Longford too good for Roscommon
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Action from the clash of Longford and Roscommon on Sunday last.
Roscommon 1-6 Longford 3-23.
Longford ladies cruised to an emphatic victory over Roscommon in round 3 of the TG4 Intermediate Championship at Emmet Park last Sunday afternoon.
Two goals in the first half set Longford on their way with Sarah Tierney and Anna McDonnell finding the back of the net respectively on the 7th and 8th minute mark.
In truth Longford had this game wrapped up after fifteen minutes when they built up a sizeable eight point advantage. Centre forward Edel Quinn and Elizabeth Brady had a terrific outing during the opening half hour and they instigated a large number of moves that led subsequently to Roscommon's downfall.
The midlanders set out their stall early in proceedings registering the primary point inside the opening minute of play. A neat pass from midfielder Jacinta Brady picked out the plucky corner-forward Sarah Tierney and she slipped the ball over the bar from a tight position.
Longford continued to control the affair with Tierney again splitting the posts moments later with another excellent effort, this time from the opposite side of the pitch. Roscommon struggled to find any real momentum throughout the exchanges, and their full-back and half-back line in particular looked at sixes and sevens, while their midfield and half-forward line failed to deliver any decent ball into the full-forward line. Emer Casey was their leading light for the visitors over the course of the contest and her contribution of four points gave them a glimmer of hope heading into the second half.
The home side produced their first goal of the contest and extended their lead on the 7th minute. A well worked move created by Elizabeth Brady in the middle of the park picked out Tierney on the edge of the small rectangle. Tierney then spotted Edel Quinn making an intelligent run around the back door and when she got possession there was never any doubt in her intention, placing her shot to the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse from a Roscommon perspective when their defensive lines were breached again. This time centre-forward Edel Quinn turned provider with a well timed pass into the path of Fiona Gettings and she finished off a brilliant move to the back of the Longford net.
Twelve minutes had elapsed before Roscommon finally registered their first point when they were awarded a close range free after Emer Casey was fouled 25- metres from the Longford goals. Casey stepped up to take the spot kick and had no trouble finding the target, firing her shot over the black spot.
Longford continued to apply all the pressure midway through their half and four points on the trot put them into a commanding lead, the scoreboard putting Longford ahead by twelve points.
With ten minutes remaining to the half-time interval, Roscommon produced their best spell of football and managed to reduce the deficit somewhat. Emer Casey was once again on hand to answer her county's call after she landed a huge long range effort and the Ballinameen woman made it two from two on the 21st minute after she seized upon a rare Longford defensive effort and curled over another to add to her increasing total.
On the restart, Enda Williams's side re-affirmed their authority and they should have bagged their third in the third minute.
Anne-Marie Bratton played an excellent pass into Fiona Gettings, but her low shot into the bottom right hand corner was superbly stopped by the Roscommon keeper Carol Manning.
Longford however refused to rest on their laurels and their second half performance was a joy to behold with Sharon Tracey putting in a master class in the art of high field fetching and solo running, while captain Michelle Ross and Sinead Farrell led from the front.
Roscommon only managed to record two scores over the 30 minutes in the second half, with Emmer Casey tapping over from the placed ball while their consolation goal came on the brink of full-time. By this stage Longford had shut up shop and appeared to have taken pity on their Connacht counterparts in the latter stage opting to take their points when the goals where there for the taking.
Roscommon's championship hopes mey be fading at this stage but they still have two games remaining against Antrim and Kilkenny and these are two games that Roscommon must win if they are to hold on to their intermediate status.
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