Finneran: No complaints, Meath a step ahead

DAIRE WALSH

Following his side’s crushing All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final defeat to Meath at Nowlan Park on Saturday, Roscommon ladies football manager admitted they were beaten by a better side on the day.

“They’re [Meath] a really strong team and for us to have gotten the better of them today, we’d have needed all the tight calls. Things like that to go for us and instead they went against us. The penalty I thought was debatable. Not to give out about it because Meath, in fairness, were just a step ahead of us today,” Finneran acknowledged after the game.

“Every time we battled back into the game, where we thought we might get a foothold, they did seem to get a goal. They picked a superb goal there, their last goal. Just when I thought maybe if we bang a goal with 15 minutes to go, we could mount a comeback. Instead they go down the field and score a wonder goal. They’re an excellent team and fully deserved winners today.”

Despite coming up short at the semi-final stage for a second year in succession, the Roscommon squad can reflect positively on the way 2019 has panned out overall. Consecutive wins over Leitrim and Sligo guided them towards a Connacht title, while Offaly and Kildare were also accounted for on their road to the penultimate round.

“The girls would have loved to have gotten to Croke Park and competing for an All-Ireland title. That’s not to be. Overall, you’d have to say we’ve had a good championship. A really good run winning Connacht, we’ve been good in the All-Ireland series up to this,” Finneran said.

“A really good performance against Kildare the last day. A lot more highs than lows. Overall, I’d have to say quite happy but disappointed to fall at this hurdle now. We felt there was more in us. We’ve just come up a small bit short.”

Whereas their opponents on Saturday will be plying their trade in Division Two of the LIDL National Football League in 2020, Roscommon remain a tier below them moving into the new year.

Finneran believes promotion through the NFL can be the key to their evolution as a championship team and with the depth of the squad increasing year-by-year, this appears well within their grasp.

“There’s a great panel there. We got a lot of new players into the panel this year. It’s a strong panel, stronger in depth than it was last year. The girls are in a position to push on. The next step would be to get up in the leagues. We’re going to have to get these girls up to Division Two to be competing at All-Ireland series level here in championship,” Finneran added.

All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final

Meath 4-20

Roscommon 1-12

Roscommon’s memorable All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship odyssey came to an end at the hands of an excellent Meath side at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny last Saturday afternoon.

Despite being on level terms with the Royals on the stroke of 20 minutes – and just three points adrift shortly after the restart – the Rossies couldn’t get to grips with the impressive firepower of the Leinster outfit.

Éire Óg’s Rebecca Finan led the way throughout for Michael Finneran’s charges, finishing the contest with seven points to her name. Aimee O’Connor found the net during the opening period, while substitute Sinead Glennon had a positive impact off the bench.

The primrose and blue had suffered a heavy reversal to the Royals at the same stage last year, and looked to keep it tight during the early exchanges of their latest meeting. In a tentative opening, a Vikki Wall point was cancelled out by a Finan free at a right-hand angle.

There were some warning signs for the Roscommon defence as Orla Byrne flashed a shot inches past the post in the seventh-minute. The Duleek/Bellewstown star eventually opened her account after breaking through the middle and half-forward partner Emma Duggan was also on target for the easterners.

Although Paul Garrigan’s charges passed up a number of opportunities in the first quarter, their maiden goal inevitably arrived on the stroke of ten minutes. At the end of a fast-paced move, Fiona O’Neill was on hand to kick home.

This was a significant set-back for Roscommon, though Finan split the posts either side of an O’Neill single to keep their dream of a final place alive. Indeed, after Western Gaels’ Jenny Higgins and Duggan traded scores, they forced their way back on level terms.

Another Finan point lifted the spirits of the travelling Rossies and it was quickly supplemented by an O’Connor goal off a precise Natalie McHugh pass. The tie was finely balanced as a result and the western women appeared primed to push on for the remainder of the half.

