Roscommon 1-9  Dublin 1-5

This was the third meeting in 2015 of these sides and at the third attempt Roscommon managed to overcome Dublin for the first time.   When the sides met in the round robin phase Dublin were 10 points winners but this time round the Connacht girls were the better side showing how difficult it is to repeat a championship win over the same side in the same year.

However 10 minutes from time, the Dubs fans were given reason to believe that Roscommon would once again be put to the sword.   Subsitute Carolanne Canning made her appearance in the 48 ^th minute and two minutes later the hard-working Lynn Devoy placed her for her first touch and a great goal.   Dublin were now in front for the first time and were beginning to really threaten.  

But that would be it from a scoring point of view for Dublin as Roscommon would regain the lead within three minutes when the superb Kelly Hopkins fired a 60m free goalwards where full forward Niamh Farrell managed to get a touch that was just enough to elude Dublin’s excellent ‘keeper Aisling Spillane.  Roscommon were back in front and closed the game out with points from Annette McGeeney and another majestic effort from Kelly Hopkins.

Roscommon enjoyed the better finish and they also had the better start with a point from Rebecca Brennan and three from Kelly Hopkins to give them a 0-4 to nil lead after 11 minutes.

Dublin got their first score after 12 minutes from Lynn Devoy who battled bravely to the end but throughout most of the game the Roscommon half back line of Susan Spillane, Elaine Daly and Joanne Beattie was superb.

Two pointed frees by Georgina Kelly added to Dublin’s tally but Kelly Hopkins is a serious talent and scores from her helped Roscommon to a 0-7 to 0-4 half time lead.

With Rachel Noctor doing excellently at centre back and Gráinne Ryan as sound as ever at full-back Dublin’s defence more than matched what Roscommon could offer for much of the second half.   Gráinne Smith backed up her colleagues well and for 23 minutes held Roscommon scoreless.   But on a sod that was greasy from the rain defences were in charge and Dublin’s attack found it very hard to score.   Two points from Georgina Kelly (one from play) cut the lead before the introduction of Carolanne Canning whose strength and reading of the play caused plenty of problems for Roscommon.  

But in that closing 10 minutes or more Dublin had only one real chance when Elaine Gallery got a second bite of the cherry to fire a great shot that was superbly blocked in the Roscommon goal by Caroline Connaughton.

Dublin Scorers: Georgina Kelly (0-4), Carolanne Canning (1-0), Lynn Devoy

Roscommon Scorers: Kelly Hopkins (0-7), Niamh Farrell (1-0), Rebecca Brennan and Annette McGeeney (0-1 each).