Roscommon 2-12
Fermanagh 0-6
By Ivan Smyth
Fermanagh manager Barry McKenna admitted that they were unable to recover from Roscommon’s strong start, even though they battled right to the end All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final.
Two goals from Aisling Feely were significant in putting Roscommon in the driving seat during the first half and from that platform they were able to march on and win the by a huge 2-12 to 0-6.
“We have to take our hats off to Roscommon today. It is just so disappointing that we didn’t show up unfortunately. Roscommon got the scores early on which really got them settled and we just couldn’t get the scores on the board to settle the girls at all. Overall, just a disappointing day for the girls,” said McKenna.
“The early goals were massive and a turning point in the game. It really gave us an uphill battle after that. Credit to the girls they battled right to the final hooter, but it was massive for Roscommon to get those goals early on.”
Roscommon laid the foundations in the opening half as they powered 2-7 to 0-2 ahead at half-time following a first-half display filled with sharp movement up front, control of both sets of kick-outs and a tigerish defensive display with sweeper Saoirse Wynne in particular impressing.
Feely got both goals for Roscommon in a blistering spell where they scored 2-4 without reply. Roscommon were leading by 0-3 to 0-1 when Feely turned over Áine Haren’s resulting kick-out and finished to the net, Roscommon were purring.
That goal kick-started a run of 2-1 in six minutes for Feely as she latched on to Abby Curran’s through ball before her long range effort found the roof of the net. A Smyth free ended Roscommon’s scoring barrage, but Niamh Feeney and Curran efforts pushed them 11 points clear at half time.
Roscommon produced a deft second-half display as they controlled possession yet always carried a strong threat in attack. Sub Lauren Shanagher impressed upon her introduction as she twice went close to netting while fellow substitute Ria Lennon executed an excellent turnover that allowed Caoimhe Lennon to open the second-half scoring.
Ella Thompson bagged a score her all-action performance merited while Laura Mannion arrowed over a free to push Roscommon 2-10 to 0-2 in front. To their credit Fermanagh continued to battle as Smyth bagged three late scores (two frees) while Cliodhna Martin also slotted over.
There was no doubting Roscommon’s superiority as they ensured their first Croke Park appearance in 25 years ended with them lifting the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.
Roscommon manager Finbar Egan said they knew they would need to deliver a quality performance if they were to lift the intermediate title and he was thrilled with the way they went about their business.
“It is good for Roscommon to be back in senior football. It has been too long in intermediate football for a team of Roscommon’s standard in my opinion,” said Egan.
“It wasn’t going to happen. We had to go and take it. We earned the right to come up here and play. They weren’t going to give it to us. We had to go out and put in a performance like that and it is nice to know you are on the winning side five minutes out from the end.
“All the girls throughout the team were excellent and we used 20 girls today. There are girls we would have liked to give a run to and they deserved it, but they are still great players. All the girls who came on deserved to come on and unfortunately you can’t play more than 20.”
Scorers – Roscommon: A Feely 2-2, C Lennon 0-3, E Thompson 0-2, N Feeney, A Curran, K Nolan, L Mannion (1f), L Shanagher 0-1 each.
Fermanagh: E Smyth 0-5 (4f), C Martin 0-1.
ROSCOMMON: H Cummins; M McKeon, A Connaughton, Á McGrath; N Feeney, S Wynne, E Thompson; R Cox, A Curran; K Nolan, E Irwin, L Mannion; Róise Lennon, A Feely, C Lennon. Subs: L Shanagher for Róise Lennon (36), Ria Lennon for K Nolan (41), R Fitzmaurice for L Mannion (47), N Watson for N Feeney (54), R Brady for A Connaughton (57).
FERMANAGH: Á Haren; S McQuade, C Breen, A O’Brien; CC Bogue, S McCarville, B Bannon; A McCarney, J Doonan; S Britton, N McManus, S Barrett; B Smyth, E Smyth, C McGarrigle. Subs: C Gallagher for C McGarrigle (33), C Breen for B Smyth (43), E Carrigan for B Bannon (47), C Martin for A McCarney (47), M Mulligan for N McManus (56)
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).