Instead, it was the catalyst for Meath to signpost their own championship aspirations. O’Neill and Duggan contributed points in succession, before Bridgetta Lynch and Kelsey Nesbitt combined to release Byrne for a superb goal.

Another score for the increasingly influential Byrne further emphasised their authority, but Finan’s fifth of the half did at least help Roscommon to end the half in an encouraging manner. There was an additional glimmer of hope on the resumption, when Laura Fleming and the excellent Finan clipped unanswered points.

Unfortunately, their quest for a place in the mid-September showpiece suffered a decisive blow on 36 minutes. As she bore down on goal, the raiding Duggan was fouled inside the square by Kilbride centre-back Alice Kelly.

Referee Stephen McNulty initially played an advantage only to finally award a penalty in Meath’s favour. Duggan dusted herself off to negotiate the resulting spot-kick and expertly slotted beyond the reach of Helena Cummins.

There was a sense that the floodgates were beginning to open at this juncture and while both sides lost players to the sin-bin, it was Meath who dominated proceedings edging towards the final-quarter.

Duggan’s two-point salvo afforded them further leeway and Wall unleashed a thunderbolt to the roof of the net on 44 minutes. Wing-back Megan Thynne also ventured forward to kick a fine score – giving them a seemingly unassailable 4-11 to 1-8 cushion in the process.

Glennon and Higgins eventually ended this lengthy scoring sequence with well-worked points at the far end. McHugh and Finan (free) also found the range in response to Nesbitt and Wall efforts for Meath.

Nonetheless, with places up for grabs ahead of their latest second-tier final appearance, it was Meath who finished the game on a high. Substitutes Emma White (two) and Kate Byrne staked their claims for a starting berth by supplementing O’Neill, Byrne and Nesbitt points in the dying moments.

It was ultimately a disappointing way for Roscommon’s campaign to draw to a close, but it has been a productive 2019 overall for a progressing side.

MEATH: Monica McGuirk; Katie Newe, Sarah Powderly, Orlaith Duff; Shauna Ennis, Megan Thynne (0-1), Sarah Wall; Maire O’Shaughnessy, Aoibhin Cleary; Vikki Wall (1-2), Emma Duggan (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), Orla Byrne (1-3); Bridgetta Lynch, Fiona O’Neil (1-4), Kelsey Nesbitt (0-2).

Subs used: Emma White (0-2) for Lynch (47), Megan O’Brien for S Wall (50), Kate Byrne (0-1) for O’Shaughnessy (55), Shelly Melia for O’Neill, Aoibheann Leahy for Duggan (both 56).

ROSCOMMON: Helena Cummins; Honor Ennis, Amanda McLoone, Niamh Feeney; Joanne Cregg, Alice Kelly, Sorcha Bruen; Sinead Kenny, Laura Fleming (0-1); Siobhan Tully, Roisin Wynne, Natalie McHugh (0-1); Rebecca Finan (0-7, 4f), Aimee O’Connor (1-0), Jenny Higgins (0-2).

Subs used: Megan Kelly for Feeney (37), Sinead Glennon (0-1) for O’Connor, Rachel Brady for Cregg (both 43), Katie Daly for Fleming (51), Rachel Fitzmaurice for Tully (52).

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow).

• Written by Daire Walsh

Gallant Sligo fall short in semi final

ALL-IRELAND INTERMEDIATE LADIES FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

TIPPERARY…………….3-15

SLIGO…………………….3-5

By Daire Walsh

THEY produced a gallant second half display at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Saturday afternoon, but Sligo ultimately fell short to an impressive Tipperary in the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship semi-final.

Trailing 3-9 to 0-2 with just 22 minutes gone on the clock, the Yeats County proceeded to outscore their Munster counterparts for the remainder of the contest.

While it eventually resulted in a fourth consecutive exit at the last-four stage, Sligo can take great heart and encouragement from the way they responded to a problematic opening.

Despite being on the receiving end of a 3-12 to 2-9 reversal at the hands of Roscommon in this year’s Connacht decider, Sligo bounced back to reach the knockout rounds of the All-Ireland series.

