Boyle and Strokestown make winning starts to senior football championship

The action continued in the opening round of the Hodson Bay Group Roscommon Senior Football Championship on Saturday evening, with wins for Boyle and Strokestown.

Without Enda Smith and Daire Cregg, Boyle managed to get the better of visitors Clann na nGael at Abbey Park on a scoreline of 1-17 to 1-10.

With the wind behind them in the opening half, Fergal O’Donnell’s side caught fire in the second quarter.

Two pointers from Cathal McKeon and Donie Smith sent Boyle on their way to a 0-12 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

Clann made an explosive start to the second half, aided by an orange flag and a goal from Ultan Harney, to make it 0-12 to 1-7 with 33 minutes gone.

From that point, however, Boyle controlled the game, thanks to the input of centre-back Daniel Casey, and when Luke McGrath goaled late on, the home side joined Pádraig Pearses at the top of Group B.

In Group A, Strokestown had ten different scorers to raid Nash Park, Frenchpark, with a deserved 3-14 to 0-20 victory against a Western Gaels side that kicked seven two-pointers, including three near the end of the game.

Kevin Finn goaled early for the visitors but a two-point free for Roscommon U-20 and Western Gaels goalkeeper Patrick Gaynor — one of four he kicked over the hour — and a few frees from Finbar Cregg catapulted the home side 0-6 to 1-2 ahead.

But a stunning goal from Shane McGinley, following a delicious diagonal ball by Keith Murphy, allowed Strokestown wrestle back the initiative as last year’s intermediate champions led by 2-8 to 0-8 at the interval.

A couple of two-pointers from Cathal and Finbar Cregg hauled Western Gaels back into contention, but Evan Moran pounced for a third Strokestown goal to seal the deal, despite Western Gaels raising three orange flags late on.

There were also three games down for decision in the McNulty’s Furniture Intermediate Football Championship where there were wins for St. Brigid’s, Creggs and St. Michael’s.

St. Brigid’s were made to battle all the way by St. Barry’s to record a 1-15 to 1-13 victory in Kiltoom.

Eoghan Diffley goaled for Barry’s to halt St. Brigid’s early gallop, but when Adam Lennon pounced on a poor kickout to set up a goal for Conor Quinn in the last action of the opening half, the home side moved 1-8 to 1-2 in front at the change of ends.

Barry’s were much better in the second half but, led by Daniel Keenan’s eight-point haul, Brigid’s held on for a hard-earned two-point win.

In Group B, Shane Dowd was the star of the show in Croghan as his opening half accuracy allowed Creggs to power their way to a 0-20 to 0-12 victory against Shannon Gaels.

With a strong wind at their backs, Creggs made it count, with Dowd raising four orange flags, including three from play, to have a personal tally of 0-10 by half time (he would add another free in the second half to end up with 0-11).

Enda O’Rourke also kicked a two-pointer as Enda McGann’s side led by 0-14 to 0-5 at half time.

Despite the best efforts of Nikita Berzins, Stephen Murray and substitute Matthew Bourke, Shannon Gaels couldn’t reel in their opponents as Creggs recorded a comfortable eight-point win.

The other game in the group saw St. Michael’s make a fruitful trip south to Woodmount and come away with a comfortable 3-15 to 0-8 triumph against Pádraig Pearses.

Goals from Niall Sheerin and Robert Gillespie handed the winners a 2-5 to 0-6 lead at the interval.

A third goal arrived when substitute Aaron McDonagh palmed to the net to ensure last year’s semi-finalists made the perfect start to their campaign.

*Reports from all five of Saturday’s games in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald.