Carroll hopes that Masters success can increase popularity of game within the county

Roscommon Masters football manager, Anthony Carroll, feels that silverware in last Saturday's All-Ireland Masters Plate final can only benefit the popularity of the game in the county. 

Inspired by Player of the Match Senan Kilbride's seven-point haul, Roscommon produced an excellent second-half performance to get the better of Armagh, 1-15 to 0-10, in Kiltoom.

The sides were level, 0-6 apiece, at the break, but the Rossies powered home after the break, hitting 1-5 without reply to lay the foundations for success. The goal came from Paul Gilleran. 

"It's nice to get a bit silverware. We have lost a good few finals over the years, so for us to win one at home is great. The lads deserve it. It wasn’t easy with club games on last weekend, but we are happy enough," he said.

After losing Plate finals in 2021 and 2023 and the Dr. Mick Loftus Cup final last year, Carroll was hopeful that Saturday's success would boost the popularity of the game in the county. 

“Going forward, we hope this will build us up more and get more people interested. We want to be getting to the top semi-final next year, so we hope to keep this group together and get one or two more new lads to push it on again."

Garvan Dolan’s score at the beginning of the second half kickstarted a dominant spell as Roscommon, who were missing Ian Kilbride, Seánie McDermott, Seamus Keane, Aaron Sharkey, Neil Cox and Michael McNama among others.

After Gilleran's goal, two Kilbride frees moved Roscommon 1-11 to 0-7 up and, from there, Roscommon never looked back as three further Ger Heneghan frees and a Kilbride effort ensured the Rossies won the Plate competition for the first time, adding to their Shield title in 2018.

ROSCOMMON MASTERS: Aaron Sharkey, David Kelly, Mark O'Donohoe, Seamus Keane, Roch Hanmore (Boyle); Garvan Dolan (Bunbrosna); Conor Beirne, Paddy O'Connor (Elphin); Declan Woods, Ross Nolan (Éire Óg); Niall Connolly, David Delaney (Fuerty); Ger Heneghan (Garrycastle); Dermot Foley (Kilmore); Gerry Nugent (Kilglass Gaels); Paul Foxe, Anthony McDermott (Kilbride); Seán Ryan (Castlerea St. Kevin’s); Alan Daly, Stuart Daly (Michael Glaveys); Stephen McCormack, David Cryan (Tulsk Lord Edwards); Declan Beirne (Oran); Paul Kelly, Seán Fahy, Niall Finneran (Pádraig Pearses); John McHugh, Damien Caslin (Strokestown); Cathal Dineen (Roscommon Gales); Michael McNama, David McTiernan (St. Ronan’s); Adrian Freyne, Seán McDermott (Western Gaels); Paul Gilleran, Ronan Beirne (St. Joseph's); Senan Kilbride, Robbie Kelly (St. Brigid’s); Ronan Cox, Neil Cox (St. Michael’s); David Hussey, Gerry Leech, Joseph Towey, Cathal Finan (St. Croan’s); Ultan Kelly (St. Domnic's); David Scahill (Shandonagh); Ian Kilbride (St. Jude’s).

Manager: Anthony Carroll (Kilmore); Selectors: Damien Garvey (St. Croan’s), Declan Woods (Éire Óg), Liam Butler (Elphin).