REPORT: Roscommon lose out to Wexford in Enniscorthy

Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3 – Round 4        

Roscommon 1-06 Wexford 2-07

Roscommon Ladies’ visit to St Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy to play table toppers Wexford ended with a four-point defeat for Michael Finnerans Roscommon.

Wexford won the toss and opted to play with the aid of the very strong ice cold breeze. As the saying goes goals win’s matches this was defiantly the case here as Wexford hit for two in the space of twenty seconds in the  sixth minute to put the Rossies on the back foot for the remainder of the game.

Michael Finneran and his management team can take many positives from this game, as the teams never say die attitude against a battle hardened team like Wexford this following their terrific win against Meath a week earlier means this team is on an upward trajectory.

Wexford were first out of the blocks and made full use of the strong breeze to launch a number of attacks and had two points on the board within two minutes the first coming from a free from Catriona Murray after the same player was fouled the second  a strong run through the middle from Bernie Breen saw the powerful midfielder score an excellent point on the run in the second minute. From the kick out Helena Cummins found Roisín Wynne who in turn found Jenny Higgins her dashing run through the Wexford defence saw the Roscommon player fouled a quick free from Higgins found Laura Fleming on the edge of the square but her goal effort went agonizingly wide of the left post. Minutes later Roscommon were awarded a thirty meter free but Rebecca Finan’s pointed effort dropped into the goalies hands. Within seconds Roscommon were hit with a double whammy as Wexford hit on the counter attack the ball ending in the hands of Catriona Murray, while her goal bound effort was being gathered by Roscommon goalkeeper Helena Cummins the ball somehow spilled away from her and the in rushing Aoife Shiel drew on the ball and crashed it to the back of the Roscommon net. Cummins quickly gathered the ball from goalmouth to restart the game as she kicked the ball it skewed of the side of her boot and was picked up by Wexford’s Fiona Bennet who lobbed the ball over the head of Cummins and into the empty Roscommon net. All of a sudden the visitors found themselves eight points adrift facing a gale and only ten minutes on the clock, one would been forgiven for thinking it was game set and match for the home side. But Roscommon to their credit fought back and hit four points to Wexford’s three for the remainder of the half despite being down to fourteen players from the twelfth to the twenty second minute when Louise Brady was sin binned. The Roscommon scores three coming from frees Rebecca Finan (two) Jenny Downey (one) and one from play from the boot of Jenny Higgins Wexford scores coming from the impressive Aoife Shiel two from play and Catriona Murray one a free to leave it 2-05 to 0-04 at the break.

Wexford stretched their lead to eight points within thirty seconds of the restart and had it stretched to nine by the fortieth minute. Two frees from Roscommon Reecca Finan and Jenny Downey kept the visitors in touch. But Roscommon kept battling and tried hard to get the goal they needed to get them back into the game but with the way Wexford set up defensively the visitors would have to work hard to get that all important  goal. Roscommon did break through on two occasions only to see their efforts excellently saved from the Wexford net minder Mary Rose Kelly. The goal did eventually come for Roscommon  in the fifty ninth minute a bullet from the boot of Jenny Downey  but unfortunately too late in the game to see a revival. Full time score Roscommon 1-06 Wexford 2-07. The Roscommon defence was outstanding all afternoon there were very solid performances from the full back line of Honor Ennis, Rochelle Mullanney, and Roisin Wynne while the half back line of Niamh Feeney Amanda McLoone and captain Sinead Kenny also had great productive day at the office. The best of the forwards were the hardworking Laura Fleming, Jenny Downey and Rebecca Finan. Wexford had a very balanced performance all over the field Goalkeeper Mary Rose Kelly put in a player of the match performance some excellent saves their back lines were very solid as a unit their centre field and forward unit were always ready to help their defence when required and hit on the counter attack.

Referee: Stephen McNulty

Roscommon’s next game is with Longford next weekend, at a Longford venue. 

Roscommon Team & scorers: Helena Cummins, Honor Ennis, Rochelle Mullanney, Róisín Wynne, Niamh Feeney, Amanda McLoone, Sinead Kenny, Jenny Higgins (0-1), Joanne Cregg, Laura Fleming, Jenny Downey (1-1 point free), Sheila Brady, Rachel Fitzmaurice, Rebecca Finan (0-4 all frees), Louise Brady.

Subs: Sasha lavin, Shannon Dowd, Colleen Cauneen, Niamh Fleming, Aishling McAullife, Feena Beirne, Aoife Gavin, Rachel Brady, Alice Kelly, Mikaela McHugh.

Wexford:Mary rose Kelly, Niamh Meragh, marie Byrne, Shauna Murphy, Ciara Donnelly, Róisín Murphy, Cathy O’Brien, Kellie Kearney, Bernie Breen, Chloe Fox, Catriona Murray, Niamh Butler, aoife Shiel, Fiona Bennett, Chantelle Martin.

Subs: Sinead Whelan, Aoife Drennan, Ciara Ryan, Amy Wislon, Callin Fitzpatrick, Fiona Rochford, Rachel Bennett, Georgina Herne, Niamh Moore, Lauren cousins, Sarah Harding Kenny, Margurette Doyle, Ann Byrne, Ellen O’Brien, Aishling Murphy.