Ladies GAA Roundup: Victories for Rockland Leitrim and Cavan women

Rockland 3-6, Chiarraí 3-3

For those who came to watch the first game, on one of the hottest days this summer, they were not disappointed with the competitive display between Rockland and Ciarraí. This was the first time this year that these two teams encountered one another.

At the throw-in, Ciarraí were first to the ball but Rockland immediately hounded the Ciarraí forwards and regained comfortable possession.

Rockland was first to score with points from Mags Dineen. Rockland capitalized on Ciarraí’s kickouts to regain some comfortable possession and applied more pressure to the Ciarraí defense, lead by full back Pauline O’ Connor.

Rockland dominated the first 10 minutes of the game and worked the ball well, giving Mags Dineen an opportunity to kick two more points.

Ciarraí settled after some time and utilized the talents of Orla Doyle and Elaine Gillespie and tied the game with a quick goal.

Toward the end of the first half possession was quite even between the teams. Ann Hanrahan and Mary Touhey work hard to more the ball down to the Ciarraí forwards.

Ann O’ Neill gave Ciarraí a point to bring the half time score to Rockland 1-3 to Ciarraí 1-1.

Rockland began the second half with constant pressure on the Ciarraí goal.

Some attempts at points were kicked wide but Rockland fought to get possession from the kick out.

This constant pressure resulted in a goal from play from Jen Ellis. Ciarraí fought back with more scores form play and began to look very comfortable in the forwards.

Both goalkeepers were kept very busy as both teams made many attempts at net. This was a closely fought and highly entertaining game between these two teams.

Rockland: Colleen McElroy 0-1, Lorraine Kiernan 2-0, Mags Dineen 0-4, Jen Ellis 1-1. Players of the game: Kerryann Galvin and Mags Dineen.

Ciarraí: Orla Doyle 1-0, Ann O Neill 1-0, Elaine Gillespie 1-0, Mary Touhey 0-1, Pauline Boylan 0-1, Varina Carey 0-1. Player of the Game: Orla Doyle.

Leitrim 4-20, Monaghan 2-2

In the second game, Leitrim set a fast pace which they maintained throughout the game. Their forwards were once again on target keeping the Monaghan defense under pressure for the entire game.

Once again, Tracey Rice was on a scoring mission and was ably assisted by Eibhlish Dineen, Pat Meade, Jacinta Boyle, Clare Tracey and Kathleen Walsh. Ann Marie McMunn had a excellent game at midfield with clean catches and clever passing.

To give Monaghan their due, they fought all the way to the final whistle and managed to curtail the Leitrim scores somewhat in the second half although at this stage much of the damage was done and it was too little too late to salvage the game.

Monaghan got some nice passing going, working the ball to their forward line who took their chances but were unable to convert them all to scores due to a tight Leitrim defense.

Leitrim had another all-round team effort with strong performances from Una Burke, Mairéad Casey, Sadie Bolger, Ann Marie McMunn, Clare Tracey, Tracy Rice and Eibhlish Dineen.

For Monaghan, best were keeper Noreen Reilly, Trina Wall, Mary Nash, Norma McCarthy, Catherine Donohoe, Sandra Swinburne, Kate McEntee and Maudy Lynn.

Leitrim: Tracey Rice 2-4, Eibhlish Dineen 0-6, Pat Meade 0-4, Clare Tracey 1-3, Kathleen Walsh 1-2, Jacinta Boyle 0-1. Player of the Game: Tracey Rice.

Monaghan: Norma McCarthy 1-1, Catherine Donohoe 0-1, Noreen O’Reilly 1-0. Player of the Game: Sandra Swinburne.

Cavan 6-10, Na Fíanna 1-6

In the last game, Cavan continued their winning streak with a convincing win over Na Fíanna.

Cavan dominated the first half taking most of their scores for which Na Fíanna had no reply.

Na Fianna’s back line was kept under constant pressure as Cavan’s forwards moved the ball with swift accurate passing around the forward line to set up their scores.

Na Fíanna fought hard with good efforts from Caroline Conway-Bogue, Paula Corbett, Catherine Brady, Chiara Ferry, Rose Dunican-Healy, Monica Slevin, Alison Lineen (played the second half) Ann Ryan and Mary McEvoy. They made a comeback late in the second half but as with their game last week the damage had already been done.

For Cavan, best were Catherine McAteer, Gillian Bennett, Justine Clifford, Maureen O’Driscoll, Caroline O’Sullivan, Ann Holland, Pauline Coleman and Louise Fox.

Cavan: Gillian Bennett 2-3, Catherine McAteer 1-2, Rosie O’Reilly 2-2, Karen Shalvey 1-0, Catherine Russell 0-1, Maureen O’Driscoll 0-1, Breda Carroll 0-1. Player of the Game: Justine Clifford.

Na Fíanna: Ann Ryan 1-0, Chiara Ferry 0-2, Rose Dunican-Healy 0-2, Catherine Brady 0-1, Emer Curran 0-1. Player of the game: Chiara Ferry..