rourke’s goal close to the end made it a nervy finish for the South Roscommon side.

In the other group, Four Roads got two early goals and then held out against the wind to trail by 2-9 to 2-4 at half-time in their home game against Roscommon Gaels, before cutting loose to win by 9-9 to 2-13 at the end. There was also action in the Junior 'C' championship, with St Michael’s/St Ronan’s securing a 4-11 to 1-6 win over St Dominic’s at Cootehall.