They subsequently edged out the challenge of Offaly, setting up a meeting with Tipperary at the penultimate phase of the competition.

It was always going to be an arduous task against Shane Ronayne’s charges, who were champions at this grade as recently as 2017.

Since retaining their Division One league status in the spring time, the Premier had recorded seven champions win on the bounce.

This made them firm favourites to prevail on the day and they stormed in front with a plethora of unanswered scores.

Aishling Moloney, full-back Maria Curley, Caoimhe Condon and Angela McGuigan all found the target for the rampant southerners.

Sligo eventually hit back through Sarah Reynolds – the centre-forward pointing at the end of an incisive run.

However, this only provided Ted Maloney’s side with a temporary respite.

Squeezed in between a brace of Moloney points, Condon rattled the net off a precise McGuigan pass. This propelled Tipperary into an eight-point cushion and the signs were already quite ominous for Sligo.

They registered a series of wides in succession during the first-quarter and Eoghan Rua’s Sinead Naughton was forced to work hard for a 13th-minute score.

Tipperary were much more efficient with the chances that came their way and maintained a safe distance between themselves and Sligo.

Aisling McCarthy and Roisin Daly raised white flags for the two-time winners – in advance of a clinical McGuigan major on 18 minutes.

After Condon added another point via Moloney’s excellent approach play, the Brian Borus attacker beat St Nathy’s netminder Noelle Gormley for a second time.

Sligo were searching for something to inject fresh life into their play and Ciara Gorman produced it in the 24th-minute.

When presented with a one-on-one opportunity, she delivered a composed finish beyond the reach of Lauren Fitzpatrick.

Nevertheless, a Moloney free ensured Tipperary brought a seemingly unassailable 3-10 to 1-2 cushion into the break.

Sligo had introduced Lauren Boles, Stephanie O’Reilly and Michelle McNamara prior to the interval, and they all made a significant difference.

Following traded frees by Elaine O’Reilly and Moloney, the energetic Stephanie O’Reilly unleashed an unstoppable strike to the roof of the Tipperary net.

Another McCarthy point looked set to keep their rivals on track, but Sligo simply wouldn’t relent.

On the third-quarter mark, Tipp custodian Fitzpatrick was no match for Boles’ brilliant right-footed effort. This reduce the gap to nine points and even though a dramatic fightback was never going to materialise, it was clear Sligo were ready to die with their boots on. McCarthy and Katie Cunningham split the uprights in quick succession for Tipperary, only for Boles and Gorman to do likewise at the far end.

Player of the match Moloney’s sixth point of the tie eased Tipp over the line, but Sligo have left them with enough to ponder ahead of their final showdown against Meath on September 15.

Scorers – Tipperary: Caoimhe Condon 2-2, Aishling Moloney 0-6 (4f), Angela McGuigan 1-1, Aisling McCarthy 0-3, Maria Curley, Roisin Daly, Katie Cunningham 0-1 each.

Sligo: Ciara Gorman (0-1f), Lauren Boles 1-1 each, Stephanie O’Reilly 1-0, Elaine O’Reilly (f), Sarah Reynolds, Sinead Naughton 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Lucy Spillane, Maria Curley; Emma Cronin; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Caitlin Kennedy; Aisling McCarthy, Anna Rose Kennedy; Roisin Daly, Aishling Moloney, Niamh Lonergan; Caoimhe Condon, Angela McGuigan, Laura Dillon. Subs: Ava Fennessy for Lonergan, Katie Cunningham for Dillon (both 39), Anna Carey for McGuigan (45), Emma Morrissey for Daly (50).

Sligo: Noelle Gormley; Clare Dunne, Grainne O’Loughlin, Jacqui Mulligan; Bernice Byrne, Ruth Goodwin, Ann Marie Coleman; Sinead Regan, Laura-Ann Laffey; Sarah Reynolds, Sinead McTiernan, Sinead Naughton; Elaine O’Reilly, Ciara Gorman, Lisa Casey.

