Fermanagh Ladies V Roscommon Ladies

from opening round losses the previous weekend.
Fermanaghs' Naoimhin Daly on her first full start for her county was to get the opening score of the game in the 3rd minute but the Roscommon girls quickly moved the ball from the resulting kick out and levelled matters less than 30 seconds later off the boot of half forward, Jenny Higgins. Roscommon struck for the first goal off the game in the 7th min ute after a long ball was played in over the top of the Fermanagh defence and half forward, Sharon Ryan, latched onto the ball and dispatched high and into the net past Janine Monahan in the Fermanagh goal.
Fermanagh created a couple of scoring chances there after but some wasteful and inaccurate shooting wasted the opportunities. Roscommon goalkeeper, Carol Manning, was on top form during the game and dealt with what the fermanagh forward had to offer until the 10th minute when Sharon Little made a jinking trademark run through the Roscommon backline to net a goal for the home team and she put Fermanagh ahead in the 13th minute with a point from play. The score after 13 minutes was Fermanagh 1-02 and Roscommon 1-01.

Roscommon struck for another goal in the 14th minute when corner forward , Ann Mc cormack hit the back off the net after firstly missing her strike completely and thus wring footing the Fermanagh defence and goalkeeper. Roscommon further extended their lead in the 16th minute with a point from Emma Casey. The roscommon girls were physically bigger than the Fermanagh girls but they were getting to grips with them at this stage of the game and Patricia Melanaphy , who had a woman of the match performance, was marshalling the Fermanagh defence well. Fermanagh were applying a lot of pressure on the Roscommon team at the half way point of the half but again wasteful shooting was to prove their Achilles heel. The next score wasn't to come until the 27th minute of the half from a Sharon Little free and in the 30th minute Aisling Moane was to round off a fine first half display with a much deserved point.

Half Time Score

Fermanagh 1-04 Roscommon 2-02

Fermanagh made no changes at half time and in the 32nd minute levelled the game with a point from team captain, Caroline Little, but less than 4 minutes later roscommon were to retake the lead with a goal from Emma Casey, Janine Monahan in the Fermanagh goal made a fantastic save from Casey's initial shot but unluckily the rebound fell back to the forward who made no mistake with her second effort. Janine injured her hand in saving the first shot and had to be replaced by Donna Gilroy in the Fermanagh goals. The score off the game was to come in the 38th minute when Fermanaghs' shauna Hamilton picked up the ball in midfield and she went on a solo run beating three Roscommon defenders and playing a 1-2 with Naoimhin Daly before hitting a vicious dipping shot past the Roscommon goalkeeper, it was the lift that the Fermanagh team needed. The score was now Fermanagh 2-05 to Roscommon's 3-02. Roscommon scored a point in the 40th minute again from Emma Casey to briefly retake the lead. The very hardworking and very impressive Imelda Mc Govern,Fermanagh's full forward, was to get a very well deserved goal in the 42nd minute to put Fermanagh back into the lead and here on in Fermanagh dominated and controlled the game. Imelda scored a point 2 minutes later to take her tally in the game to 1-01.Mary Cunningham was introduced in the 44th minute replacing Naoimhin Daly who had impressed greatly on her first full start for the Senior team. Mary cunningham almost goaled with her first touch off the ball, again Carol Manning in the Roscommon goals pulled off a great save but from the resulting 45 metre kick, Cunningham was to get to get a point as the ball was played into her and she neatly beat her marker and kicked a lovely score. The game was all but ended as a contest in the 52nd minute when Caroline Little scored Fermanagh's Fourth goal with a blistering unstoppable shot. Roisin Carron came on to replace Imelda Mc Govern at full forward and Maria Connolly replaced Orla Reihill in defence.
THe score was now Fermanagh 4-07 and Roscommon 3-03, Fermanagh had increased their intensity and cut out the wasteful shooting from the first half , Catherine Murphy was having a brilliant game for Fermanagh in midfield despite carrying a niggly leg injury. In the remaining 8 minutes of the game Fermanagh added 3 further points all from play to Roscommon's 1 point from Emma Casey,Fermanagh's scorers were Caroline Little with 0-02 and Mary Cunningham with 0-01. Caroline was replaced in the 55th minute by another senior inter county debutant, Emma O Keefe and Tara Hughes-Little was replaced by Rachel O Dolan in the 56th minute.

Fermanagh had many fine performances on the day with Catherine Conlon making a very impressive start to her senior inter county career in the half back line and the two midfielders, Aisling Moane and catherine Murphy putting in a fine shift but essentially it was a team performance that saw the Fermanagh girls over the line,so well done to all who played a part. Fermanagh play Wicklow next sunday in Hollywood Co. Wicklow.

Final Score

Fermanagh 4-10 Roscommon 3-04

Fermanagh Team

Janine Monahan..Tara Hughes-Little..Nuala Curran..Clair Woods..
Orla Reihill..Paricia Melanaphy..Catherine Conlon..Aisling Moane..Catherine Murphy..
Aine Mc Brien..Caroline Little..Sharon Little..Shauna Hamilton..
Imelda Mc Govern..Naoimhin Daly
Donna Gilroy..Bernie Maguire..Roisin Carron..Michelle Burke..Una Mc Hugh..Megan Mulligan..
Maria Connolly..Rachel O Dolan..Mary Cunningham..Emma O Keefe..Eimir Keenan