Curran's late goal guides resilient young Rossies to provincial minor glory
Roscommon minor football captain, Dara Curran, celebrates his late goal in Friday evening's provincial final against Mayo. Picture: Connacht GAA
Dara Curran’s late goal propelled Roscommon to Connacht Minor Football Championship glory for the first time since 2020 in perfect conditions at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Friday evening.
It was a victory for perseverance and courage as Shane Moran’s Bravehearts refused to buckle when the tide was going against them.
The young Rossies recovered from the shock of conceding a goal inside a minute to work their way back into the game and lead by three points at the break.
But that advantage was soon wiped out on the resumption as Mayo, despite losing their two midfielders to shoulder injuries, took over around the middle third to take a 1-13 to 1-10 point lead with only six minutes remaining.
However, with the momentum against them, Roscommon dug deep and a two-point free by Dean Casey brought the sides level before Curran’s late goal, after Mayo coughed up the ball in their half-back line, brought the Tom Kilcoyne back to Roscommon for the first time in five years.
Tony Carey’s early goal was a blow, but with Diarmuid O’Higgins doing an excellent job policing Mayo’s danger man, Conor Hession, Roscommon eventually gained some traction.
Shay McGuinness was winning ball in the middle of the field and when Player of the Match John Price, who ended with 1-3, reacted to a breaking ball from Alex Oates’ raking delivery to find the net in the 21st minute, Roscommon’s early mini-crisis was averted.
They pushed on from there, and even though Hession and Casey exchanged two-point frees, a couple of points from Price and Adam Killian left the visitors 1-7 to 1-4 ahead at the break.
But with Hession and Conor Jordan deputising for the injured Cian May and Adam Kelly at midfield, Mayo took over, outscoring Roscommon by 0-8 to 0-1 in the third quarter.
The arrival of Seamie Carthy and Seamus Hussey stemmed the bleeding, and with the influence of Tom Carey lessened in the final ten minutes by the introduction of Tadgh Fallon, Roscommon began to eke their way back into the contest.
Dean Casey kept showing for possession, and the Ballinameen player’s nerves of steel brought the sides level, 1-13 apiece, in the 54th minute.
Then came the game’s defining moment. Mayo were robbed coming out with the ball, allowing Sam Hannon to play in captain Dara Curran for the lead goal.
Mayo came again with points from substitute Rhys Neary and Dara Flanagan to leave the bare minimum between the teams, but a 13-metre free from Casey confirmed Roscommon as champions to spark off wild celebrations among players, management and supporters.
Roscommon will now play the beaten finalists in Leinster (either Louth or Offaly) in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
ROSCOMMON: Cian Trimble (Kilbride); Conor Tighe (Strokestown), Tadgh Rogers (St. Barry’s), Colm Fitzgerald (St. Dominic’s); Adam Killian (0-1, Roscommon Gaels), Diarmuid O’Higgins (Clann na nGael), James Casserly (Western Gaels); Alex Oates (St. Michael’s), Sam Hannon (Roscommon Gaels); Christopher Feerick (0-1, St. Dominic’s), Dara Curran (1-0, captain, Castlerea St. Kevin’s), Dean Casey (0-7, two 0-2 frees, two frees, Ballinameen); John Price (1-3, Pádraig Pearses), Shay McGuinness (Clann na nGael), Luke Shally (0-1, Kilbride). Subs used: Seamie Carthy (0-1, Roscommon Gaels) for Oates (38 mins), Marc Shally (Kilbride) for Luke Shally (41 mins), Seamus Hussey (Oran) for Killian (44 mins), Tadgh Fallon for Fitzgerald (46 mins), Conor Kelly (Shannon Gaels) for Feerick (56 mins).
MAYO: Thomas Williams; Conor Coghill, Barry Langan, Cahir Tighe; Ryan O’Donnell, Declan Duffy, Dara Flanagan (0-2); Adam Kelly, Cian May; Patrick Garvey, Ben Holmes (0-2, one free), Conor Jordan; Tony Carey (1-4), Conor Hession (0-5, one 0-2 free, two frees), Oran Murphy. Subs used: Ben Joyce for May (29 mins), Rhys Neary (0-1) for Garvey (half-time), Fiachra Ó Cinnseala (0-1) for Kelly (33 mins), Fionn Ó Cinnseala for Murphy (49 mins), Peter Quinn for Holmes (59 mins).
Referee: Ronan Hynes (Sligo).
