Seeking first win after loss to Monaghan
Lidl Ladies Football League Division Two
Monaghan 0-7 Roscommon 0-6
Manager Finbar Egan says three key players will be back and available to play this Sunday as Roscommon bid to bounce back from last weekend’s opening round defeat to Monaghan in the Lidl Ladies Football League.
Speaking to the Roscommon People, Egan said that Niamh Watson, Laura Fleming and Aine O’Meara will all be back for this Sunday’s game against Clare, in Enfield.
A second-half revival by Roscommon last Sunday just fell short as Monaghan hung on to record a narrow victory in difficult conditions in Johnstown.
Trailing by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break, Roscommon held their opponents scoreless in the second period, but a number of missed chances cost Finbar Egan’s side dearly in the end.
Roscommon’s only two first-half scores came from Róise Lennon and Caoimhe Cregg as Monaghan made the most of their possession. While Roscommon had plenty of ball in the second half, unfortunately seven of their total of nine wides came in that period.
Without Laura Fleming, Roscommon were not as sharp up front. While they cut the deficit to the bare minimum with five minutes to go, they just couldn’t manage an equalising score.
This Sunday, Roscommon have another home game as they entertain Clare in Enfield (2 pm). Roscommon manager Finbar Egan says he is welcoming a number of experienced players back to his squad this week.
“Niamh Watson, Laura Fleming, and Aine O’Meara will all be back and they will add experience to the side for the match against Clare”.
Reflecting on the one-point loss to Monaghan, the Roscommon manager says that nerves played a big part in the display.
“We had five or six players playing in their first game at that level and they were nervous to start with, but once they got into the game we improved a lot. I thought that our work rate was phenomenal and we will definitely improve”.
Egan says that Clare are a very good side. “I would rate Clare a better team than Monaghan so we will have our work cut out on Sunday, but I am confident that we will improve and with some of our experienced players back I am expecting a big performance”.
Roscommon (v Monaghan): Helena Cummins; Rachel Brady, Saoirse Wynne, Orla O’Neill; Saoirse Timon, Ellen Irwin, Rita Lennon; Lisa O’Rourke, Abby Curran; Laura Mannion, Shannon McGuinness (0-1), Caoimhe Cregg (0-1); Aisling Hanly, Róise Lennon (0-1, free), Caoimhe Lennon (0-2). Subs: Ella Thompson (0-1) for Nolan (h/t), Megan Kelly for Brady (38), Aimee O’Connor for Curran (54).