Subs: Lauren Boles for McTiernan, Stephanie O’Reilly for Casey (both 23), Michelle McNamara for Coleman (28), Rachel Monaghan for E O’Reilly (50).

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).

Meath and Tipperary advance to All-Ireland final

Ladies Football

Daire Walsh

Meath will face Tipperary in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final, after the Royals saw off Roscommon at Nowlan Park.

This game was in the balance well into the second-half with just three points separating the sides before Emma Duggan’s 38^th minute penalty pushed Meath clear. From there they didn’t let up and Vikki Wall ended Roscommon’s hopes with a stunning goal of the year contender at the end of the third quarter.

“We’re absolutely delighted. I thought all the girls played really, really well,” said Meath selector Shane Wall. “Whatever game plan we’ve had for every game this year, they’ve gone out and done it. They haven’t let us down all year and hopefully it’ll be the same in the final,” said Wall.

Tipperary manager Shane Ronayne said his side fell well short of the standards they have set for themselves as they saw off Sligo at Nowlan Park, 3-15 to 3-5.

Two first-half goals from Caoimhe Condon and another from Angela McGuigan had Tipperary in total control at the interval, but they only added five points to their total after the break as Sligo staged a comeback of sorts.

“We’d a very, very good first 20 minutes, had gotten an unassailable lead at that stage, but I think the last 40 minutes is something we’ll really look at hard. It wasn’t good enough,” said Ronayne.

Monaghan recorded a convincing 3-18 to 1-10 success against Westmeath at Dunleer yesterday to preserve their senior status for 2020.

Meath Advance To All-Ireland Final Over Roscommon

Meath will face Tipperary in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final after they produced a powerhouse display in overcoming Roscommon at Nowlan Park writes Daire Walsh.

The attacking quartet of Emma Duggan, Orla Byrne, Fiona O’Neill and Vicki Wall all netted for Meath, who will be seeking to make amends for last year’s final defeat to Tyrone as Meath won out 4-20 to 1-12.

In a tentative opening, points were traded between Wall and Roscommon corner-forward Rebecca Finan. The Royals eventually created some daylight with powerful contributions from Byrne and Duggan, before Dunboyne’s O’Neill kicked to the net on ten minutes to edge them five points in front.

Finan replied either side of an O’Neill point to keep Roscommon in touch and Jenny Higgins also fisted over at a tight angle.

Indeed, after Finan cancelled out a Duggan free, Natalie McHugh released full-forward Aimee O’Connor for a superb goal. Rather than being the catalyst for the Rossies, however, this finish served as a wake-up call for Meath.

After O’Neill and Duggan split the uprights in style, Byrne’s 1-1 salvo propelled Meath towards a 2-8 to 1-6 lead at the break. Finan’s fifth point had helped the westerners to end the opening period in a positive light and they reduced their deficit even further on the restart.

Supplementing Laura Fleming’s close-range effort, the outstanding Eire Og attacker dissected the posts in consummate style on the left-wing. This was the cue for Duggan to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and the Dunboyne star registered 1-2 without reply in a six-minute spell.

When she was pushed to the ground inside the square by Roscommon defender Alice Kelly, the dynamic centre-forward coolly slotted a penalty beyond the reach of Helena Cummins. She subsequently added a brace of points to sustain Meath’s momentum and their fourth goal of the contest inevitably through a Wall thunderbolt on 44 minutes.

This effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt and while Sinead Glennon, Higgins, McHugh and Finan all found the range for the Rossies, Meath continued to inflict damage at the far end.

Wing-back Megan Thynne, Kelsey Nesbitt, Emma White and Kate Byrne were the latest additions to the scoresheet as Meath eased towards their second decider in succession.

