Relegation woes deepen as Laois Ladies lose out to Roscommon in Portlaoise

The Laois Ladies hosted Roscommon in Round 5 of the Lidl National Football League Division 3 at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon, with both teams eager to create distance between themselves and the relegation places.

Roscommon arrived holding a one-point advantage over the hosts in the standings, and victory for either side would represent a significant step towards safety. However, it proved a frustrating outing for the home side, who ended up conceding as many goals as they registered points. A theme that dominated their Division 3 campaign in 2025.

It marked the final home fixture of the campaign for Stephen Duff’s charges, with challenging trips to the current table toppers Louth and second-placed Antrim still to come.

Roscommon settled quickly and opened the scoring through Aisling Hanly, who split the posts to get the visitors up and running. Niamh Feeney soon added another to double their advantage. Laois struggled to gain early momentum but found their rhythm after ten minutes and responded impressively with four unanswered points. Emily Lacey ignited the comeback with two frees in quick succession, before Fiona Dooley and a Katie Donoghue free edged the hosts two points in front.

The momentum swung again when Caoimhe Lennon carved through the Laois defence and finished to the net. Lacey responded with her first point from play, but Roscommon struck for a second goal. Rachel Fitzmaurice was fouled in the square, and Hanly calmly converted the resulting penalty past Eimear Barry.

To their credit, Laois rallied before the interval. Lacey converted two more frees, and Lauren Kearney combined with Eva Galvin to help level matters by half-time.

The second half could not have begun in worse fashion for Laois. Within four minutes of the restart, Roscommon had struck twice. Lennon’s dropping effort found its way to the net, and moments later Fitzmaurice intercepted a Laois kickout before firing past Barry. Lennon then converted a free to stretch the lead to seven.

Laois continued to push forward. Kearney produced a brilliant solo run and unleashed a powerful shot on goal, but Helena Cummins made an excellent save. Donoghue followed with a point from play, and although Laois won the ensuing kickout, Cummins again denied them, this time preventing Mia Branagan from finding the net.

Scores were exchanged between Lauren Shanagher and Faye McEvoy, while Lacey added her second from play. Still, Laois trailed by five entering the final four minutes. Lacey converted one more free, but despite their efforts, the Roscommon defence stood firm.

Attention now turns to two demanding away fixtures, beginning with a trip to Antrim on Sunday, 22 March, followed by a meeting with Louth the subsequent weekend.

FINAL SCORE

Roscommon 4-4

Laois 0-12

SCORERS – Roscommon: Caoimhe Lennon 2-1 (0-1 free), Aisling Hanly 1-1 (1-0 peno), Rachel Fitzmaurice 1-0, Niamh Feeney and Lauren Shanagher 0-1 each. Laois: Emily Lacey 0-7 (0-5 frees), Katie Donoghue 0-2 (0-1 free), Eva Galvin, Faye McEvoy, and Fiona Dooley 0-1 each. 

LAOIS: Eimear Barry (Shanahoe); Ciara Byrne (Portlaoise), Aishling Saunders (Portlaoise), Sinead Farrelly (St Joseph’s); Mary Cotter (St. Conleths), Jenny Murphy (Timahoe), Faye Mcevoy (Ballyroan); Fiona Dooley (Portlaoise), Shifra Havill (St. Conleths); Ciara Crowley (Portlaoise), Lauren Kearney (Sarsfields), Katie Donoghue (Timahoe); Emily Lacey (St. Joseph’s), Eva Galvin (St. Conleths), Laura Marie Maher (Sarsfields). Subs: Mia Branagan (Graiguecullen) for Maher (8 mins, inj), Sarah Larkin (Timahoe) for Crowley (25 mins, inj), Deirdre Phelan (Portlaoise) for Cotter (42 mins), Ava Shanahan (St Joseph’s) for Barry (45 mins), Lorna Butler (St Joseph’s) for Kearney (48 mins). 

ROSCOMMON: Helena Cummins; Aine McGrath, Aine Connaughton, Mia Macken; Saoirse Wynne, Ellen Irwin, Megan McKeon; Abby Curran, Grainne Lohan; Niamh Watson, Lauren Shanagher, Niamh Feeney; Aisling Healy, Roise Lennon, Caoimhe Lennon. Subs: Rachel Fitzmaurice for Feeney (7 min, inj), Ciara Cunningham for R. Lennon (47 mins), Aisling Feely for Hanly (51 mins), Rachel Brady for Macken (57 mins), Macken for McKeon (60 mins). 

Referee: Jason Buckley (Dublin)