Tesco Home-Grown Ladies National Football League Rd. 1
Louth 2-10 Roscommon 0-12
Roscommon Senior ladies headed east to a dry but stormy Jimmy Pentony Park Drogheda to take on Louth in Round 1 of Division 4 National Football League on Sunday afternoon last. As the old cliché goes, goals win matches this certainly turned out to be the case in this thrilling encounter. With a gale blowing from left to right the home side won the toss and opted to play with the aid strong wind in the first half. In what was a very low scoring half both sets of defences were on top. Roscommon manager Kieran Kilkenny going for the sweeper system worked well for Roscommon this also worked in the Wee County's favour leaving them with an extra player back resulting in the ball being turned over in the Roscommon forward line on numerous occasions. Louth forwards also had the ball turned over on numerous occasions, with Feena Beirne. Amanda McLoone, Niamh Ward and Laura Fleming working particularly hard. One could sense that the team to score a goal would be the most likely winner and this turned out to be the case. Despite playing into the strong wind Roscommon were first off the mark a quick free from corner forward Jillian Dufficy to Jenny Higgins who pointed from thirty meters. It took the home side 16 minutes to register their first score this a point from play from tricky corner forward Kate Flood, indeed Flood was a constant thorn in Roscommon's side all afternoon ended up with a personal tally of 1-04. A point from play in the twentieth minute from full forward Aine O'Brien had Roscommon back in front for the second time before Louth hit a purple patch and went on to score three points without reply between the twenty fifth and first minute of injury time, the first a point from play from Flood in the 24th minute followed by two pointed frees from the accurate Jenny McGuinness, to leave Louth 5 points Roscommon 2 at the break. With the strong wind to come for the second half it was looking good for Roscommon. But it was Louth who started the stronger. Four minutes after the restart Louth had stretched their lead to five points the deadly duo of Flood and McGuinnes with a point each from play. A point from play in the thirty sixth minute from O'Brien had it back to four. Seconds later Roscommon had great chance to reduce the deficit to a single score, a great catch from wing forward Joanne Cregg who found Jillian Dufficy on the right wing who in turn found Laura Brudell free inside but, with the advancing Louth net minder Una Pearson closing in the Strokestown player, she watched her booming shot on goal go agonisingly wide of the right post. Roscommon kept pushing forward, a point free from Natalie McHugh in the thirty seventh minute had it back to three this was followed a minute later by a second point from the same player, with a pointed free after a foul on Laura Fleming. Roscommon were reduced to fourteen players after Amanda McLoone was harshly sin binned after a tackle on Louth's Ciara O'Connor. Natalie McHugh had Roscommon back to within a point in the forty first minute, a superb point from play from 45 meters taking full advantage of the strong wind. McGuinness settled things for the Wee County with a fine individual score. A lapse of concentration from the Roscommon ladies saw Carol Mannings quick kick out gobbled up by Louth centre forward Tara Lynch she found the ever dangerous Flood lurking inside she  blasted the ball to the back of the Roscommon net. Louth themselves were reduced to fourteen players on the three quarter hour mark with Sandra Lynch sin binned after a challenge on Laura Fleming. Roscommon upped their game with McHugh and Higgins dominating the middle sector. A passage of play involving Dufficy McHugh and O'Brien set up Rachel Ryan for a fine score from play to leave four between the sides with fifteen minutes remaining, With Niamh Ward now relieved of her defensive duties the Eire Óg player was now moving forward, hard work by Aine O'Brien out on the right wind saw the Bridget's player win a dirty ball, she off loaded to the in rushing Ward who scored a fine point on the run. From the kick out a steal by midfielder McHugh moved the ball quickly to Joanne Cregg the Michael Glaveys player was fouled, McHugh stepped up to take the resulting free her fine effort left two between the sides with ten minutes remaining. Two minutes later Ward reduced the deficit to a single point with a fine score after great build up play involving Sharon Ryan and Laura Fleming. Flood again pointed for Louth to put two between the sides with five to go, Natalie McHugh reduced it to a single point in the twenty fifty sixth minute with a pointed free after Fleming was fouled. But this was as close as the Roscommon girls could get as Louth's Siobhan McDonald won a ball in the middle of the park her pin point pass found Flood who unselfishly gave the ball to McGuinness her low shot nestled in the right corner of the Roscommon net, to leave four between the sides, with three minutes on the clock. Ward again became provider with a point from play in the fifty eight minute but Louth had the last say with a point from play from a second half substitute to leave four between them. Final Score Roscommon 0-12 Louth 2-10.
Unfortunately it wasn't to be for the Roscommon girls as Louth, last year's league semi-finalists and All-Ireland Junior finalists probably showed a bit more composure in front of goal. Roscommon travel to Offaly on Sunday next.
Roscommon Panel: Carol Manning (Foxrock Cabinteely), Jenny Hannon (Roscommon Gaels), Feena Beirne (Strokestown), Aidín Ní Dhonnacha (Roscommon Gaels), Amanda McLoone(St Faithleachs), Sharon Ryan(Castlerea), Laura Fleming (St. Ciarans), Natalie McHugh(Kilglass Gaels)(5pts), Jenny Higgins(Western Gaels) (1pt), Joanne Gregg(Michael Glaveys), Rachel Ryan(Castlerea) (1pt), Niamh Ward(Eire Óg) (3pts), Gillian Dufficy(St Marys), Aine O'Brien(St. Brigids)(2pts),Laura Brudell (Strokestown) Ellen Beirne(Strokestown), Sile O'Dowd(Shannon Gaels), Jenny Conlon(St. Brigids), Amy McAleer(Roscommon Gaels), Sinead Clabby(Kilbride), Emma Compton(Kilglass Gaels).

Other Notices
U-16 Trials: Trials for the North of the County takes place on Saturday next 9th February at 2p.m. Venue to be confirmed. Clubs will be notified by e-mail. Contact Jimmy Kerrane 0863796806 for more information.

Fixtures

Sunday10th February @ 2p.m.

Tesco Home-grown National Football League Division 4
Round 2

Roscommon v Offaly   Offaly Venue: TBC