Meath: M McGuirk, K Newe, S Powderly, O Duff, S Ennis, M Thynne, S Wall, M O’Shaughnessy, A Cleary, V Wall, E Duggan, O Byrne, B Lynch, F O’Neil, K Nesbitt. Subs: E White for Lynch (47), M O’Brien for S Wall (50), K Byrne for O’Shaughnessy (55), S Melia for O’Neill (56), A Leahy for Duggan (56)

Scorers: E Duggan 1-5 (1-0 pen, 2f), F O’Neill 1-4, O Byrne 1-3, V Wall 1-2, K Nesbitt 0-2, E White 0-2, M Thynne 0-1, K Byrne 0-1

Roscommon: H Cummins, H Ennis, A McLoone, N Feeney, J Cregg, A Kelly, S Bruen, S Kenny, L Fleming, S Tully, R Wynne, N McHugh, R Finan, A O’Connor, J Higgins. Subs: M Kelly for Feeney (37), S Glennon for O’Connor (43), R Brady for Cregg (43), K Daly for Fleming (51), R Fitzmaurice for Tully (52)

Scorers: R Finan 0-7 (4f), A O’Connor 1-0, J Higgins 0-2, L Fleming 0-1, N McHugh 0-1, S Glennon 0-1

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow)

Ladies: Tipp ease towards decider date with Royals

Tipperary 3-15
Sligo 3-5

by Daire Walsh
at Nowlan Park

Tipperary booked their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship decider on September 15 with an accomplished victory against Sligo at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.

Thanks to star performances from Aisling McCarthy, Aishling Moloney and Caoimhe Condon, who top scored with 2-2, the Munster champions were full value for their victory. Sligo produced a spirited second period display, but ultimately fell to a fourth consecutive semi-final defeat.

Seeking a second title at this grade in just three years, Tipperary stormed ahead early on courtesy of unanswered points by Moloney, full-back Maria Curley, Condon and Angela McGuigan.

Sligo eventually responded through Sarah Reynolds, but a rampant Tipperary continued to dominate proceedings as the action progressed. In between a brace of Moloney points, Condon rattled the net to move the Premier County eight points in front.

Sligo registered a succession of wides during the first-quarter and Sinead Naughton had to work extremely hard for a 13th-minute score. Tipperary, on the other hand, proved to be ruthlessly efficient in front of goal.

Influential midfielder McCarthy and Roisin Daly subsequently added their names to the scoresheet, preceding clinical three-pointers for McGuigan and Condon.

Even though Ciara Gorman breathed some life into the Sligo challenge with a composed finish beyond Lauren Fitzpatrick’s reach, a Moloney free ensured Tipperary brought a 3-10 to 1-2 cushion into the interval.

Despite the heavy deficit they were facing into Sligo played with great heart on the resumption. Following traded frees from Elaine O’Reilly and Moloney, substitute Stephanie O’Reilly unleashed an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Tipperary net.

Another McCarthy point got Shane Ronayne’s side back on track, only for a sublime Lauren Boles strike to raise another green flag for Sligo on the third-quarter mark. While this offered a different look to the scoreboard, Tipperary were never truly in danger of their letting their lead slip.

McCarthy and Katie Cunningham found the target in quick succession to keep them in pole position for a final spot. Boles and Gorman claimed back-to-back points for the Yeats outfit at the opposite end, but it was Tipperary who had the final say through Moloney’s sixth point of the contest.

They will now face the winner of today’s second semi-final between Roscommon and Meath at the same venue.

Scorers – Tipperary: C Condon 2-2, A Moloney 0-6 (4f), A McGuigan 1-1, A McCarthy 0-3, M Curley 0-1, R Daly 0-1, K Cunningham 0-1.

Sligo: L Boles 1-1, C Gorman 1-1 (1f), S O’Reilly 1-0, E O’Reilly 0-1 (1f), S Reynolds 0-1, S Naughton 0-1.

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, M Curley, E Cronin; B Condon, S Lambert, C Kennedy; A McCarthy, AR Kennedy; R Daly, A Moloney, N Lonergan; C Condon, A McGuigan, L Dillon. Subs: A Fennessy for Lonergan (39), K Cunningham for Dillon (39), A Carey for McGuigan (45), E Morrissey for Daly (50).

