Brigid’s ladies now the clear front runners for senior crown

Roscommon LGFA round-up

St. Brigid’s are suddenly the clear front runners in the Dermot Hughes Cars Roscommon LGFA Senior Championship after they put Clann na nGael to the sword in Kiltoom on Sunday, racking up a 9-13 to 5-6 win over their neighbours in front of new county intermediate manager Finbar Egan.

The win, which saw Marian Nolan top score with 2-7 while Ciara Walsh (1-3) and Áine O’Brien (2-0) also scored well, means that St. Brigid’s have now beaten the two 2023 county finalist clubs by a combined total of 60 points on successive weekends.

The only black mark for manager Laura Harrison and her players was a knee injury to Kate Nolan, which saw the county player carried off midway through the second half (see full report in this week's Westmeath Independent).

Reigning intermediate champions Éire Óg will also be delighted with the weekend’s action, as they travelled to Croghan and picked up a 1-8 to 0-7 victory against Shannon Gaels, their first at senior level this year.

Sorcha Bruen and Michaela Dunne caught the eye in the early stages when Shannon Gaels hit four of the first five points, but Éire Óg dug their heels in and drew level.

The second half continued to be a nip and tuck affair before Rebecca Madden scored the game’s only goal with seven minutes remaining, pouncing on a rebound to find the net.

Alongside St. Brigid’s, St. Dominic’s are assured of a county semi-final spot after they posted a 1-15 to 0-11 win over Boyle that leaves the county champions’ hopes of defending their crown hanging by a thread.

Pat Leonard’s side have been decimated with absences and injuries this year, but the return of Sinéad Glennon and Kate Harrington was a boost for this home fixture, where they were very competitive until Hannah Murray’s first half goal put St. Dominic’s in control.

Aoife Gavin (0-6) and Aimee O’Connor (0-8) were in sensational form along the spine of the St. Dominic’s attack, with Niamh Watson a tower of strength at midfield for the winners.

Boyle did get to grips with the defensive challenge after half-time, when they trailed by 1-7 to 0-4, with Ruth Johnson making a handful of key saves to keep the score that tight.

The third quarter was still controlled by Dominic’s, but four of the last five points went Boyle’s way, to give them a hue boost in advance of what is now a do-or-die trip to Loughglynn next Sunday.

Intermediate Championship

In the Coachman’s Inn/Harry’s Restaurant Intermediate Championship, St. Ciarán’s continued their impressive recent form with a 1-15 to 1-9 win over St. Barry’s last Wednesday.

Both sides traded early points in a high-quality game until Tara O’Brien was pulled down and Ciara Dowd dispatched the subsequent penalty to put the 2023 finalists into the driving seat.

Laura Fleming, Sheena Kilroe and Aideen O’Brien were among the key influences as St. Ciarán’s controlled possession despite playing into the wind, building up a 1-7 to 0-5 lead while Shannon McGuinness and Sarah Rodgers led the attack for the visitors.

St. Barry’s levelled the game with a quickfire 1-2 at the start of the second half but the introduction of Honor Ennis and Niamh Farrell further strengthened St. Ciarán’s, with Fleming (0-6) and Dowd (1-8) dominating the scoring charts.

At Enfield, St. Croan’s took over second place thanks to a 0-14 to 1-7 win over Michael Glaveys. St Croan’s held a narrow lead at the break but Shannon Hibbitt’s goal early in the second half made it competitive.

Áine Ward, Leah Malone, Leah Egan and Ella Thompson were best for Croan’s as they finished strongly to pick up their win.

Junior Championship

The Leydon Brothers Junior Championship continues to be one of the most keenly contested championships in the county, and wins for Pádraig Pearses, Northern Harps and St. Mary’s mean that they continue to look like the real front runners.

Pearses were comfortable in their 10-19 to 0-4 win over a depleted Strokestown side with Áine Galvin and Lorraine Kenny leading the charge, and they now look to have the upper hand in the race for top spot in Group A and the automatic semi-final spot that comes with it.

Northern Harps also picked up a win in this group, but their 2-9 to 2-8 win over Castlerea was a very different story. In a game of two halves at O’Rourke Park last Wednesday evening, Castlerea led by 2-7 to 2-5 at half-time, with two Ciara Cunningham goals keeping Northern Harps in the game.

In deteriorating weather conditions, Castlerea missed a string of chances early in the second half and they were made to pay when Lauren Shanagher picked off a superb solo point to give Harps the win and heap pressure on Castlerea in advance of their trip to Woodmount next Sunday.

In Group B, the only game played was at Tulsk, where Aoife Jones, Aoife Beirne and Sandra Keane stood out on St. Mary’s 5-13 to 1-8 win over Clann na nGael.