Longford cruise to opening round victory

07.02.10 | Longford 1-11 Roscommon 1-3 | Thomas Kelly reporting from Emmet Park

Longford ladies got their National Football League campaign off to the perfect start on Sunday last in Killoe, defeating a faltering Roscommon side who, after a good start fell totally by the wayside. This win will be a great confidence booster to the experienced Longford side, with a tough challenge awaiting next weekend with the visit of Cavan.

Longford put in a sterling performance with all six backs making a great effort after early lapses in concentration while Siobhan McGowan dominated at centre field, her powerful runs through the middle causing Roscommon serious problems.

Up front Edel Quinn impressed for the half that she was on while Orlaith Doherty put in a good shift at wing forward. Orla Noonan was a constant thorn with the Drumlish woman hitting 1-2 and Una Flynn, introduced at half time, made a fine contribution with 0-3 in her thirty minute cameo.
 
Roscommon got the game off to a flying start with a score inside forty seconds, Eimear Casey tapping over a close range free. Longford pulled the sides level wit one minute on the clock, Edel Quinn on target after playing a lucky one two off her opposing marker.

Roscommon wasted little time in retaking the lead with Tara Taylor flicking the ball to the back of the net following a free which Eimear Casey dropped short, Michelle Kilkenny with no chance in the Longford goal.
 
Longford almost had a goal of their own with eight minutes gone, but Orlaith Doherty seen her point blank effort superbly saved by the Roscommon keeper Carol Manning. Three minutes later Orla Noonan was next on the scoresheet with a close range effort, Anne Marie Bratten and Edel Quinn linking up to set the young St. Helen’s woman into the clear.

Eimear Casey again hit back for Roscommon with eighteen minutes on the clock, her second free of the contest which maintained the Rossies three point lead.
 
Two minutes later and Edel Quinn hit her second of the game with a close range effort, fine team play involving Mairead Moore, Denise Murtagh, Anna McDonnell and Orlaith Doherty setting up the score. Orlaith Doherty popped up with an excellent point soon after to reduce the deficit to just a point with five minutes remaining.
 
With three minutes left on the clock Longford could have had their first goal, but again Rossie keeper Carol Manning stood up tall to block out Denise Murtagh’s stinging effort. Roscommon managed to get the final score of the half through Jenny Higgins, meaning Longford went into the half time break trailing by two points, 1-3 to 0-4.
 
The second half was all Longford, with Roscommon going completely missing against the wind, so much so they failed to get a single score in the second period.

Longford registered their first score of the half five minutes in, half time sub Una Flynn making her first contribution with a long range free. Flynn popped up again two minutes later, this time a close range point from play.
 
Flynn was again on the scoresheet for her third point on the trot with forty minutes gone, the Clonguish woman winning her own free which she duly obliged in slotting over the black spot.

Longford effectively killed the game off with forty three minutes lapsed, Orla Noonan finding the back of the net, Anna McDonnell and Una Flynn doing the donkey work out the field to tee up Noonan, who made no mistake from close range.
 
Michelle Ross, moved up to wing forward for the last quarter, made no mistake with her first look at goal, the Carrickedmond woman firing over following a probing run. Orla Noonan was again on target with eighteen minutes of the second half gone, the powerful wing forward shooting an excellent point from a tight angle.
 
Longford closed out the game with two further scores, Michelle Ross clocking up her second score while Mary Kiernan, who was only on the pitch a minute, fired over a super long range point under pressure, this being the last meaningful piece of action as Longford strolled to an eight point victory over their neighbours.
 
LONGFORD: Michelle Kilkenny (Dromard); Adrianna Melia (Rathcline), Yvonne Barden (Clonguish), Mairead Moore (Clonguish); Marie Brady (Clonguish), Michelle Ross (Carrickedmond, 0-2), Sinead Farrell (Rathcline); Jacinta Brady (Killoe), Siobhan McGowan (Clonguish); Orlaith Doherty (Clonguish, 0-1), Edel Quinn (Killoe, 0-2), Orla Noonan (St. Helen’s, 1-2); Anne Marie Bratten (Killoe), Denise Murtagh (St. Helen’s), Anna McDonnell (Killoe).

SUBS USED:- Elizabeth Brady (Killoe) for D. Murtagh (inj) and Una Flynn (Clonguish, 0-3, two frees) for E. Quinn (inj) (both half time); Clara Melia (Rathcline) for A. M. Bratten (37 mins); Antoinette Brady (Killoe) for M. Brady and Donna Levey (Carrickedmond) for O. Doherty (both 58 mins); Mary Kiernan (Ballymore, 0-1) for O. Noonan (59 mins).
 
ROSCOMMON: Carol Manning; Susan Kenehan, Laura Sharkey, Anne Higgins; Sinead Cooney, Mairead Kenehan, Michelle Carey; Marla Condon, Caroline Conway; Sharon Ryan, Jenny Higgins, Anna McCormack; Emma Hussey, Tara Taylor, Eimear Casey.

SUBS USED:- Margaret Fanning for E. Hussey (33 mins); Emma Hussey for S. Ryan (52 mins).
 
REFEREE: Michael Henry (Monaghan). 

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