Sligo: N Gormley; C Dunne, G O’Loughlin, J Mulligan; B Byrne, R Goodwin, AM Coleman; S Regan, LA Laffey; S Reynolds, S McTiernan, S Naughton; E O’Reilly, C Gorman, L Casey. Subs: L Boles for McTiernan (23), S O’Reilly for Casey (23), M McNamara for Coleman (28), R Monaghan for E O’Reilly (50).

Ref: Kevin Phelan (Laois).

Tipperary book place in All Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Final

Tipperary 3-15

Sligo 3-5

By Daire Walsh

Tipperary booked their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship decider on September 15 with an accomplished victory against Sligo at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.

Thanks to star performances from Aisling McCarthy, Aishling Moloney and Caoimhe Condon, who top scored with 2-2, the Munster champions were full value for their victory. Sligo produced a spirited second period display, but ultimately fell to a fourth consecutive semi-final defeat.

Seeking a second title at this grade in just three years, Tipperary stormed ahead early on courtesy of unanswered points by Moloney, full-back Maria Curley, Condon and Angela McGuigan.

Sligo eventually responded through Sarah Reynolds, but a rampant Tipperary continued to dominate proceedings as the action progressed. In between a brace of Moloney points, Condon rattled the net to move the Premier County eight points in front.

Sligo registered a succession of wides during the first-quarter and Sinead Naughton had to work extremely hard for a 13th-minute score. Tipperary, on the other hand, proved to be ruthlessly efficient in front of goal.

Influential midfielder McCarthy and Roisin Daly subsequently added their names to the scoresheet, preceding clinical three-pointers for McGuigan and Condon.

Even though Ciara Gorman breathed some life into the Sligo challenge with a composed finish beyond Lauren Fitzpatrick’s reach, a Moloney free ensured Tipperary brought a 3-10 to 1-2 cushion into the interval.

Despite the heavy deficit they were facing into Sligo played with great heart on the resumption. Following traded frees from Elaine O’Reilly and Moloney, substitute Stephanie O’Reilly unleashed an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Tipperary net.

Another McCarthy point got Shane Ronayne’s side back on track, only for a sublime Lauren Boles strike to raise another green flag for Sligo on the third-quarter mark. While this offered a different look to the scoreboard, Tipperary were never truly in danger of their letting their lead slip.

McCarthy and Katie Cunningham found the target in quick succession to keep them in pole position for a final spot. Boles and Gorman claimed back-to-back points for the Yeats outfit at the opposite end, but it was Tipperary who had the final say through Moloney’s sixth point of the contest.

They will now face the winner of today’s second semi-final between Roscommon and Meath at the same venue.

Scorers – Tipperary: C Condon 2-2, A Moloney 0-6 (4f), A McGuigan 1-1, A McCarthy 0-3, M Curley 0-1, R Daly 0-1, K Cunningham 0-1.

Sligo: L Boles 1-1, C Gorman 1-1 (1f), S O’Reilly 1-0, E O’Reilly 0-1 (1f), S Reynolds 0-1, S Naughton 0-1.

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, M Curley, E Cronin; B Condon, S Lambert, C Kennedy; A McCarthy, AR Kennedy; R Daly, A Moloney, N Lonergan; C Condon, A McGuigan, L Dillon. Subs: A Fennessy for Lonergan (39), K Cunningham for Dillon (39), A Carey for McGuigan (45), E Morrissey for Daly (50).

Sligo: N Gormley; C Dunne, G O’Loughlin, J Mulligan; B Byrne, R Goodwin, AM Coleman; S Regan, LA Laffey; S Reynolds, S McTiernan, S Naughton; E O’Reilly, C Gorman, L Casey. Subs: L Boles for McTiernan (23), S O’Reilly for Casey (23), M McNamara for Coleman (28), R Monaghan for E O’Reilly (50).

Ref: Kevin Phelan (Laois).