TG4 Connacht Ladies Intermediate Championship Final
TG4 Connacht Ladies Intermediate Championship Final
June 24, 2019
Roscommon………………………………3-12 Sligo…....………………………………….2-9Â
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Eight first-half wides cost Sligo dearly on Sunday last as a more clinical Roscommon retained their Connacht ladies intermediate crown at a wet MacHale Park. The defending champions laid the groundwork for the victory in the opening half when they built up a 1-7 to 0-5 lead. They added two goals in the early minutes of the second period to leave Sligo with a mountain to climb. Â
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A mini revival was staged by the Yeats County in the final 20 minutes, and they managed to cut the deficit back to six points. But they had left themselves with a bit too much to do, and Roscommon packed their defence during the closing stages in order to prevent any more goals being conceded. Â
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Sligo were the better side during the opening minutes of the contest and they’ll be disappointed not to have capitalised on the possession they enjoyed. Three wides were recorded before the sixth minute, and their only score came from the boot of Lisa Casey on three minutes. Â
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Rebecca Finan equalised for Roscommon shortly afterwards, but an Elaine O’Reilly free enabled Sligo to regain the lead in the tenth minute. A purple patch for the Rossies saw them hit five unanswered points between the 11th and 16th minutes. Siobhan Tully almost added a goal on 18 minutes, but Sligo goalkeeper Noelle Gormley made a fine save to deflect the ball over the bar. Â
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O’Reilly (free) and Casey notched up a couple of scores to cut the deficit to three points. But four more wides were registered by Sligo in the second quarter. It cost them dearly as a 29th minute goal for Rachel Fitzmaurice put Roscommon in a commanding position. Â
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Lauren Boles pulled a point back on the stroke of half time. However, the Sligo ladies found themselves 12 points adrift within five minutes of the restart when they were outscored by 2-2 to 0-1. Â
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Finan and Jenny Higgins bagged the two green flags, and the points were scored by Natalie McHugh and Finan (free). Sligo’s solitary point during that period came from an O’Reilly free. Â
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Boles notched up her second point of the day on 36 minutes, and the St. Michael’s player capped an impressive display by winning a penalty in the 41st minute. O’Reilly duly dispatched it to the bottom corner to give Sligo a glimmer of hope. Â
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A Finan free for Roscommon was quickly followed by a second Sligo goal in the 47th minute. O’Reilly provided the assist for Emma Keavney, who delivered an emphatic finish to the roof of the net from 10 metres out. Â
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That cut the deficit back to six points, but Sligo were unable to get any closer during the remaining 13 minutes. O’Reilly notched up a couple of late scores, but they were preceded by Roscommon points from Higgins and Finan. It meant that the ladies in Primrose and Blue were celebrating a provincial title for the second time in 12 months.    Â
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ROSCOMMON: Helena Cummins; Honor Ennis, Amanda McLoone, Tess Murtagh; Niamh Feeney, Alice Kelly, Sorcha Bruen; Sinead Kenny, Laura Fleming; Siobhan Tully (0-1), Alanna Hanmore, Natalie McHugh (0-1); Rebecca Finan (1-6, three frees), Jenny Higgins (1-3), Rachel Fitzmaurice (1-1). Subs used: Joanne Cregg for Hanmore (half-time), Rachel Brady for Feeney (40 mins), Megan Kelly for Bruen (43 mins), Sinead Glennon for McHugh (51 mins), Katie Daly for Fleming (55 mins). Â Â Â
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SLIGO: Noelle Gormley; Aoife Morrisroe, Michelle McNamara, Jacqui Mulligan; Nicola Brennan, Bernice Byrne, Anne Marie Coleman; Ruth Goodwin, Laura Ann Laffey; Ciara Gorman, Lauren Boles (0-2), Sinead Naughton; Elaine O’Reilly (1-5, one penalty, four frees), Emma Keavney (1-0), Lisa Casey (0-2). Subs used: Claire Dunne for Coleman (36 mins), Sarah Reynolds for Gorman (43 mins), Una Higgins for Naughton (51 mins), Rachel Monaghan for Casey (54 mins).  Â
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Referee: Mel Kenny (Mayo)Â
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Player of the Match: Rachel Fitzmaurice (Roscommon)