Clare hold off Roscommon surge to win Division 3 title

The impressive Ailish Considine grabbed 1-02 at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park in Birr on Saturday as Clare held off a late surge from Roscommon to claim the Lidl National Football League Division 3 title.

Having lost out to Kildare after extra-time in last year’s third tier showpiece, Clare got their hands on national silverware in the Offaly venue and will now embark on their TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate football championship campaign with renewed confidence.

Unbeaten on their way to this decider - including a group stage draw away to Clare - Roscommon ultimately fell short in their quest for a second Division 3 final success in just three years.

After their goalkeeper Helena Cummins turned away a couple of early goal chances, Roscommon edged in front with a pointed free from Laura Fleming on five minutes.

While Clare found it difficult to keep the scoreboard ticking over facing into a stiff breeze, they opened their account in spectacular style on the first-quarter mark. Known in recent years for their prowess in soccer and Australian Rules football respectively, marauding wing-back Laurie Ryan released Ailish Considine for a smooth low finish beyond the reach of Cummins.

This was an early set-back for Roscommon, but Ollie Lennon’s charges had restored parity by the 20th minute with a brace of points from the dependable Fleming.

Although midfielder Aisling Reidy moved Clare back into the driving seat with a point, a fourth successful free from Fleming left the teams on level terms at the break, 1-01 to 0-04.

It proved to be an initially cagey start to the second half, but it was the team with the elements behind them that eventually created some daylight. Supplementing a 0-02 salvo from the increasingly-influential