THE ROSCOMMON and District League set up an Oscar Traynor quarter-final tie with their Limerick League counterparts thanks to a fine 3-1 win over the Inishowen League in Buncrana on Sunday.
First-half goals from Colm Killackey and Liam Lynch gave Roscommon a 2-0 lead at half-time. Inishowen pulled one back early in the second-half, but Roscommon responded emphatically with Killackey netting his second goal almost immediately to restore the two-goal cushion.
Roscommon were able to comfortably soak up Inishowen’s attacks for the remainder of the game. With fine performances all over the field from right-back Martin Lennon to midfielders Aidan Dooney and Ronan Curran and double goalscorer Killackey, the visitors deservedly took the spoils.
Inishowen were first to threaten when Jason Devlin cut in from the left and squared the ball to Terence Doherty who fired over the top from 12 yards.
Aidan Dooney was put through by Martin Lennon in the fourth minute, but Inishowen keeper Martin McLaughlin came smartly off his line, diving bravely at Dooney’s feet to claim the ball. Dooney injured his shoulder under that challenge, and was still feeling the effects of it when he was substituted in the second-half.
Roscommon took the lead in the tenth minute with what was just their second attack. Ronan Curran threaded a ball into the penalty area. Inishowen centre-half Gerard McEleney misjudged the ball, allowing Colm Killackey through one-on-one with the ‘keeper and he chipped the ball over the advancing McLaughlin and into the net.
Centre-half John Tierney cut out a couple of Inishowen chances before Roscommon made it 2-0 on 26 minutes. Goalscorer Killackey turned provider, sliding the ball across the 18-yard line and his strike partner Liam Lynch hit an unstoppable volley to the top right corner.
Terence Doherty and namesake Anthony were both off target for the home side, with keeper McLaughlin again coming off his line to cut out a 38th minute through ball for Killackey and Roscommon took a 2-0 lead into dressing room at half-time.
The visitors should have had a penalty early in the second-half when central midfielder David Cullen burst from the centre circle all the way to the opposing penalty area only to be bundled over, but referee Charlie Doherty ignored the loud calls from the Roscommon contingent for a spot kick.