County U-20 football finals decided in Bekan
The Roscommon Gaels U-20 football panel celebrate their Division One championship success against Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan, on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
Roscommon Gaels secured the club’s first U-20 Division One title since 2013 when a strong second-half surge denied Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan.
Éire Óg/Michael Glaveys found the net inside 15 seconds when Oisín Kelly raised a green flag. For the remainder of the half, the West Roscommon amalgamation were tight and tenacious in defence, taking a 1-4 to 0-5 lead into the interval.
But inspired by captain Senan Lambe, the Gaels turned the screw to make up for previous disappointments.
Despite trailing by 1-5 to 0-5 behind after 42 minutes, they kicked six points on the spin during a defining 15-minute period.
Ryan Conlon grabbed four of those scores, including two from play, while late efforts from Lambe and Eoghan Carthy helped the Gaels end their 11-year wait for success at this level.
The first title of the day went to Oran/St. Croan’s who defeated St. Dominic’s in the Division Two final by 3-6 to 2-5.
The winners got off to a great start, thanks to Micheál Hussey’s eighth minute goal, and were 1-5 to 1-2 ahead at the change of ends.
St. Dominic’s made a bright start to the second half, hitting an unanswered 1-2 to take the lead before Paddy Fallon’s 53rd minute penalty — his side’s first score of the half — settled Oran/St. Croan’s.
It was left to Eoin Collins to cement silverware with his side’s third goal after an excellent pass from Evan McNeill.
In the Division Three final, also played in Bekan, Western Gaels defeated St. Barry’s/Kilglass Gaels by 0-15 to 0-7 to bring the curtain down on club activity in County Roscommon for 2024.
