Galway Reclaim Connacht U14 Crown

 

Tribes Prove too Strong for Roscommon

Connacht U-14A Final

Galway 4-11 Roscommon 0-11

Favourites Galway won back the Connacht U14 title in sunny Ballinlough on Sunday last after a first half scoring blitz put them beyond the reaches of the home team. This was one of those occasions when the score-line was harsh on the losers as very little luck came their way. Galway had class all over the field and were deserved winners, but had some luck with their first two goals, meanwhile Roscommon had many goal chances in the second half when playing with the breeze but the woodwork denied them on at least two occasions. This was great advertisement for Ladies football, with some great point taking, accurate foot-passing, blocking and superb saves from both ‘keepers.

 

 

 

Roscommon started brightly against the breeze as Ellen Irwin and Savannah Cassisdy took an early grip on midfield. Following good interplay Aimee O’Connor opened the scoring and this was followed by a point from Kelley Coglan. Galway equalised before Kayleigh Shine put Roscommon ahead for the last time with another good point from play. Then Galway got into stride and tagged on four points in a row. Emma Silke pulled off a great save in the Roscommon goal before Galway struck for the first of three quick goals. A long-range free came off the crossbar and Galway full-forward Molly Hynes reacted quickest to fire home. Ailish Morrissey added a second goal a minute before Molly Hynes struck again five minutes later. This duo contributed to 3-8 of Galways first half total with Morrissey also being chief playmaker. Roscommon added two more points from Shenna Kilroe and Kelley Coglan to leave them trailing the westerners by ten points at the break.

The second-half was a different tale. Galway didn’t score for nearly 25 minutes as the Roscommon defence repelled every attempted dominated. Megan Kelly, Aisling Walsh, Emma Kildea and Kate McPhilips were particular strong as was the industrial Savannah Cassidy who covered every blade of grass. Two points from Kelly Coglan and another Aimee O’Connor point started the Roscommon comeback but the all-important first goal never came. Two efforts from Kayleigh Shine hit the woodwork while a Savannah Cassidy shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the Galway goalkeeper. Kelley Coglan and Savannah Cassidy had fisted efforts fly just wide and another shot hit the side- netting. To compound matters Galway’s first serious attack ended in a superb individual goal from Caoimhe Moran and that finally knocked the stuffing out of Roscommon.

Next up, Roscommon face Ulster opposition in the All-Ireland B semi-final, while Galway should give the A competition a serious shot.

Emma Silke (St. Dominic’s),Emer Burke (Shannon Gaels), Megan Kelly (Clann na nGael), Aisling Walsh (St. Dominic’s), Emma Kildea (Clann na nGael), Sarah McVeigh (St. Barry’s), Kate McPhilips (St. Faithleach’s), Ellen Irwin (c) (St. Faithleach’s), Savanah Cassidy 0-1 (St. Dominic’s), Shenna Kilroe 0-1 (St. Ciaran’s), Aimme O’Connor 0-3  (St. Dominic’s), Kayleigh Shine 0-1 (Clann nan Gael), Lauren Shanagher (Elphin), Kelly Coglan 0-4(Clann na nGael), Karla Earle (Clann na nGael).

Subs: Annie Griffin (Kilbride), Emma Curren (St. Brigid’s), Ellis Conway 0-1 (Shannon Gaels), Megan Coolihan (Clann na nGael), Anna Loftus (Eire Og), Jennifer Brennan (St. Faithleach’s), Ava Sweeney (St. Dominic’s), Isobelle Cullen (Roscommon Gaels), Chloe McDonald (St. Dominic’s), Natasha Munnley (Kilmore), Kate Nolan (St. Brigid’s), Grainne Burke (Kilmore), Aine Early (Kilmore), Ciara Fahy (Kilmore), Maoibhe Glennon (Padraig Pearses).