Laura Fleming was on the mark with 1-6 today.
Lidl LGFA National League Division Two
Roscommon 1-11 Westmeath 3-7
In a season that has seen Roscommon perform well but come away empty-handed in every outing so far, Roscommon endured their most heartbreaking defeat of the year so far in Kiltoom this afternoon, as they coughed up two late goals to Westmeath full forward Aoife Connolly and so fell just short of recording their first win of the campaign.
The Rossies made a disastrous start to the game, falling 1-3 to no score behind after eight minutes, but they went on to dominate the game over the next 20 minutes, and looked to be in a commanding position when they took a 1-4 to 1-3 lead into the interval, with the strong wind set to favour them in the second half.
Laura Fleming hammered in the goal from close range, but Roscommon could have had at least three more green flags, as the captain also blasted one high and wide from close range, while Lisa O’Rourke hit the side netting from 15 metres out and also fractionally misplaced a pass into Aisling Hanly, that allowed Westmeath goalkeeper Lauren McCormack to clear her lines.
That all seemed like it wouldn’t matter as Roscommon picked up where they left off in the second half, scoring four points in a row to move 1-9 to 1-5 in front. Fleming (1-6) and Hanly (0-4) led the scoring charge, but they also missed other opportunities, including six second half wides, and yet more goal chances that went abegging.
The price was paid for that in the final quarter when Westmeath worked the ball down the field and into full forward Aoife Connolly on two separate occasions, and the Garrycastle player showed all the precision and composure that Roscommon lacked when she picked out the bottom corner of Helena Cummins’ net with two immaculate low shots.
Again Roscommon rallied but the goal they needed wouldn’t come. Aisling Hanly fractionally overhit a pass into Laura Fleming that forced the St. Ciarán’s player to shoot from a very tight angle, Lisa O’Rourke put another effort straight at Lauren McCormack, and the Westmeath goalie was also sharp when she smothered a close range Ruth Cox effort late in the game.
With Cavan beating Monaghan this afternoon, the result means that Roscommon are now three points adrift at the foot of the table, and will need to take a minimum of four points from their last three games against Cavan (away), Monaghan (away) and Laois (at home) to have any chance of survival.
